Member says recent Coast Guard policy on swastikas and nooses is 'inexcusable and outrageous'

During opening remarks at a congressional hearing, an unidentified member criticized a recently published Coast Guard policy that the member said classifies the display of swastikas and nooses as "potentially divisive." The member called that characterization "inexcusable and outrageous," and said "Nooses and swastikas are not potentially divisive. Their display constitute a hate crime as was acknowledged in past policy." The member said they would raise the issue in their five minutes of questioning.

The member prefaced the criticism by noting they would focus much of their questioning on the unmanned-systems topic but still reiterated comments from Ranking Member Larson about the policy. The remarks in the provided segments did not include a response from Coast Guard witnesses or staff; therefore the transcript does not show whether the policy will be revised or defended during the hearing.

The hearing continued and the speaker yielded back time.