POW/MIA flag moved back atop White House

The White House has returned the prisoner-of-war/missing-in-action (POW/MIA) flag to its previous position atop the White House residence, after it was moved to a different location on the White House grounds during the Trump administration.

“In keeping with the president and first lady’s commitment to honor the sacrifices of all those who serve, including veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, the president and first lady have restored the POW-MIA flag to its original location on top of the White House residence,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a briefing Friday afternoon.

The decision followed a bipartisan push for the POW/MIA flag to be restored to its former location. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote to President Biden days after he took office asking that the flag be returned to the top of the White House.

Former President Trump signed a law in 2019 that mandated the flag be displayed with the U.S. flag at designated federal locations, including the White House. The flag was flown at the White House for some time but moved to another location on the grounds and was apparently never returned last year.

“I am thankful that the POW/MIA flag now once again flies high in its rightful place above the White House. It is a powerful way to continually remember and pay tribute to the tremendous sacrifice of prisoners of war and missing service members. I am thinking of their families and loved ones today and always as we honor their brave service to keep our country safe, secure, and free,” Hassan said in a statement Friday.

Friday’s announcement coincided with National Former POW Recognition Day, which Psaki noted in her remarks.