Admiral Kevin Lunday told Newsweek that symbols like swastikas and nooses "remain prohibited" by the USCG.
www.newsweek.com
That language has been removed in the updated guidance, replaced with the term “potentially divisive,” and
delegates decision-making to local commanders. However, according to Lunday, this does not mean the symbols are no longer prohibited.
The
new policy says commanders are now instructed to consult legal counsel before determining whether a symbol violates policy and “adversely affects” morale, unit cohesion or mission readiness.
It also introduces a formal 45-day deadline for reporting such incidents, a change critics say could discourage complaints—particularly for service members deployed at sea for extended periods.
Under the
2023 guidelines, swastikas, nooses, and other imagery co-opted by hate groups were treated as inherently harmful, with little room for interpretation—
any display was considered a potential hate incident requiring review.