Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered all flags — which are at half-staff following former President Jimmy Carter's death — to be raised to full staff for Inauguration Day.
The U.S. flag code mandates flags be flown at half-staff on federal buildings for 30 days after the death of a president or former president. The flag code gives a state governor the power to order flags at half-staff, and in accordance with the code, flags across the nation have been at half-staff since Carter died on Dec. 29.
But the code does not apply to states governmental buildings, only federal. In a statement released a week before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, Abbott said the U.S. flag should be raised on Inauguration Day.
"As we unite our country and usher in this new era of leadership, I ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and all state buildings for the inauguration of President Trump," Abbott said in the statement. "While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America.”
Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor, said states usually follow federal guidance on flags.
However, he added that Abbott has control over what happens at the state level.
"There may be some flags that are flown outside of a building that has both joint federal and state responsibility," Rottinghaus said. "In which case the federal responsibilities would supersede those of the state."
Federal law doesn't give specifics on what exceptions states or local governments can make when it comes to flying the U.S. flag at full staff.
It was unclear as of Monday afternoon whether local municipalities would also raise flags to full staff for Inauguration Day.
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