Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday that the U.S. Coast Guard will remove controversial language from its workplace harassment policy after the service downgraded the definition of swastikas and nooses from hate symbols to what it called “potentially divisive.”
Noem made the announcement on social media after the revised policy quietly went into effect Monday, sparking backlash from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The dispute escalated to the point that two senators placed a hold on the nomination of Adm. Kevin Lunday to serve as the next commandant of the Coast Guard, citing the failure to clearly label swastikas and nooses as hate symbols.
“The pages of superseded and outdated policy will be completely removed from the record,” Noem said. She did not specify whether the Coast Guard would replace the removed language with a new version, but emphasized that the problematic wording would no longer stand.
The controversy has been building for weeks. The Washington Post reported in November that the Coast Guard planned to revise its workplace harassment policy in a way that downgraded swastikas and nooses to “potentially divisive” symbols. Under that definition, the service would not automatically be required to remove such symbols from the workplace, even if a service member reported them. Instead, supervisors would be allowed to assess how the symbols were displayed before taking action.
That approach drew swift outrage from lawmakers, who argued the change undermined longstanding standards. In response, Adm. Lunday issued a memo to Coast Guard personnel condemning swastikas and nooses and making clear they were not allowed in the workplace. He said the memo superseded all prior guidance. However, that directive was not reflected in the updated policy manual, further fueling criticism.
The Trump administration seized on the controversy Thursday, blasting the Washington Post’s reporting as “a demonstrably false story,” even as the revised policy was allowed to move forward earlier in the week. Noem said removing the outdated language would prevent media outlets and political actors from mischaracterizing the Coast Guard’s position.
“The pages of the outdated policy will be removed so no press outlet, entity or elected official may misrepresent the Coast Guard to politicize their policies and lie about their position on divisive and hate symbols,” Noem said.
Lawmakers had grown increasingly frustrated, noting that Lunday had promised to remove the “potentially divisive” wording before the policy was finalized. Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois placed holds on Lunday’s nomination as a result. The Senate had been expected to consider his confirmation this week.
“I cannot understand why the Admiral will not simply update his own Commandant Instruction to delete the absurd characterization that clearly states a noose and swastika are merely potentially divisive symbols,” Duckworth said.
Noem addressed the holds directly, calling the delay “politicized” and urging the Senate to move forward. “He has given nearly 39 years of distinguished service to the Coast Guard, this country, and the American people,” she said of Lunday. “He should be confirmed without delay.”
Rosen later said she was satisfied with the policy change and would lift her hold on Lunday’s nomination. However, she announced she would place a new hold on the nomination of Sean Plankey to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, citing concerns about how the revised policy will be implemented.
“I will keep that hold in place until we see that this new policy works to protect our men and women in uniform from racist and antisemitic harassment,” Rosen said.
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