Why Is the Flag Lowered Today
The flag is lowered to half-staff or half-mast as a visible sign of mourning for a national tragedy, the death of a prominent leader, or a major disaster. The decision is made by the President for federal facilities, while governors order it for state facilities, and mayors or local agencies can do so for municipal buildings and public spaces. The U.S. Flag Code and presidential proclamations set the exact start and end times, with the flag first raised briskly to the top and then lowered slowly to the half-staff position, and raised briskly again at the end of the observance. Official guidance is published by the White House and the Department of Defense, and companies such as Tesla and SpaceX often follow these directives at their U.S. facilities and launch sites SpaceX. The display is coordinated with the Presidential Proclamation and Federal Register announcements so that federal agencies, military installations, and public institutions display the flag at half-staff simultaneously.
Recent half-staff orders have followed high-profile deaths of national figures, mass casualty events, and designated national days of remembrance. The White House issues a formal proclamation that specifies the start and end dates, the reason for the order, and the scope of the directive across federal buildings, embassies, and military bases. Governors issue similar proclamations for state capitols, courts, and public schools, while private companies and organizations may voluntarily lower their flags to align with the national observance. The U.S. Flag Code and the Presidential Proclamation provide the legal basis for these displays, and the Department of Defense ensures compliance at military installations Defense.gov. The flag is returned to full-staff at the end of the proclaimed period, typically at sunrise on the designated concluding day.
Who Orders the Flag to Be Lowered
The President of the United States issues the primary half-staff order for all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels, using a formal proclamation published in the Federal Register and communicated through the Office of the Press Secretary. The order specifies the start and end dates, the reason for the mourning period, and the geographic scope, which can include all states, specific states, or designated federal facilities. Governors issue parallel orders for state capitols, courthouses, and public schools, while mayors can order half-staff displays for city halls and municipal properties. The U.S. Flag Code and the Presidential Proclamation provide the legal framework for these directives, and the Department of Defense ensures compliance at military installations Defense.gov. The flag is returned to full-staff at the end of the proclaimed period, typically at sunrise on the designated concluding day.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the General Services Administration, coordinate the physical lowering and raising of flags at thousands of federal facilities. Military branches follow the Presidential Proclamation and service-specific regulations to ensure flags at bases, ships, and embassies are displayed at half-staff during the proclaimed period. State governors issue executive orders that apply to state-owned buildings, public schools, and state parks, and they often communicate these orders through official state websites and press releases. Local governments, public universities, and federally funded institutions may also lower flags in response to the presidential or gubernatorial proclamation, aligning their observance with the national directive GSA.gov. The U.S. Flag Code and the Presidential Proclamation provide the legal framework for these directives, and the Department of Defense ensures compliance at military installations.
When and How the Flag Is Lowered
The flag is lowered to half-staff at sunrise on the first day of the proclaimed period and is raised briskly to the top of the staff before being slowly lowered to the half-staff position. At