The United States Coast Guard has ignited a fierce debate after quietly reclassifying the swastika from a 'hate symbol' to a 'potentially divisive' symbol in its official workplace harassment policy.
Policy Shift and Immediate Backlash
According to a report by the Washington Post, the new policy came into effect on Monday, 15 December 2025. The document, sent from the Coast Guard to Congress, reportedly altered the classification of symbols including the swastika and the noose. The Independent has sought comment from both the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security.
This change was initially flagged in November, but the Trump administration dismissed those reports as "false." However, within hours of that denial, Coast Guard Admiral Kevin Lunday issued a memo on 20 November explicitly denouncing such symbols and insisting they remain prohibited for personnel.
Admiral Lunday stated that his ruling would supersede any other language, hinting at a potential discrepancy between the written policy and his direct orders. The Coast Guard later clarified, saying, "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."
Contradiction in Terms and Historical Context
The previous policy explicitly listed the swastika and noose as symbols whose display would constitute a potential hate incident, noting they had been co-opted by "hate-based groups... as symbols of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, or other bias."
The timing of the reclassification has drawn sharp criticism, coming just days after a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia and during a documented global rise in antisemitism. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen condemned the move, stating it "rolls back important protections against bigotry" and could permit the display of "horrifically hateful symbols." She warned it sends the wrong message and risks the safety of service members.
Historian Deborah Lipstadt, who served as President Joe Biden's special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, called the change "terrifying." She expressed deep concern over the whitewashing of Nazi history and stated, "to take the swastika and call it 'potentially divisive' is hard to fathom." She emphasised that the symbol represents the ideology hundreds of thousands of Americans died fighting.
Leadership Changes and Political Undertones
The policy shift follows a recent change in Coast Guard leadership. President Donald Trump installed Admiral Lunday as commandant after firing Admiral Linda Fagan, whom he accused of over-focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Lunday's confirmation hearing is scheduled for later this week.
This administrative move, juxtaposed with the semantic downgrading of one of history's most potent hate symbols, has placed the US Coast Guard at the centre of a heated national conversation about the military's role in confronting extremism and preserving historical memory.
