Coast Guard Reverses Noem's Embrace of Swastikas and Nooses
The embattled Homeland Security secretary’s plan to ease hate symbol rules totally backfired, prompting swift reversal to prohibit divisive symbols in all Coast Guard facilities.
WASHINGTON — The United States Coast Guard reversed course late Thursday, reclassifying swastikas and nooses as banned hate symbols after a wave of bipartisan condemnation over Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem’s plan to label them merely “potentially divisive” under new departmental guidelines.
The reversal came hours after Washington Post revealed the scheduled December 15 policy change, which had triggered sharp rebukes from lawmakers, civil rights advocates, and rank-and-file Coast Guard officials.
Sudden Turnaround Amid Uproar
Lawmakers from both parties, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Mike Rounds, had characterized the downgrade as “disgusting” and “ill-advised,” accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of enabling extremism within military ranks.
A Coast Guard official described the initial policy as “chilling,” warning it blurred the line on national trust regarding symbols long associated with genocide and lynching.
Hours after the outcry, Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday issued a sweeping general order, effective immediately, reaffirming that the display of swastikas, nooses, and other “symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups” is strictly prohibited across all Coast Guard workplaces and facilities.
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Memo Details: Divisive and Hate Symbols Ban
The new Coast Guard general order, signed November 20 by Adm. Lunday, makes clear that “the Coast Guard does not tolerate the display of divisive or hate symbols and flags, including those identified with oppression or hatred”.
It explicitly outlaws swastikas, nooses, and Confederate battle flags—regardless of context—unless their use is strictly incidental or part of an educational/historic display. Personnel violating the prohibition now face punitive action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, restoring enforcement mechanisms that had been gutted in the earlier draft policy.
Political Fallout and Pattern of Controversy
The Coast Guard policy uproar is the latest flashpoint in what critics call a pattern of racial animus and civil rights rollbacks tied to Noem’s leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal judges have twice accused Noem of racism in decisions affecting immigrant populations, while advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers cite her termination of the DHS civil rights office and aggressive enforcement tactics as evidence of systemic bias.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised fresh questions about Noem’s fitness for office, linking the Coast Guard controversy to earlier “unstable” acts.
Enforcement Gaps and Tighter Reporting
Documents show the previous changes set a 45-day deadline for reporting hate symbols, replacing immediate notification, and left removal up to supervisors’ discretion.
The restored prohibition order now directs all supervisors and commanders to immediately remove divisive or hate symbols, mandates prompt reporting to the Anti-Harassment Program Office, and makes violations punishable under military law.
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Coast Guard’s Troubled History
The Coast Guard’s renewed stance comes in the shadow of past white nationalist incidents, including the 2019 arrest of Lt. Christopher Hasson, who plotted attacks on Democratic lawmakers while serving in uniform. The 2019 rules classifying swastikas, nooses, and Confederate symbols as potential hate incidents were enacted soon after the case.
Broader Implications
Advocates warn that relaxing hate symbol policies, even for hours, sends dangerous messages and puts service members at risk, especially amid rising antisemitism and racism nationwide. Senator Jacky Rosen said, “relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message…but it puts their safety at risk.”
For now, the Coast Guard’s reversal represents a rapid, unambiguous reaffirmation of its commitment to banish symbols long tied to violence and hate—with implications reverberating across the military and Washington’s polarized debate on extremism.
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If she (Noems) like those symbols so much, why doesn’t she get them tattoo on her forehead? We all know she is a Trump Nazi, she should wear the symbol proudly for the rest of his supporters to admire.
Adm. Kevin Lunday is on the right side of history.