Trump's one flag policy: U.S. State Department bans LGBTQ and BLM flags at government facilities
Shreedhar Rathi | Jan 23, 2025, 08:45 IST
( Image credit : AP )
President Trump has signed an executive order banning the display of any flag other than the U.S. flag at government facilities, both domestic and international. The directive, called the 'One Flag Policy,' includes exceptions for the POW/MIA and Wrongful Detainees flags and mandates strict enforcement, with disciplinary actions for non-compliance.
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the U.S. State Department to prohibit the display of any flag other than the official United States flag at government facilities, both domestic and international. This includes the LGBTQ Pride flag and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) flag.
“Effective immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content,” the order states, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
The new directive, dubbed the “One Flag Policy,” does allow exceptions for the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag and the Wrongful Detainees flag.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, recently confirmed by the Senate, has been tasked with implementing the policy.
“The flag of the United States of America unites all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the bedrock of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present,” the memo explains. “The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride, and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities.”
The policy marks a shift from the practices of the Biden administration, which prominently displayed Pride flags at federal buildings, including the White House, during Pride Month in June. These displays had drawn criticism from conservative groups and social media commentators.
During his first term, Trump had similarly banned Pride flags from being flown at U.S. embassies, a decision reversed by former President Joe Biden. This latest directive signals a broader rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives under Trump’s leadership.
In a related move, Trump recently ordered the closure of all federal DEI offices, stating his administration’s commitment to returning America to a “merit-based society where people are hired based on their skills, not the color of their skin.”
The order also includes strict enforcement measures, stipulating that State Department employees who fail to comply with the policy will face disciplinary actions, including termination, reassignment, or the revocation of contracts.
“Effective immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content,” the order states, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
The new directive, dubbed the “One Flag Policy,” does allow exceptions for the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag and the Wrongful Detainees flag.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, recently confirmed by the Senate, has been tasked with implementing the policy.
“The flag of the United States of America unites all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the bedrock of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present,” the memo explains. “The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride, and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities.”
The policy marks a shift from the practices of the Biden administration, which prominently displayed Pride flags at federal buildings, including the White House, during Pride Month in June. These displays had drawn criticism from conservative groups and social media commentators.
During his first term, Trump had similarly banned Pride flags from being flown at U.S. embassies, a decision reversed by former President Joe Biden. This latest directive signals a broader rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives under Trump’s leadership.
In a related move, Trump recently ordered the closure of all federal DEI offices, stating his administration’s commitment to returning America to a “merit-based society where people are hired based on their skills, not the color of their skin.”
The order also includes strict enforcement measures, stipulating that State Department employees who fail to comply with the policy will face disciplinary actions, including termination, reassignment, or the revocation of contracts.