A 2025 U.S. Coast Guard policy declared that 'divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited' and explicitly listed examples including a noose, a swastika, and symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Content description of the U.S. Coast Guard's 2025 policy on prohibited symbols.
U.S. Coast Guard policy prohibits the public display of the Confederate flag except in certain contexts such as educational or historical settings.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Long-standing provision in Coast Guard policies addressing public display of the Confederate flag.
The U.S. Coast Guard policy prohibits the display of symbols such as swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate battle flag, treating such symbols as extremist or racist imagery subject to investigation and disciplinary action.
March 16, 2025
high
policy
Workplace conduct and prohibited symbols policy
A 2019 U.S. Coast Guard policy stated that symbols such as swastikas and nooses were 'widely identified with oppression or hatred' and characterized their display as 'a potential hate incident'.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Content description of the U.S. Coast Guard's 2019 policy on hate symbols.
The U.S. Coast Guard classifies extremist or racist imagery, including symbols like swastikas and nooses, as violations of service values that will be investigated and subject to punishment.
high
policy
Enforcement posture for prohibited symbols within the U.S. Coast Guard.
Coast Guard guidance grants commanding officers authority to inquire about public displays of symbols identified as potentially divisive and to direct or order the removal of symbols that negatively impact morale and mission readiness.
high
procedure
Command-level authority and processes for addressing divisive symbols in the U.S. Coast Guard.