The U.S. Coast Guard is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and a federal agency with a multifaceted mission, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and national defense. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime. The organization is notable for its role in safeguarding the nation's coasts and waterways, enforcing maritime laws, and responding to emergencies at sea.
This term has gained attention in relation to the Coast Guard's internal policies on prohibited activities and symbols. The organization maintains regulations to govern the conduct of its personnel, which includes defining and banning the display of symbols associated with hate groups and extremist ideologies to ensure a professional and inclusive service environment.
The Coast Guard was recently in the news due to a significant update to its official policy. According to reports from late 2025, the service announced it would no longer explicitly classify certain specific symbols, such as swastikas and nooses, as hate symbols within its uniform and appearance regulations. This policy change generated public discussion and media coverage regarding its implications for the service's stance on extremism.
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- U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols - The Washington Post 2025-11-21 06:08 · The Washington Post