About This Project
It's Half-Staff Because... answers a simple question that millions of Americans Google every year: “Why is the flag at half-staff today?”
We monitor official proclamations from the White House, all 50 state governors, and the District of Columbia to give you a clear, up-to-date answer with the reason, the authority behind the order, and how long it lasts.
How It Works
Scrape
52 automated scrapers monitor governor websites, RSS feeds, APIs, and the Federal Register around the clock.
Parse
New proclamations are parsed to extract the reason, effective dates, issuing authority, and whether flags should be at half-staff.
Display
The interactive map updates in real time. Click any state to see its current status and full order history.
Data Sources
All data comes from official government sources. We never rely on social media or unofficial reports.
- Federal Register — Presidential proclamations
- 50 state governor websites — press releases, RSS feeds, and APIs
- District of Columbia — Mayor's Office newsroom
Scraper types include RSS/Atom feeds, REST APIs (JSON, GraphQL, SharePoint), HTML parsing, and Playwright browser automation for JavaScript-rendered sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
Half-staff refers to flags on land-based flagpoles. Half-mast is the naval/nautical term for flags on ships. For US flags on buildings and grounds, “half-staff” is the correct term.
Who can order flags to half-staff?
The President can order US flags to half-staff nationwide. State governors can order flags to half-staff within their state. Under 4 U.S.C. § 7(m), certain events (like the death of a president or vice president) require half-staff by law without a proclamation.
How often are flags at half-staff?
Federal half-staff orders occur roughly 10–15 times per year. State-level orders vary widely — some states issue dozens per year for local fallen officers and dignitaries, while others closely follow federal orders only.