Proc. 10885: Flying The Flag Of The United States At Full Staff On Inauguration Day

Proclamations

TLDR

This executive order temporarily raises U.S. flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day (Jan 20, 2025) during an active mourning period for Jimmy Carter, establishing precedent that inauguration ceremonies take precedence over presidential mourning protocols.

This executive order alters flag protocol during a mourning period to prioritize Inauguration Day symbolism. The proclamation immediately raises the U.S. flag to full-staff nationwide and internationally on January 20, 2025, despite an active 30-day mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter established by Proclamation 10876.

Key Provisions

  • Temporary suspension of mourning protocol: Overrides half-staff requirements from Carter’s memorial proclamation specifically for Inauguration Day
  • Future precedent: Applies to “all future Inauguration Days” regardless of concurrent memorial periods
  • Implementation scope: Affects all federal properties, military installations, diplomatic missions, and naval vessels
  • Post-inauguration protocol: Returns flags to half-staff after January 20 until completing Carter’s 30-day mourning period (ending January 28)

Notable Implications

  1. Protocol conflict resolution: Establishes inauguration ceremonies as having higher ceremonial priority than presidential mourning periods
  2. Historical deviation: Breaks from tradition where presidential deaths typically warrant uninterrupted 30-day half-staff observance
  3. Expanded executive authority: Uses same constitutional basis (§§1-4 of EO 10876) to both initiate and suspend mourning protocols.

  • Proclamation 10876 (carter)

    • Duration: 30 days (Dec 29-Jan 28)
    • Flag Position: Half-staff
    • Legal Basis: 4 U.S.C. §c7(m)
    • Scope: Domestic/International

  • Proclamation 10885 (inauguration)

    • Duration: 24 hours (Jan 20)
    • Flag Position: Full-staff
    • Legal Basis: 4 U.S.C. §c7(m) + “honor of Inauguration Day”
    • Scope: Domestic/International

The order creates a new hierarchy of national observances, positioning presidential transitions above memorial protocols through temporal exception. While legally permissible under existing flag codes, this represents a notable shift in ceremonial prioritization.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in honor of Inauguration Day and everything good and noble that it represents about our Nation, our people, and our form of Government, I hereby order that, on this and all future Inauguration Days, the flag of the United States shall be flown at full-staff.

Accordingly, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at full-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government, in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions, for the remainder of this day beginning immediately.

I also direct that, for the same period of time, the flag shall be flown at full-staff at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

Upon the end of this Inauguration Day, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be returned to half-staff as directed by Proclamation 10876 of December 29, 2024 (Announcing the Death of James Earl Carter, Jr.), in recognition of the memory of our former President, until the period of 30 days from the day of his death has concluded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

(AS PREPARED)