U.S. Coast Guard

In 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard instituted a policy stating that divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited, explicitly including a noose, a swastika, and symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.

The U.S. Coast Guard has maintained a long-standing prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag except in limited contexts such as educational or historical settings.

As of 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard prohibits the display of divisive or hate symbols and flags, explicitly listing a noose and a swastika and banning any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.

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.

U.S. Coast Guard policy prohibits the public display of the Confederate flag except in certain contexts such as educational or historical settings.

The recent U.S. Coast Guard policy memo instructs supervisors to 'inquire' into incidents involving hate symbols rather than directing supervisors to conduct formal investigations, which differs from the investigative approach reflected in the Coast Guard's 2019 and 2023 policies.

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.

A 2025 U.S. Coast Guard policy update removed the term "hate incident" from official policy and states that conduct previously handled as a "potential hate incident" will be processed as a harassment report only when there is an identified aggrieved individual.

U.S. Coast Guard guidance reclassifies symbols previously labeled as "potential hate incidents" as "potentially divisive symbols and flags" and authorizes commanding officers to inquire about and order removal of publicly displayed potentially divisive symbols that negatively affect morale or mission readiness.

In 2019 and 2023, U.S. Coast Guard policies described displays of symbols such as swastikas and nooses as 'widely identified with oppression or hatred' and characterized their display as a 'potential hate incident'.

A 2019 U.S. Coast Guard policy described symbols such as swastikas and nooses as "widely identified with oppression or hatred" and characterized their display as a potential hate incident.

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'.

The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a longstanding prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag, with limited exceptions for contexts such as educational or historical settings.