US Coast Guard Denies Report on Swastika Policy Change

A political uproar has erupted in the United States after a Washington Post report claimed that the US Coast Guard is preparing to stop classifying the Swastika, nooses, and certain other imagery as explicit hate symbols under new guidelines set to take effect on December 15. Instead, these symbols would reportedly be labelled as “potentially divisive,” triggering a softer review process.

According to the Post, the perceived shift is linked to the Coast Guard aligning with the Trump administration’s stricter overhaul of military harassment and hazing rules, led by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who argued that existing standards were overly broad and might impact operational effectiveness.

What the Report Claimed

The Washington Post said it had reviewed internal documents outlining the following changes:

• Swastikas, nooses, and similar imagery would no longer be automatically considered hate symbols.

• They would instead be tagged as “potentially divisive,” allowing supervisors to:

  • Ask about the context of the display,

  • Consult legal authorities, and

  • Decide whether removal was necessary.

• Personnel would have a 45-day deadline to file complaints.

  

• Prior Coast Guard rules had explicitly listed these items as potential indicators of hate incidents and empowered commanders to remove them even without proving a hate crime.

The report also stated that the Confederate flag would remain banned but would fall under similar review procedures.

Coast Guard Calls Report ‘Categorically False’

The Coast Guard, however, issued a sharp rebuttal within hours of the article’s publication.

Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said the Post’s claims misrepresented the service’s stance:

“These symbols have been and remain prohibited. Any display, use, or promotion of such symbols will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also dismissed the report.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a strongly worded post on X:

“An absolutely ludicrous lie and unequivocally false. The Washington Post should be embarrassed it published this fake crap.”

A Growing Debate

Despite the denials, the story has sparked intense debate in US political and military circles. The Swastika—originally an ancient cultural and religious symbol—remains heavily associated in the West with Nazi ideology. Any shift in how the US military categorises such imagery carries strong public and political sensitivity.

For now, the Coast Guard insists that nothing has changed, and that all extremist or hate-related symbols remain strictly prohibited.