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Hegseth claimed less than 5% of the U.S. military force identifies as non-religious.
reported by one outlet so far · Attributed statement · first recorded Oct 2, 9:30 PM
Outlets disagree on this: Hegseth claimed less than 5% of the military identifies as non-religious; however, the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers reported 2.05% identified as nonreligious, and a 2019 congressional report found 2.3% identified as agnostic or atheist with an additional 24.4% classified as 'Other/Unclassified/Unknown,' suggesting the true figure may be substantially higher depending on how 'non-religious' is defined.
How each outlet reported it
SnopesFact-checker · Oct 2, 9:01 PM
Less than 5% of the military force identifies as non-religious
Cites: Pete Hegseth · Details: less than 5%; no source cited by Hegseth
SnopesFact-checker · Oct 2, 9:01 PM
The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers reported 2.05% of the force identified as nonreligious
Cites: Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers · Details: 2.05%; nonreligious
SnopesFact-checker · Oct 2, 9:01 PM
A 2019 congressional report found that 2.3% of the force identified as agnostic or atheist, with 24.4% classified as 'Other/Unclassified/Unknown'
Cites: 2019 congressional report · Details: 2.3%; agnostic or atheist; 24.4%; Other/Unclassified/Unknown