Overview
- The White House proclamation signed July 13 directs the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff at federal buildings, military posts and U.S. missions abroad until 6 p.m. local time on July 18.
- Senator Lindsey Graham died on July 11 and his office said preliminary medical findings attributed the death to a tear in his main artery caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
- Federal law requires flags to be lowered at least for the day of and the day after the death of a member of Congress and gives the president authority to extend that period, which the proclamation invokes.
- President Trump called Graham “a dear friend” in a July 12 social post and has previously used presidential authority to order nationwide flag-lowering in other high-profile deaths.
- The order formalizes public mourning across federal sites and U.S. missions, and further medical or administrative steps could follow as the preliminary findings remain under review.