Draft Plan to Ban Confederate Flags on Bases Could Lead to DOD-Trump Clash

July 7, 2020

Senior Pentagon leaders are circulating a draft plan that would ban confederate flags from all military installations, CNN reported this week, citing an official who has seen the document.

The plan is currently being reviewed by DOD legal personnel, according to the report.

“A decision to move ahead with a department-wide ban could now come soon, the official said,” CNN reported. “It is not known if Defense Secretary Mark Esper will seek [President Donald] Trump’s approval to proceed with the ban.”

The draft plan states that banning the flag would have a positive impact on “the morale of our personnel, good order and discipline within the military ranks and unit cohesion,” according to AP, which obtained a copy of the document.

President Trump has been critical of NASCAR for banning the flag. He also opposes renaming several installations that are named after confederate leaders. A House spending plan would withhold military construction funds from installations named after confederate leaders.

AP photo by Rogelio V. Solis

July 7, 2020

Recent News

Summit Preview: Closing the Gap in Affordable Child Care

Summit Preview: Closing the Gap in Affordable Child Care

DOD, Congress and communities are working to address the challenges that remain in helping military families find quality, affordable child care. It is one of the most pressing quality of life concerns service members report. The topic will be covered at sessions...

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

The Military Alliance Council in Charles County, Maryland and the town of Indian Head recently coordinated with local partners to provide Chick-Fil-A breakfast for Marines and sailors assigned to the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force after they returned in...

Tomorrow: DOD Webinar on Communities and the Defense Industrial Base

Tomorrow: DOD Webinar on Communities and the Defense Industrial Base

DOD’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs is hosting a webinar Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the National Defense Industrial Strategy. “The priorities detailed in the NDIS serve as a helpful guide to state and local leaders who want to identify ways to...

PAST STORIES