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Are Flags at Half-Staff Today?
Current status — updated Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Flags are at FULL-STAFF nationwide.
No presidential half-staff proclamation is currently in effect. Next scheduled lowering: Patriot Day — Friday, September 11 (sunrise to sunset, by law).
Most recent national order: Flags flew at half-staff August 26 through sunset September 1, 2026, honoring Dolly Parton, per presidential proclamation.
Active State Half-Staff Orders
No state-level half-staff orders are currently active. Governors regularly order flags lowered for fallen service members, law enforcement officers, and state officials — when they do, they will be listed here with a link to the official order.
The Half-Staff Calendar: Days Flags Are Lowered Every Year
Five observances call for half-staff every year under the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 7(m)):
| Date | Observance | How long |
|---|---|---|
| May 15 | Peace Officers Memorial Day | Sunrise to sunset* |
| Last Monday in May | Memorial Day | Sunrise until noon only, then raised to full staff |
| September 11 | Patriot Day | Sunrise to sunset |
| First Sunday of Fire Prevention Week (October) | National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service | Sunrise to sunset |
| December 7 | Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day | Sunrise to sunset |
*Unless May 15 falls on Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May), when flags fly at full staff.
The Memorial Day noon rule surprises people every year: the flag flies at half-staff only until noon, then goes to full staff until sunset — the morning honors the fallen, and the afternoon celebrates their sacrifice by flying the flag high.
Who Can Order Flags to Half-Staff — and for How Long
Only three authorities can order U.S. flags to half-staff: the President, your state’s Governor (within that state), and the Mayor of the District of Columbia. The Flag Code sets the mourning periods:
| Who has died | Half-staff period |
|---|---|
| President or former President | 30 days from death |
| Vice President, Chief Justice or retired Chief Justice, Speaker of the House | 10 days from death |
| Associate Justice, Cabinet Secretary, former Vice President, Governor (within their state) | Death until interment |
| Member of Congress | Day of death and the following day |
Your neighbor, your HOA, and your local news station cannot order flags to half-staff — if you are unsure whether a lowering is official, check this page or the proclamation itself.
How to Fly Your Flag at Half-Staff Properly
The one rule most people miss: never raise a flag directly to half-staff. Hoist it briskly to the peak first, hold for an instant, then lower it to the half-staff position. At the end of the day, raise it back to the peak before lowering it completely.
- Half-staff position: halfway between the top and bottom of the pole — on most residential poles, lowering the flag by one-quarter to one-third of the visible height reads clearly as half-staff.
- Wall-mounted and angled house poles cannot fly half-staff. The Flag Code alternative: attach a black mourning ribbon (streamer) to the top of the pole, the same length as the flag.
- Telescoping and in-ground poles handle half-staff naturally — set the flag at the halfway point.
- Half-staff vs. half-mast: they mean the same thing. “Half-mast” is the naval term (masts are on ships); “half-staff” is correct on land.
Never Miss a Half-Staff Order
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are flags at half-staff today?
Check the status banner at the top of this page — it is updated daily. Flags go to half-staff only by presidential proclamation, a governor’s order (within that state), or on the five annual observances set by the U.S. Flag Code.
Why are flags at half-staff today?
When a lowering is in effect, the banner at the top of this page names the person or observance being honored and links to the official proclamation.
Who decides when flags fly at half-staff?
Only the President (nationwide), state Governors (within their state), and the Mayor of the District of Columbia. HOAs, businesses, and individuals may lower their own flags voluntarily but cannot issue official orders.
How long do flags stay at half-staff when a president dies?
Thirty days from the day of death, for both sitting and former presidents. The Vice President, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House are honored for 10 days.
What if my flagpole cannot fly a flag at half-staff?
For wall-mounted and angled poles, the Flag Code alternative is a black mourning ribbon attached at the top of the pole, the same length as the flag.
Federal Flags has supplied American-made flags and flagpoles to homeowners, businesses, and municipalities since 2002. If your flag is looking tired, browse our American flags made in the USA — replace it before the next time it matters. Flying it after dark? See our guide to lighting your flagpole at night.
Sources: U.S. Flag Code, 4 U.S.C. § 7(m) · White House Presidential Actions
