Why Are Flags at Half-Staff Today in Washington?
Flags in Washington are at half-staff today under a federal order.
DEATH OF SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM
No fresh official-source confirmation is available. Check the linked federal or state authority before acting.
Washington Half-Staff History
Search past Washington flag-lowering orders by person, event, or effective date.
How to Read Today’s Washington Flag Status
Check the location, authority, and end time before changing a flag. A federal order and a Washington order can apply to different places for different periods.
Check Which Washington Locations Are Covered
A notice from the governor may cover all government facilities, only the capitol or central offices, selected counties or cities, or another named location. Follow the scope written in the current order.
Compare the Local and Federal Orders
A presidential order can apply nationwide while a governor's order applies within Washington. This page tracks both so a local order is not mistaken for a national one.
Use the Exact Return-to-Full-Staff Time
Do not assume every notice lasts all day. The order may end at sunset, noon, interment, or another stated time. Use the “Ends” field above.
Washington Half-Staff Flag Questions
Why can flags be at half-staff in Washington when the national status is full-staff?
The governor can issue a jurisdiction-specific order for an official, service member, first responder, tragedy, or remembrance. That order may apply in Washington even when no federal order is active.
Does a Washington half-staff order apply to homes and businesses?
Read the order’s scope. Government notices commonly direct publicly owned facilities and may invite residents, businesses, and local governments to participate. Do not treat an invitation as a requirement or expand a limited order beyond its named area.
Which order should I follow in Washington: local or federal?
Check both. A federal order and a governor's order can overlap, and their locations or end times can differ. The current answer above shows the controlling known order and keeps the second status visible.
Is “half-mast” the same as “half-staff” in Washington?
They describe the same mourning display in everyday searches. In U.S. usage, “half-staff” is the standard term for flags on land, while “half-mast” is traditionally used aboard ships and at naval stations.
How can I find why flags were lowered on a past date in Washington?
Use the Washington history search above. Enter a person or event, or choose a date range, to find normalized orders and their original sources.
Local and federal orders are tracked separately
A presidential order and a governor's order can have different scopes and dates. This page gives the Washington answer first and keeps the federal status visible as a secondary notice.