DHS authorities dismiss Coast Guard head officer
The Coast Guard has been under scrutiny recently following the removal of its Commandant, Linda Fagan, on January 21, 2023. The DHS official cited Fagan's handling of Operation Fouled Anchor as a reason for her removal.
The mishandling of Operation Fouled Anchor led to a review that resulted in 33 actions aimed at improving the US Coast Guard's (USCG) culture. As of the end of 2024, more than half of these actions have been implemented.
The safe-to-report policy that protects victims and eyewitnesses who report sexual misconduct from being punished for minor collateral misconduct is among the implemented actions. Other actions include improving the deployment of USCG assets for border security and addressing recruiting shortfalls.
The termination of Fagan was first reported by Fox News on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Specific issues mentioned in the report included ineffective deployment of USCG assets for border security, recruiting shortfalls, and an excessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The X account for Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee supported Fagan's termination, citing USCG's concealment of Operation Fouled Anchor and failure to address sexual misconduct. However, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., opposed Fagan's removal, arguing that she stood up to clean up the mess and that the complexity of the Coast Guard's diverse missions require continuity.
Sen. Cantwell is not alone in her stance. White House officials, Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who lead the subcommittee investigating Operation Fouled Anchor, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It's important to note that President Donald Trump's initial executive actions on January 21, 2023, addressed increasing border security and eliminating DEI programs from federal agencies. This could potentially explain the focus on border security and DEI policies in the report of Fagan's removal.
In a positive development, the USCG reported in 2024 that it met its recruiting target for the first time since 2017, bringing on more than 4,400 active duty members. Fagan, who was the first woman to lead a U.S. military branch, will undoubtedly be remembered for her historic achievement.
Vice Commandant Kevin Lunday is leading the USCG in an acting capacity. The investigations into Operation Fouled Anchor and the culture within the USCG continue, with more updates expected in the future. The search results do not contain information about which congressional representatives accused the Coast Guard at the end of 2024 regarding the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation.
As the situation unfolds, the public and the USCG's stakeholders will be closely monitoring the developments to ensure a positive and effective change within the organization.
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