Why removing a distinct religious code for Native American military service members will make their needs invisible

The Pentagon recategorized Native religions as ‘other.’ A scholar of Native American and Indigenous Studies explains the implications of that change.

By: Kerri J. Malloy, San José State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 9, 2026

Words: 1,259

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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By Kerri J. Malloy, San José State University

When the Pentagon cut roughly 180 faiths from its religious affiliation codes, shrinking the list from more than 200 categories to 31 in May 2026, it folded “Native American religion” into the broader category of “other religion” – one of many faiths the change pushes out of the military’s view.

As a scholar of Native American and Indigenous Studies, I recognize this kind of …

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