SPOKANE, Wash. — The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane removed several Native American tribal flags this week, following a federal policy that restricts which flags can be displayed at VA facilities nationwide.
The flag removal occurred Tuesday as part of a Department of Veterans Affairs policy change that limits public flag displays to U.S. flags, state flags, military service flags and a select few others. Multiple VA medical centers across the country have taken similar action to remove tribal flags.
A member of the Colville Tribe said there was a flag-removal ceremony at the VA facility Tuesday, but the tribe did not send a representative because it was organized at the last minute. Representatives from other tribes, including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said they were not aware the flags were being removed.
The federal policy restricting flag displays at Veterans Affairs facilities was originally implemented during the first Trump administration and remained in place throughout the Biden administration.
The VA updated its policy in February to be in line with the Department of Defense on the flag policy.
4 News Now reached out to VA officials about why the Spokane facility removed the tribal flags this week, but has not received a response.
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