Pentagon Chief Effectively Bars Display Of Confederate Battle Flag By U.S. Military

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Defense Secretary Mark Esper, shown here on Capitol Hill earlier this month, has effectively banned the Confederate battle flag from U.S. military installations. / AP

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday unveiled a policy change that effectively blocks the public display of the Confederate battle flag at all U.S. military installations, without specifically naming that controversial banner.

Esper's announcement follows a lengthy internal debate as well as recent bans on displaying the flag by both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.

In an apparent attempt to avoid the ire of President Trump, who has criticized NASCAR's ban of the Confederate flag, Esper's 2-page memo lists the various flags that are now authorized to be displayed on U.S. military property and that "promote unity and esprit de corps".

Conspicuously absent from that list: the Confederate battle flag.

The Associated Press reported that an earlier version of the Pentagon policy memo had specifically banned the Confederate flag.

"The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols," Esper wrote in the memo. "With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defense of our great Nation."

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