The Coast Guard is reported to be changing guidance effective Dec. 15 that would remove the Nazi swastika from a list of symbols labeled 'potentially divisive' and downgrade classifications for Confederate flags and nooses, while still banning Confederate flags from display. The guidance would introduce a 45-day reporting window for incidents, a shift some service members say could be impractical for those deployed at sea. DHS Public Affairs chief Tricia McLaughlin called the account "a ludicrous lie," and the Coast Guard has not publicly confirmed the internal guidance. The shift follows a broader move to reclassify "hate incidents" as reports of harassment.
Coast Guard Reportedly to Stop Labeling Swastika as 'Potentially Divisive'; DHS Denies Report
The Coast Guard is reported to be changing guidance effective Dec. 15 that would remove the Nazi swastika from a list of symbols labeled 'potentially divisive' and downgrade classifications for Confederate flags and nooses, while still banning Confederate flags from display. The guidance would introduce a 45-day reporting window for incidents, a shift some service members say could be impractical for those deployed at sea. DHS Public Affairs chief Tricia McLaughlin called the account "a ludicrous lie," and the Coast Guard has not publicly confirmed the internal guidance. The shift follows a broader move to reclassify "hate incidents" as reports of harassment.
12:16 AM, 11/21/2025Politics
A report based on internal Coast Guard documents says new guidance scheduled to take effect on December 15 would remove the Nazi-era swastika from the service's list of symbols labeled 'potentially divisive.' The same guidance reportedly downgrades classifications for Confederate flags and nooses, though Confederate flags would remain prohibited from display under the updated rules.
Under the proposed guidance, supervisors who observe a 'potentially divisive' symbol would investigate and consult legal counsel, and incidents would need to be reported within 45 days — a change from previous practice, which included no specific deadlines. Critics inside the service say that a 45-day window could be impractical for personnel deployed at sea.
We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas, an anonymous Coast Guard official said. The official also questioned whether a sailor at sea for 60 days would feel safe reporting a shipmate who displays such a symbol.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, publicly rejected the report on social media, calling it "a ludicrous lie" and saying the outlet that published it should be embarrassed. The Coast Guard has not issued a public confirmation of the internal guidance described in the report.
The reported adjustment follows a broader terminology change within the service: the Coast Guard recently retired the phrase "hate incidents," stating that conduct previously handled as potential hate incidents — including items widely identified with oppression or hatred — will now be processed as reports of harassment. Supporters of the change say it clarifies administrative handling; critics argue it risks minimizing the symbolic harm of extremist imagery.
At this stage, the account rests on internal documents and anonymous sources on one side and a public denial from DHS on the other. Until the Coast Guard publishes the guidance or issues an official statement, key details — including the effective date and the exact scope of the changes — remain contested.
Note: This article is based on internal documents and public statements; confirmation from the Coast Guard is pending.