[Senate Hearing 119-335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-335
NOMINATION OF ADMIRAL KEVIN E. LUNDAY,
NOMINEE TO BE COMMANDANT,
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
NOVEMBER 19, 2025
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
63-118 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
TED CRUZ, Texas, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota MARIA CANTWELL, Washington,
ROGER WICKER, Mississippi Ranking
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee GARY PETERS, Michigan
TODD YOUNG, Indiana TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
TED BUDD, North Carolina TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
JOHN CURTIS, Utah BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico
BERNIE MORENO, Ohio JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado
TIM SHEEHY, Montana JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia ANDY KIM, New Jersey
CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware
Brad Grantz, Republican Staff Director
Nicole Christus, Republican Deputy Staff Director
Lila Harper Helms, Staff Director
Melissa Porter, Deputy Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on November 19, 2025................................ 1
Statement of Senator Cruz........................................ 1
Statement of Senator Cantwell.................................... 2
Statement of Senator Klobuchar................................... 27
Statement of Senator Wicker...................................... 29
Statement of Senator Baldwin..................................... 31
Statement of Senator Sullivan.................................... 32
Statement of Senator Kim......................................... 35
Statement of Senator Budd........................................ 36
Statement of Senator Blunt Rochester............................. 40
Statement of Senator Markey...................................... 42
Statement of Senator Peters...................................... 43
Letter dated November 14, 2025 to Hon. Gary C. Peters from
Christopher Jones, Chief of Police, Harbormaster, Ludington
Police Department.......................................... 45
Letter dated November 14, 2025 to Hon. Gary Peters from
Michael J. Poulin, Sheriff, Muskegon County, President,
Michigan Sheriff's Association............................. 46
Letter dated November 16, 2025 to Hon. Gary C. Peters from
Kurt Corradi, Fire Chief, Bay City Department of Public
Safety; Michael Galloner, Fire Chief, Bangor Township Fire
Department; Brandon Hausbeck, Fire Chief, Saginaw Fire
Department; and Steve Berneuter, Fire Chief, Kawkawlin
Township Fire Department................................... 48
Letter dated November 17, 2025 to Senator Gary Peters from
Joshua J. Mills, City Superintendent, City of Frankfort.... 52
Letter dated November 18, 2025 to Hon. Gary Peters from James
H. I. Weakley, President, Lake Carriers' Association....... 55
Letter dated November 19, 2025 to Hon. Gary C. Peters from
Justin L. Westmiller, PEM, Director, Homeland Security &
Emergency Management, St. Clair County..................... 56
Letter dated November 20, 2025 to Hon. Gary Peters from
Rebecca Hubers, Benzie County Office of Emergency
Management and Sheriff Kyle Rosa, Benzie County Sheriff's
Office..................................................... 59
Letter dated November 24, 2025 to Chairman Cruz and Ranking
Member Cantwell from K. Denise Rucker Krepp, Coast Guard
veteran and former Maritime Administration Chief Counsel;
Kelly A. Sullivan, CDR (Ret.), U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Class of 1985; Melissa K. McCafferty, LT (Ret.), U.S. Coast
Guard Academy Class of 2011; Caitlin E. Maro, U.S. Coast
Guard Academy Class of 2008; Shawna Ward, Chief Warrant
Officer 4 (Ret.), Coast Guard; and Kristina Slivinski, U.S.
Coast Guard Academy Class of 2009.......................... 81
Statement of Senator Lujan....................................... 63
Witnesses
Hon. Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina............ 4
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Nominee to be Commandant, United States
Coast Guard.................................................... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 6
Biographical information..................................... 7
Appendix
Response to written questions submitted to Admiral Kevin E.
Lunday by:
Hon. John Thune.............................................. 67
Hon. Jerry Moran............................................. 67
Hon. Dan Sullivan............................................ 68
Hon. Todd Young.............................................. 70
Hon. Maria Cantwell.......................................... 71
Hon. Brian Schatz............................................ 74
Hon. Gary Peters............................................. 81
Hon. Tammy Baldwin........................................... 89
Hon. Tammy Duckworth......................................... 90
Hon. Ben Ray Lujan........................................... 92
Hon. John Fetterman.......................................... 93
Hon. Andy Kim................................................ 94
NOMINATION OF ADMIRAL KEVIN E. LUNDAY,
NOMINEE TO BE COMMANDANT,
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
----------
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11 a.m., in room
SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Ted Cruz, Chairman
of the Committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Cruz [presiding], Wicker, Sullivan,
Young, Budd, Schmitt, Curtis, Sheehy, Capito, Lummis, Cantwell,
Klobuchar, Markey, Peters, Baldwin, Lujan, Fetterman, Kim, and
Blunt Rochester.
