Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill sets clear rules for what military chaplains do and how they are trained. It ensures they can provide spiritual care for service members and their families, even in combat zones, while advising commanders on religious issues.
• It creates strong legal protections so chaplains cannot be forced to perform ceremonies or tasks that go against their personal religious beliefs. This includes protection from being punished, denied promotions, or reprimanded for standing by their faith.
• The policy makes it a crime under military law for any service member to retaliate against a chaplain for their religious views. Those who violate these protections could face prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
• It formalizes the leadership structure for chaplains in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. The top chaplain in each branch will now serve as a direct advisor to the highest-ranking military leaders on matters of ethics and morale.
• The bill also guarantees that conversations between chaplains and service members remain private and confidential. This ensures troops can seek spiritual guidance without worrying that their personal information will be shared.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.