FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem holds a press conference, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci/File Photo
The U.S. Coast Guard has — for a second time — done an about-face on a policy about the display of hate symbols in response to public outrage.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that a previous Coast Guard policy that downgraded symbols like nooses and swastikas to being "potentially divisive," rather than being regarded as overt symbols of affiliation with racist ideologies. Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday confirmed that the new policy had been "completely removed" from its policy manual.
According to the Post, the revised guidelines on hate symbols have since been replaced with a large black bar and text directing readers to review the Coast Guard's civil rights policies in a separate manual. Lunday maintained that a previous directive banning the display of hate symbols "remains in full effect."
Lunday's decision to restore the old guidelines may help him in his goal of being fully confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) had previously placed a hold on his confirmation over the revision on hate symbols, though the Post reported that they have since lifted that blockade after he reverted to the previous guidelines.
This is the second such reversal from the Coast Guard, after a similar episode in November easing restrictions on the display of nooses and swastikas prompted a significant public outcry. However, the Post reported that Lunday's first promise to revert back to the previous ban on displaying hate symbols was inexplicably never implemented.
President Donald Trump initially tapped Lunday to lead the Coast Guard after he suspended the policy manual that included the swastika, the Confederate flag and nooses in a "list of symbols whose display, presentation, creation, or depiction would constitute a potential hate incident." Lunday's appointment also came after the Trump administration fired former Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, and.justified it by saying she was overly focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
It remains unknown whether Lunday himself or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — which is the Coast Guard's parent agency — authorized the changes to the policy manual. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted to her X account that the language had been removed "so no press outlet, entity or elected official may misrepresent the Coast Guard to politicize their policies and lie about their position on divisive and hate symbols."
Click here to read the Post's report in full (subscripton required).