Also present: Senator Graham.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS
The Chairman. Good morning. The Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.
Semper Peratus--``Always Prepared''--that is the motto and
sworn mission of the United States Coast Guard. Unfortunately,
insufficient financial support over the years has left the
Coast Guard without all of the equipment needed to stay
prepared. Facilities are moldy, including needing water.
Senator Graham. He loves the Coast Guard. He's very
emotional about this.
[Laughter.]
Voice. Amen.
The Chairman. Texas has a lot of coast, and we do love our
Coast Guardsmen. Facilities are moldy and decrepit. Technology
to thwart drug cartels and human traffickers is outdated. The
United States has only three aging polar icebreakers, whereas
China has four and Russia has more than 40. Earlier this year,
however, our committee and the Trump administration took a
momentous step toward changing that. The One Big Beautiful Bill
Act made an historic $24.6 billion investment in the Coast
Guard. It was the single largest appropriation in Coast Guard
history. It includes funds to acquire at least five polar
icebreakers, 40 helicopters, and nine patrol cutters. It
unleashes $4 billion for improving shore facilities, like the
bootcamp barracks, multi-use training centers, and the Coast
Guard Yard. Put simply, it funds the Coast Guard of the future.
The Coast Guard needs leadership to implement this investment.
It needs a Commandant who will reinvigorate efforts to protect
and patrol America's waters. That's precisely why I'm so glad
that President Trump has nominated Admiral Kevin Lunday.
Since January, Admiral Lunday has served as the Acting
Commandant of the Coast Guard. In this role, he has
exceptionally managed long-overdue surges of Coast Guard
resources to the Gulf Coast and the Pacific to interdict drug
runners and human traffickers, while also balancing the
Service's many other directives. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, the
Coast Guard seized nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine, by far the
largest haul in its history and 3 times its annual average.
That's the equivalent of 193 million lethal doses, more than
enough to poison half of the United States' population. Just
since August, the Coast Guard's newly launched Pacific Viper
has netted 100,000 pounds. These results show that the Coast
Guard is dismantling narco-terrorist networks before they even
reach American shores. As Admiral Lunday has put it, ``We own
the sea.''
Along with partner agencies, the Service is better securing
our border. It recently launched Operation River Wall along the
Rio Grande, deploying watercraft and tactical teams to help
deter and defeat illegal immigration, smuggling, and other
national security threats. I have every confidence that this
good work will continue under Admiral Lunday. A graduate of the
Coast Guard Academy, he has served his country for close to 4
decades, leading the Coast Guard's Cyber Command, Oceana
District, and the entire Atlantic area, including all U.S.
waterways east of the Rocky Mountains. Now I look forward to
his leadership of the Coast Guard as Commandant, and I
recognize Ranking Member Cantwell.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral Lunday,
congratulations on your nomination to serve as the Commandant
of the U.S. Coast Guard. If confirmed, you will continue to
lead a force of 41,000 active duty and 7,000 reserve and nearly
10,000 civilian employees as they fulfill this core mission of
service, providing maritime security, law enforcement,
fisheries enforcement, icebreaking capacity, and prevention and
response activities for the largest system of ports, waterways,
and coast in the world.
For nearly two-and-a-half centuries, the Coast Guard has
answered the call through hurricanes, oil spills, search and
rescue missions, and national emergencies. From the icy waters
of the Arctic to the ports of Puget Sound, Coasties keep
America safe, protect our environment, and keep commerce
moving, but the Coast Guard is not without its challenges,
especially at this moment, and I'll have many questions for
you, Admiral Lunday, about how you plan to address those
challenges. Unlike your predecessor, you've been serving as
Acting Commandant for nearly 10 months, so you've been in a
room--in the room, I should say--already making decisions that
directly impact the Coast Guard's future.
First, I have serious concerns about whether the Coast
Guard is pulling back from its core mission of search and
rescue. There are 23 vacant search-and-rescue stations with
zero permanent staffing or assets. Even more concerning, the
Coast Guard informed the Committee that there is no plan to
reopen these stations, and there are reports of phased plans to
shutter even more stations amid rumors about potentially
privatizing search and rescue. While none of the current
closures impact the State of Washington, our fishermen are
impacted when they are crabbing off of Coos Bay or North Bend,
Oregon, and they find Coast Guard small boat air rescue
stations shuttered. The Dungeness crab industry is one of the
most dangerous fisheries in the Nation, and they rely on the
Coast Guard. Admiral Lunday, I expect you to provide clarity on
that issue.
