Lankford Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Strengthen and Protect the Ministry of Military Chaplains

WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced the Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 (MCMA) to codify the purpose, role, duties, and professional qualifications of military chaplains and to protect chaplains from being forced to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. “For our country’s 250-year history, military chaplains have walked alongside our service members through the hardest moments of their lives, offering prayer, counsel, and hope in isolated posts and combat zones alike,” said Lankford . “Chaplains serve because they are called to it. Congress has a responsibility to make sure they can carry out that calling faithfully, without being forced to violate the tenets of their faith and without fear of retaliation for holding to what they believe. This bill honors the men and women who minister to our heroes who defend our nation.” “Military chaplains shouldn’t have to check their faith at the door when they put on the uniform,” said Cramer. “They play a vital role in supporting the moral and spiritual well-being of our servicemembers, and their ministry and the men and women they serve are strengthened because of their faith. This legislation protects their ability to minister according to their beliefs and ensures those freedoms are always preserved.” “Military chaplains provide a vital service to the patriots who sacrifice for our country every day. By standardizing a chaplain’s role, this commonsense legislation clarifies their duties and protects chaplains from unfair censorship. Like all Americans, our men and women in uniform have the God-given right to observe their religious beliefs, especially as they put their own lives on the line to defend our nation. Our legislation reinforces those rights,” said Grassley . “Military chaplains serve a unique and important role in our armed forces, providing spiritual guidance to our men and women in uniform. That is why it is imperative that their deeply held religious beliefs must be protected throughout their time in the military. I’m proud to support this legislation and the faith leaders who serve in our Armed Forces,” said Britt. Background Joining Lankford in cosponsoring the legislation are Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Katie Britt (R-AL). The bill has been included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is being led on the House side by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-03). The bill is also supported by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, which provides advice and recommendations to Department of War (DOW) officials on matters of religious exercise. Lankford has a long record of protecting religious liberty in the military. In the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA, Lankford secured language requiring every branch of the military to implement training for military leaders and service members on federal laws, DOW instructions, and regulations regarding religious liberty and accommodation. That training language was implemented in the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA. The MCMA builds on that foundation by codifying protections for the chaplains who minister to service members every day. The Military Chaplains Modernization Act: Codifies the purpose, role, duties, and professional qualifications of chaplains across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. Guarantees that chaplains may conduct worship, provide counseling, teach, deliver sermons, minister, and offer prayer in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs and the tenets of their religious-endorsing organization, free from censorship, undue restriction, or fear of retribution. Prohibits any member of the Armed Forces from requiring or assigning a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, ceremony, sermon, speech, task, or action contrary to the chaplain’s sincerely held religious beliefs. Protects chaplains from retaliation or adverse personnel actions, including denial of promotion, letters of reprimand, and negative entries in the chaplain’s record, for refusing to violate their beliefs. Establishes that violations are subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Codifies the ranks and roles of the Chief of Chaplains and Deputy Chief of Chaplains as principal advisors to their respective service Secretaries and Chiefs of Staff. You can download the full bill text HERE and learn more in the Washington Stand HERE . ###