Pentagon Revises Military Company List and Religious Classifications
The Facts
The Pentagon made revisions to its religious classification system after receiving objections from Mormon lawmakers regarding the categorization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Defense Department had released a list that tagged many religious groups as "Christian" but did not include the LDS Church in that designation. Additionally, the Pentagon added Chinese companies Alibaba and BYD to its list of Chinese military companies, which prevents them from receiving U.S. defense contracts.
How different outlets are framing this
The coverage reveals a significant disconnect in how different outlets prioritize and frame this story. The Washington Post and USA Today focus entirely on the religious classification controversy, emphasizing the Pentagon's response to Mormon lawmakers' objections about LDS Church categorization. Both outlets frame this as a story about religious recognition and political pressure, with USA Today specifically highlighting the "backlash" aspect in its headline.
In stark contrast, ABC News leads with an entirely different angle, focusing on the Pentagon's addition of Chinese tech companies to its military blacklist. This outlet treats the Chinese company designations as the primary story, emphasizing national security and economic implications rather than domestic religious politics. The framing suggests ABC News views the corporate restrictions as more newsworthy than the religious classification changes, potentially reflecting different editorial priorities about what constitutes significant defense policy news.
Source Articles
- ABC News8 Jun, 21:32Pentagon adds tech giant Alibaba, electric car maker BYD to Chinese military list
Being on the list prevents the companies from getting U.S. defense contracts.
- Washington Post8 Jun, 19:04After Mormon lawmakers object, Pentagon revises Christian religious categories
The Defense Department made changes after a list was released with many religious groups tagged “Christian” but not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- USA Today8 Jun, 18:37Pentagon revises religious classifications amid backlash from LDS Church
Mormon lawmakers blasted the Pentagon for its reduction and reclassification of recognized religions. Here's why.