The Trump administration has introduced a new “One Flag Policy,” requiring all State Department buildings to fly only the American flag. This rule applies to U.S. State Department facilities both domestically and abroad, banning any other flags from being displayed on these government grounds.
The policy, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his confirmation on the night of Monday, Jan. 20, is a reversal from the Biden administration.
Under Biden, U.S. Embassies raised flags such as the Pride flag during Pride Month in 2021 and the Black Lives Matter flag in 2022 during Black History Month. These instances would no longer be allowed under the Trump administration’s new directive, regardless of the issue or politics.
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The policy states that the U.S. flag represents unity for all Americans and is meant to show “respect” for the American flag. The only exceptions to the rule are the “Prisoner of War/Missing in Action” (POW/MIA) emblem and the “Wrongful Detainees” flag, which can still be flown at State Department facilities.
While this policy only applies to State Department buildings, a bill introduced in the Senate last year sought to extend the One Flag Policy to all federal buildings. It remains unclear whether the new Republican-majority Congress will pursue similar legislation.
The policy has faced opposition from civil rights organizations. Lambda Legal’s CEO Kevin Jennings criticized the move in an interview with Newsweek.
“Banning Pride and other flags is just petty and mean-spirited,” Jennings said. “Flying such flags is simply a signal to people that they matter. It hurts no one.”
The State Department’s order, first obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, says, “Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content.”
The memo emphasizes that the U.S. flag represents the universal principles of “justice, liberty, and democracy, values shared by all Americans.”
The new policy is part of a broader shift by the Trump administration, which is also calling for an end to diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal agencies. The policy further states that any State Department employee who violates the order could face disciplinary action, including termination or reassignment.
