Short answer: Flags were lowered to half-staff today in observance of the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, as announced by official proclamations and government updates. Details:

• The White House and many state and local governments typically lower flags to half-staff in mourning for high-ranking officials or notable national figures. In 2025, multiple outlets and official releases reported that former Vice President Cheney’s passing triggered such a proclamation, resulting in half-staff displays across federal and state properties for a period determined by the issuing authority. This aligns with established protocols that govern half-staff observances for former vice presidents and other senior officials.

• Some jurisdictions extended the half-staff period or issued additional local proclamations per their own rules, while federal guidance often sets a nationwide observance window (e.g., a specific number of days). Reports from multiple states (Minnesota, North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, etc.) indicated they followed the national directive and/or issued their own half-staff proclamations in honor of Cheney.

• In context, half-staff is used to signify mourning and respect, and it is typically ordered by the President for nationwide effect or by governors for state-level observances. The timing and duration vary depending on the issuing authority and the figure being memorialized. For Cheney’s death, the public narrative centered on official proclamations directing flags to fly at half-staff for a defined period.

If you’d like, I can pull the exact dates for today’s half-staff status in your state or a specific jurisdiction, or summarize the official proclamations across several states.