U.S. flags across California — from state government buildings to San Francisco City Hall — are flying at half-staff this week in honor of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who passed away earlier this month. The tribute follows an order issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, who directed state buildings to lower flags beginning Nov. 4.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office confirmed that flags will remain lowered until the completion of Cheney’s interment, in keeping with long-standing national customs for honoring deceased federal leaders.
Cheney, who served as vice president from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush, died at age 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. His funeral will take place Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, with a private interment scheduled immediately afterward.
(U.S. funeral and national mourning protocols can be reviewed through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.)
Under customary practice, flags are returned to full-staff at sunset on the day of interment, marking the conclusion of the official mourning period.
Federal & Local Response
The White House lowered flags within hours of the Cheney family’s announcement. However, according to The Associated Press, the administration did not issue a traditional proclamation acknowledging Cheney’s service — an unusual departure from historic practice.
Some cities and counties across California chose to follow the federal lead, lowering flags at their own government buildings to recognize Cheney’s national impact.
Cheney’s Complex Political Legacy
Once considered a defining force within the Republican Party, Cheney played a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the early 2000s and was widely seen as the primary architect of the Iraq War. His tenure as vice president made him one of the most influential political figures of the era.
But in later years, Cheney became an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump. In 2024, he issued a sharply worded warning, saying:
“There has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.”
Following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Cheney continued distancing himself from Trump and indicated that he planned to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
California’s flag-lowering directive reflects the long-standing tradition of honoring former vice presidents with a period of national mourning, even when their political views have evolved or divided public opinion.
