What Is a Half-Staff Order
A half-staff order is an official directive that lowers the U.S. flag to the midpoint of the flagpole, signaling national mourning, remembrance, or tribute. The order is issued by the President of the United States, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia, depending on the scope of the event. Under federal law, the President can order all U.S. flags on government buildings and grounds to be flown at half-staff for a specified period. The directive specifies the start time, end time, and geographic coverage, and it is often tied to the death of a prominent official, a major national tragedy, or a designated memorial day. The order is distinct from half-mast, a term sometimes used informally, though official federal guidance uses the term half-staff. The White House typically publishes the text of the order and a fact sheet explaining the reason and duration.
For organizations and private citizens, a half-staff order does not carry legal force, but it signals a widely recognized period of respect. Federal agencies, military installations, and embassies are required to comply, and many state and local governments follow the federal directive for their own facilities. Companies with government contracts or facilities on federal property often align their flag practices with the order. The U.S. Flag Code provides the protocol for positioning the flag at half-staff, including how to raise it briskly to the top of the pole before lowering it and how to raise it briskly again at the end of the period.
Who Issues a Half-Staff Order and When
The President issues half-staff orders for deaths of principal figures of the U.S. government, foreign dignitaries, and other individuals of national significance. The order may also be issued after major national tragedies, such as terrorist attacks or mass shootings, or on designated memorial days such as Peace Officers Memorial Day. A governor can issue a half-staff order for the death of a current or former state official, a member of the armed forces from the state, or a tragedy affecting the state. The mayor of Washington, D.C., can issue a similar order for local officials or events. Executive orders and presidential proclamations are the primary legal instruments used to formalize these directives. The White House website and the Federal Register publish the text and effective dates of these orders.
State governors issue their own half-staff orders through executive orders or proclamations, and these orders apply to state buildings, grounds, and agencies within the state. In some cases, a governor will align the state directive with a federal order, but the governor can also issue an independent order for a different period or reason. The order typically identifies the specific flagstaffs covered, the dates and times of lowering, and the reason for the directive. Government affairs teams and facility managers monitor these orders to ensure compliance. The National Governors Association and state government websites often publish summaries of current and upcoming directives.
Recent Half-Staff Orders and Compliance Guidance
Recent half-staff orders have covered the deaths of former presidents, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and national security figures, as well as responses to mass shootings and other major events. The White House issues a fact sheet with each order that explains the reason, the effective dates, and the scope of the directive. These fact sheets are published on the official White House website and are often referenced by federal agencies, state governments, and major news outlets. Compliance guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration outlines the specific steps for federal facilities, including how to notify flag contractors and update flag-raising schedules.
For private companies and organizations, the most relevant guidance comes from the directives that apply to federal property and contractors. Companies with facilities on federal land or with federal contracts often align their flag practices with the current half-staff order to maintain consistency with government operations. The