- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed that the Pentagon will “never cave” to a nonprofit group seeking to halt religious greetings by guards at New Mexico's Kirtland Air Force Base.
- The Military Religious Freedom Foundation recently intervened to stop gate guards from greeting visitors with "God bless you" following 34 complaints from service members.
- Hegseth criticized the nonprofit on social media, calling it a "radical anti-Christian, pro-atheist group" and promising to protect the airmen.
- Nonprofit President Mikey Weinstein dismissed Hegseth's statement with "Tell it to the judge" and threatened legal action, including a libel lawsuit against Hegseth.
- Air Force regulations require military leaders to balance religious freedom with constitutional protections against government establishment of religion.
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