At least two U.S. senators have placed holds on the nomination of Adm. Kevin Lunday to serve as the Coast Guard’s commandant after the service enacted a new workplace harassment policy that downgrades the definition of swastikas and nooses from hate symbols to “potentially divisive.”

The action by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., follows a Washington Post report on Tuesday revealing that, despite Lunday’s forceful denunciation of such symbols and a separate directive he issued prohibiting them, the service allowed the policy to take effect with the “potentially divisive” language included.

A spokesperson for Lunday, who has been the service’s acting commandant for several months, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard.

The “potentially divisive” language was adopted as part of a policy manual overhaul initiated soon after the Trump administration took office and ousted Lunday’s predecessor, Adm. Linda Fagan. Officials cited Fagan’s “excessive focus” on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The new workplace harassment manual changed how items such as swastikas and nooses were described, softening their definition from symbols of hate to “potentially divisive.” The new manual also would allow for a supervisor to review how the symbols were used or displayed in the workplace instead of immediately prohibiting them.

After The Post in November revealed the Coast Guard’s plan to adopt the new language, Lunday reacted swiftly — stating in a memo to all Coast Guard personnel that neither symbol was allowed in the workplace and condemning both. Lunday said at the time that his directive would supersede any other policy language.

For reasons that remain unclear, the policy manual was never updated to reflect the admiral’s directive, and it quietly went into effect earlier this week.

“It seems that Admiral Lunday may have backtracked in his commitment to me to combat antisemitism and hate crimes and protect all members of the Coast Guard,” Rosen said in a statement posted on social media Wednesday. “I will be placing a hold on his nomination until the Coast Guard provides answers.”

Duckworth’s office also confirmed that she too has also placed a hold on Lunday’s nomination because the Coast Guard kept the noose and swastika language in its new policy manual.

Michelle Boorstein contributed to this report.

Congress and the military