The Coast Guard reinforced its stance on characterizing swastikas as hate symbols following confusion about the branch’s hate symbols policies, triggered by a report noting a change in wording from previous policies.
Confusion broke out on Thursday after the Washington Post published a report saying the Coast Guard removed swastikas and other extremist symbols from its list of hate symbols and recategorized them as “potentially divisive.” The Trump administration quickly denied the reporting, while Coast Guard spokeswoman Jennifer Plozai told the outlet that she disagreed with the reporting but would look into the matter.
Later that day, the Coast Guard released a memorandum that “doubles down on its current policies prohibiting the display, distribution or use of hate symbols by Coast Guard personnel.”
The statement portrayed the move not as backtracking from any changes, but as a clarification to combat misinformation.
“The policy and lawful order provides clear definitions, guidance and expectations for Coast Guard personnel. It describes prohibited hate symbols in alignment with military policy,” it said. “This is not an updated policy but a new policy to combat any misinformation and double down that the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols.”
The outlet’s report highlighted changes in wording between a document dealing with harassment, released in February 2023, and the subsequent one, released in November 2025. The February 2023 document clarified that the “display, presentation, creation, or depiction” of controversial symbols, such as swastikas, “would constitute a potential hate incident.”
The November 2025 document removed the hate crime wording but still de facto bans the display or creation of the symbols, as it is perceived as undermining morale and discipline.
“Commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, and supervisors shall inquire into public displays of other potentially divisive symbols or flags and, in consultation with their servicing legal office, may order or direct the removal of those determined to adversely affect good order and discipline, unit cohesion, command climate, morale, or mission effectiveness,” the new document says.
The change is addressed on Page 2 of the new document, which says, “Conduct previously handled as a potential hate incident, including those involving symbols widely identified with oppression or hatred, is processed as a report of harassment in cases with an identified aggrieved individual, or in accordance with Chapter 11 of this Instruction. The terminology ‘hate incident’ is no longer present in
policy.”
The Coast Guard reverted to wording closer to that of the February 2023 document in the Nov. 20 memorandum, but maintained the key difference that incidents involving the symbols would not be categorized as “hate incidents.”
One of the authors of the outlet’s report, Tara Copp, portrayed the release of the memo as an admission of guilt, noting the clarification “would supersede any other policies out there” and saying she reached out to “get a better understanding of these many changes that were so incendiary — and how they ever got through in the first place.”
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin vehemently disagreed with the characterization.
“The Washington Post is trying to take a victory lap for smearing the USCG and manufacturing a demonstrably false storyline that the U.S. Coast Guard no longer forbids or otherwise downgraded the forbiddance of swastikas, nooses etc. This ‘reporting’ was accurately labeled FAKE. There’s no ‘backtracking,'” she said.
“The 2025 policy is not changing—USCG issued a lawful order that doubles down on our *current* policies prohibiting the display, distribution or use of hate symbols by Coast Guard personnel,” McLaughlin added. “It is unfortunate that the Coast Guard must take time away from its mission to protect our nation to respond to these baseless smears and revolting lies from the media.”
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The Coast Guard reacted to the report in a Thursday statement to the Washington Examiner.
“The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false,” Adm. Kevin Lunday said. “These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy. Any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished. The Coast Guard remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace. Symbols such as swastikas, nooses and other extremist or racist imagery violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant under current policy.”
