Coast Guard Commandant terminated over border lapses, recruitment, DEI focus: official
The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant was fired due to issues with recruitment, the border, and a “erosion of trust,” a senior DHS official confirmed to Fox News.
According to the official, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman has fired Adm. Linda Lee Fagan, 61.
Fagan has shown operational shortcomings, a lack of leadership, and an incapacity to forward the Coast Guard’s strategic goals.
These include a “erosion of trust” due to the Coast Guard’s internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy, Operation Fouled Anchor, which was poorly handled and covered up, the failure to address border security threats, a lack of leadership in recruitment and retention, poor management in acquiring important acquisitions like icebreakers and helicopters, and an overemphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Ineffective utilization of Coast Guard resources to promote national border security, including the interception of fentanyl and other illegal narcotics, is one of the charges against Fagan. Additionally, she was unable to prioritize activities along maritime boundaries due to a lack of coordination with DHS.
According to the DHS official, Fagan made serious mistakes in hiring staff, which made operational readiness problems worse. The official went on to say that workforce sustainability was hindered by the absence of creative solutions to retention issues in crucial specializations.
The official claimed that under her direction, the Coast Guard’s capabilities in the Arctic and other key areas were compromised by ongoing delays and cost overruns in the acquisition of crucial platforms, such as icebreakers and helicopters. The person also pointed to a lack of responsibility for acquisition mistakes that were brought to light under the first term of President Trump.
Additionally, Fagan prioritized DEI rules, even at the Coast Guard Academy, which took attention and resources away from operational necessities.
The concealment of $£xual assaults at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy “deeply eroded trust” in the Coast Guard among the military, the American public, and the U.S. Congress, according to Operation Fouled Anchor. Although Operation Fouled Anchor existed from 2014 to 2019, the Coast Guard did not reveal its existence until 2023.
When Fagan testified at a hearing on Capitol Hill over the summer, senators interrogated her about not holding anyone responsible for the cover-up and refusing to provide more documents that congressional lawmakers had asked for regarding the mishandling of the issue at the service’s academy.
According to the source, a “leadership culture” that is unable to guarantee accountability and openness in protecting service members has been exposed by the investigation’s failure to adequately address the systemic problems.
Beginning on June 1st, 2022, Fagan was the Coast Guard’s 27th Commandant. In addition to 42,000 active-duty, 7,000 reserve, and 8,700 civilian employees, she was also responsible for managing all Coast Guard activities worldwide and the assistance of 21,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers.
She was the first female head of any U.S. military branch, including the Coast Guard.
