Congress Must Oppose Coast Guard Swastika Policy

I am writing to ask you to act immediately to stop the Coast Guard from downgrading swastikas, nooses, and Confederate symbols to merely “potentially divisive” and from imposing a new 45 day reporting limit that will prevent many service members from safely reporting harassment. At a moment of rising antisemitism and racist threats across the country, weakening protections in the ranks endangers readiness and violates our values. Do not normalize swastikas and nooses in the ranks According to the Coast Guard’s new policy taking effect December 15, swastikas, nooses, and similar symbols will no longer be treated as hate symbols. The term “hate incident” is removed entirely. Supervisors are told only to “inquire” about these symbols and may choose not to order their removal. This is a major reversal from prior policy, which correctly recognized these symbols as threats that undermine safety and trust. A reporting deadline that silences victims The new policy gives Coast Guard members only 45 days to report harassment, even though personnel can be deployed at sea for months at a time. Someone confined on a cutter with the person displaying a swastika or a noose may be unable to report without fear of retaliation. But by the time the deployment ends, the 45 days may already have passed. This deadline will cause many serious incidents to go unreported and will shield repeat offenders simply because victims had no safe way to reach a reporting channel while underway. Congress must restore safety, accountability, and trust I urge you to publicly oppose this policy, call on Coast Guard and DHS leadership to rescind or revise it, and question Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, directly in hearings. Congress should also use the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4275) to restore hate symbol classifications, require immediate removal authority, and eliminate the harmful 45 day deadline. Coast Guard members need to know that Congress stands with them against harassment and intimidation.