Coast Guard Swastikas Policy Shift: Agency Stops Labeling Swastikas, Nooses as Hate Symbols

The U.S. Coast Guard recently stirred controversy with a proposed change in how it classifies swastikas and nooses. Under a draft policy, the agency planned to stop calling these images “hate symbols” and instead label them as “potentially divisive.” That shift sparked political backlash, public alarm, and a quick reversal. The debate over Coast Guard swastikas now reflects deeper concerns about extremism, military culture, and how hate is regulated in uniformed services.