Coast Guard Removes 'Potentially Divisive' Label From Hate-Symbol Policy; Nomination Hold Lifted

References in U.S. Coast Guard policy that described hate symbols as "potentially divisive" were removed on Thursday, and Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada said she was lifting a hold she had placed on the nomination of Adm. Kevin Lunday to lead the service.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees the Coast Guard, said on social media the edits were made to prevent any misrepresentation of the branch's position. She added that pages of outdated policy will be removed from the record so they cannot be used to politicize the service.

'The pages of superseded and outdated policy will be completely removed from the record so no press outlet, entity or elected official may misrepresent the Coast Guard to politicize their policies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,' Noem wrote.

The changes appear to conclude a series of revisions to Coast Guard guidance on swastikas, nooses and other symbols widely considered hateful — language that sparked public backlash when it became public last month. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said there was never a "downgrade" in policy and that the updates instead "strengthen" the department's ability to report, investigate, and prosecute violations of longstanding rules.

Sen. Jacky Rosen had placed a temporary hold on Adm. Kevin Lunday's nomination after saying leadership had "backtracked" on a commitment to treat swastikas and nooses as prohibited hate symbols. Rosen said she lifted the hold after officials restored stronger language addressing those symbols.

'While I continue to have reservations about the process by which this happened and the confusion created by leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased to see that the policy now directly refers to stronger language against swastikas and nooses,' Rosen wrote on social media.

The Senate confirmed Lunday as the Coast Guard's commandant on Thursday night. Noem criticized Rosen's temporary delay as a "politicized holdup," noting Lunday's nearly 39 years of service to the Coast Guard and the country.

Policy drafts that described hate symbols as "potentially divisive" did not institute an outright ban; they allowed commanders discretion to remove such displays from public areas while excluding private spaces such as family housing. The Coast Guard emphasized on social media that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward hate symbols and extremist ideology and prohibits their display or promotion in any form.

"We prohibit the display or promotion of hate symbols in any form. Any suggestion otherwise is false," the Coast Guard said.

The Washington Post first reported the latest developments. Military Times editor Beth Sullivan contributed to this report.