Coast Guard Strengthens Prohibition of Hate Symbols to Combat Antisemitism and Extremist Activity

The U.S. Coast Guard has walked back a contentious policy change that would have reclassified swastikas, nooses, and other hate symbols from outright bans to being labeled as "potentially divisive," after facing immediate criticism from lawmakers and advocacy organizations. On Thursday night, the Coast Guard reaffirmed its tougher position, stating that these symbols continue to be "prohibited" under its revised rules,

about increasing antisemitism and extremist incidents within the service.

This reversal followed the leak of a draft policy earlier in the week that suggested a more lenient approach, prompting backlash from Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who co-chair the Senate's bipartisan Task Force on Combatting Antisemitism. The senators wrote to Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday, seeking clarification on how the Coast Guard would investigate and enforce bans on hate symbols. "This revised policy weakens essential safeguards against hate and could inexplicably permit the display of deeply offensive symbols like swastikas and nooses," Rosen said, highlighting the dangers of rising antisemitism both in the U.S. and worldwide.

.

The Coast Guard’s initial attempt to reclassify hate symbols was in line with broader Pentagon policies introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration, which aimed to update definitions of harassment and hazing across the military. The change, announced as part of a Pentagon-wide review led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claimed that previous definitions were "too expansive" and could undermine "combat readiness" by promoting a "victim mentality." Nonetheless, opponents argued that the new approach would reduce accountability,

within 45 days and restricting investigations to only the most "severe or pervasive" cases of harassment.

In reaction to the controversy, Lunday released a statement Thursday night affirming that "any exhibition, use, or endorsement of symbols such as nooses and swastikas will be fully investigated and harshly penalized," stressing that no bans had been lifted. The Coast Guard also issued an additional memo reiterating that "divisive or hate symbols and flags are not allowed" at any of its sites, a clarification that lawmakers welcomed but still viewed with some doubt. "There is no longer a debate about these symbols," said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), pointing out that lynching is classified as a federal hate crime and that the Nazi swastika’s link to genocide is indisputable .

This policy controversy comes amid broader leadership changes in the Coast Guard, including the sudden dismissal of former commandant Adm. Linda Fagan on President Trump’s first day in office. Lunday, who succeeded Fagan, has faced questions about the service’s approach to internal culture, with advocacy groups cautioning that unclear policies could encourage extremist conduct. While the Coast Guard’s updated position seems to reflect public demands, it still leaves open questions about how the rules will be enforced,

how leaders will handle such incidents under the new policy.