Although the U.S. flag is at half-staff to mark the death of President Jimmy Carter, 8 Republican-led states will raise flags for Trump's inauguration

Despite President Joe Biden’s former directive that U.S. flags would be flown at half-staff during President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day—a continuation of mourning after the death of former President Jimmy Carter—several Republicans have pledged to fly their flags at full-staff.

Here's what to know about why flags are lowered when a president dies, who can issue that order and how long the process lasts: On Dec. 29, Biden ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in honor of the late former president.

Why are flags at half-staff? Flags at government agencies in S.C. and across the nation were lowered to half-staff on Dec. 30 in honor and remembrance of the life of the nation's