On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a new directive that explicitly prohibits hate symbols, including swastikas, nooses, and Confederate battle flags, across all service workplaces and facilities. This decision comes in response to public concern regarding extremism within the organization. Earlier that day, The Washington Post reported that internal policy changes had suggested these symbols might be classified as merely 'potentially divisive,' which alarmed civil rights advocates and service members who viewed this as a troubling accommodation of extremist imagery historically used to target marginalized groups.

Following the backlash, Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth, the Coast Guard's chief of media relations, confirmed that the agency was reaffirming its prohibition of hate symbols. The new order, signed by Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, emphasizes that the display of such symbols undermines unit cohesion and mission effectiveness. It applies to all personnel and includes a formal punitive mandate enforceable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, meaning violations could result in criminal penalties.

The directive also requires commanders to remove prohibited symbols immediately and to notify the chain of command and the Anti-Harassment Program Office if a display is likely to attract media or congressional attention. While the Coast Guard maintains that this order is a clarification rather than a policy update, the timing and specificity suggest a reaction to a political and institutional crisis.

Critics, including members of the House Jewish Caucus, expressed strong disapproval of any previous consideration to downgrade the classification of these symbols. They emphasized that such a policy change raises significant questions about decision-making processes within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the White House, and the Pentagon. The lawmakers warned that lowering moral standards could negatively impact service members and recruitment efforts, suggesting that it sends a troubling message about the administration's tolerance for hate symbols.

Democratic lawmakers reacted with alarm to the initial reports, emphasizing that symbols like swastikas and nooses represent violent ideologies and should not be tolerated in military contexts. This incident occurs amid broader discussions within federal agencies about acceptable conduct under the current administration, which has seen a reevaluation of harassment rules that some argue disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals.