Waking up and seeing the Stars and Stripes flying halfway down the pole usually stops you in your tracks. It's a heavy sight. You immediately wonder what happened or who we lost. If you're looking out the window on Friday, January 16, 2026, and seeing those colors lowered, the answer depends heavily on where you’re standing, though there isn't a blanket, nationwide order from the White House today.
Why are U.S. flags at half mast today in New Jersey?
If you are in the Garden State, you’ll definitely see them down. Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 412 this week, specifically directing that both the U.S. and New Jersey flags be flown at half-staff. This started at sunrise today, Friday, January 16, and it’s set to stay that way until sunset tomorrow, Saturday, January 17.
So, who are we honoring? It’s for Richard Alan “Dick” Zimmer.
Zimmer was a pretty big deal in New Jersey politics for a long time. He passed away on New Year's Eve at the age of 81. He was a Republican who represented the 12th Congressional District for three terms back in the 90s. Even if you aren't into politics, you've probably felt his impact—he was the guy who advanced "Megan’s Law" in the House, which changed how communities are notified about sex offenders. He was known for being a fiscal hawk but also focused a lot on child safety and government transparency. Governor Murphy, despite being on the other side of the aisle, called him a "dedicated public servant" who led with integrity.
The situation in Arizona and elsewhere
New Jersey isn't the only spot with lowered flags. Over in Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs has had a standing order for flags to remain at half-staff. This is a tribute to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who recently passed away. According to the notice from the Governor’s office, the flags at all state buildings in Arizona are staying down until the date of his interment. Since a final date for that hasn't been widely broadcasted yet, the flags are staying low as a mark of respect for his decades of service.
Arizona also recently lowered flags for Mark Brnovich, their former Attorney General, though the primary focus for the long-term lowering there has been for the former Vice President.
What most people get wrong about flag protocols
Honestly, there’s a lot of confusion about who can actually order the flag to be lowered. A lot of people think it’s only the President. That’s not true. While the President can order it for the whole country—like President Trump did on January 7th to honor the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa—Governors have the right to do it for their own states.
The U.S. Flag Code (which is technically 4 U.S.C. § 7) is more like a set of "best practice" guidelines than a law that gets you thrown in jail. It says the flag should go to half-staff for:
- 30 days after the death of a current or former President.
- 10 days after the death of a Vice President, Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House.
- From the day of death until interment for Associate Justices, Cabinet members, or former Vice Presidents.
But here's the thing: those are the minimums. Governors often step in to honor local heroes, first responders who died in the line of duty, or state legislators like Dick Zimmer.
Why the terminology matters (Mast vs. Staff)
You’ll hear people use "half-mast" and "half-staff" interchangeably. Kinda annoying for the purists, but here's the deal. Technically, "half-mast" is for ships and naval stations. If it’s on land—at a school, a post office, or the statehouse—it’s "half-staff."
Most of us just say "half-mast" because it sounds more traditional, but if you want to sound like a total pro, use "staff" for the pole in your front yard.
Other reasons you might see flags down today
Sometimes, individual towns or organizations lower their flags for local tragedies that don't make the state-wide news. For example, in New Providence, NJ, they are following the Governor’s order for Zimmer, but you might also see local fire departments lowering their flags for a retired member.
Also, keep in mind the "Inauguration Window." We are just days away from January 20th. Historically, this time of year can be heavy with transitions and sometimes, as we saw last year with the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the flag stay down through the inauguration period due to the 30-day rule.
Actionable steps for flag owners
If you’re a homeowner or business owner and you want to follow the proper etiquette, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your local orders: If you’re in New Jersey, you should have your flag at half-staff today and tomorrow. If you're in Arizona, keep it down until further notice.
- The "Hoist and Lower" Rule: You don't just pull the flag halfway up. The proper way is to briskly hoist the flag to the very top (the peak) for an instant, and then ceremoniously lower it to the halfway point.
- The Sunset Rule: Before you take it down at the end of the day, you must again hoist it to the peak before lowering it all the way.
- No Flagpole? No Problem: If you have a fixed-arm flag (the kind that sticks out from your house at an angle), you can't really move it to half-staff. Instead, the tradition is to attach a black crepe streamer to the top of the flag. It should be about the same width as a stripe on the flag and long enough to hang naturally.
Watching the flag status is basically a way of keeping the pulse of the nation's grief and respect. Today, that pulse is centered mostly on New Jersey's farewell to a long-time lawmaker and Arizona's mourning of a national figure. Check your state's official government website (usually the "Press Releases" or "News" section) if you ever see a flag down and aren't sure why; they almost always post the executive order within hours of it being signed.