Pentagon mulling plan to ban Confederate flag without mentioning it by name: report

The Defense Department is reportedly considering a plan that would ban the Confederate flag in agency buildings and facilities without directly naming it.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that officials are weighing a policy that would establish a list of allowed flags at military installations, while leaving the Confederate flag off the list. By establishing a new standard rather than specifically banning one flag, the agency reportedly hopes to avoid controversy.

It was unclear when such a plan could be implemented, but the discussions have reportedly reached the desk of Defense Secretary Mark Esper, according to the AP.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy reportedly said Thursday at a press conference that “we would have any divisive symbols on a no-fly list” under a policy he was separately pursuing for Army bases.

Plans for a military-wide ban of the Confederate flag specifically were dropped in recent weeks due to concerns about opposition from President Trump, according to the AP.

States around the country have moved to take down Confederate monuments in response to protests against police brutality and racism that erupted in cities nationwide in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. 

The state of Mississippi went even further, retiring the state flag which includes the Confederate flag as part of its design.

“This is not a political moment to me but a solemn occasion to lead our Mississippi family to come together and move on,” Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said upon signing the measure. “A flag is a symbol of our past, our present and our future. For those reasons, we need a new symbol.”