I also expect you to address morale issues. I'm hearing at
the Service. We need to make sure that--in the backdrop of the
firing of Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan, 18 months after--18
months before the end of her Senate-confirmed term. That's
never happened. Days later, Admiral Fagan was evicted from her
home, and at the same time, I think this is an appalling way to
treat a top military officer who served the country with
distinction, and it's not a responsible way to govern. It sends
a clear message throughout the ranks that professional
independence can be overridden by political preferences.
Meanwhile, there are still serious questions about resources.
Last month, the Coast Guard purchased two luxury executive
aircraft for more than $172 million using funds intended for
those search-and-rescue missions, particularly the C-130s. So,
Admiral Lunday, I expect to ask about that particular issue
this morning as well.
The Coast Guard plays an important role in assessing
impacts like the I-5 bridge and what impact it would have on
military and maritime traffic, and completing a preliminary
assessment is necessary for the Department of Transportation to
finish its environmental review. So, I expect the Coast Guard
to complete that assessment promptly so we can get closer to
replacing this bridge that's 108 years old. I also expect the
Coast Guard to address the urgent issues at Station Cape
Disappointment, a critical Coast Guard unit in the Pacific
Northwest, and vital training for our coastal surfmen. These
include emergency damage and chilling that has occurred at the
base. We need a comprehensive strategy to invest in Cape
Disappointment to ensure that it can continue to do its search-
and-rescue mission.
And I would like to return to the Operation Fouled Anchor,
the Coast Guard's decades-long mishandling of the sexual
conduct cases at the Coast Guard Academy. As chair of this
committee, I worked with Senators Baldwin and Cruz and Sullivan
to initiate a DHS Inspector General investigation into the
Coast Guard coverup. It's been 2 years, and I'm still waiting
for the results. I expect the inspector general to finish this
work without delay and for the Coast Guard to fully cooperate
with the investigation. Rest assured that we'll continue to
hold the Coast Guard accountable on these issues. The Committee
worked together to draft commonsense legislation, and the
Senate's Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 would expand
Coast Guard authorities and programs to hold perpetrators
accountable, enhance investigations and the legal process to
improve victim recovery services and access to all, including
the boosting of training. So, I'll look forward to hearing
about how we improve the accountability there, Admiral, and
your leadership on that particular issue. Again,
congratulations on your nomination.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. I would now
recognize our friend and colleague from the great State of
South Carolina, Senator Graham, and I would note that I expect
you to get as choked up and emotional about the Coast Guard as
I get.
STATEMENT OF HON. LINDSEY GRAHAM,
U.S. SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
Senator Graham. Well, I'm very excited about the Coast
Guard. We have a plan apparently to move the entire Coast Guard
to South Carolina, and I want to----
The Chairman. Your time has expired.
[Laughter.]
Senator Graham. I don't think that probably helps you here,
but the reason I'm here is I've known Admiral Lunday for a
while, and he was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and to both
of you, Chair and Ranking Member, I appreciate acknowledging
the role the Coast Guard plays. It's the mighty, mighty Coast
Guard, and we are the Commerce Committee, and without the Coast
Guard, we'd be less safe and less prosperous. Admiral Lunday
and his lovely wife, LyndaLee, are here. They've dedicated 39
years of service to the United States Coast Guard. He's a
graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with honors, the
National War College, the Naval War College, and George
Washington University Law School.
One thing I want to highlight, he's the first Judge
Advocate in the history of Coast Guard to be Commandant, and I
think now's a good time for that expertise. I served as a Judge
Advocate in the Air Force, and his experience--he's a
cybersecurity expert. He has commanded forces all over the
world in the Coast Guard. He has been the Commandant for the
last 10 months. These are dangerous times in which we all live.
I think he has got the expertise, the academic background, and
the character and the judgment to continue to lead the Coast
Guard. I would urge you to continue making him the Commandant.
I think he has earned that distinction. His record is
unblemished. He understands the men and women in the Coast
Guard, because he has lived his life in their ranks. He has
been all over the world in the service of our Nation, and I
just can't recommend him to you more highly.
We're proud of the fact that he started his life in South
Carolina and he has risen in the ranks as a Judge Advocate all
the way to the top, and that is something to be proud of. So, I
wish you and your wife all the best, and I know that if you're
the Commandant of the Coast Guard, continuing in that role,
America will be safe and prosperous. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you all.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Graham. I now recognize
Admiral Lunday for his opening statement.
STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL KEVIN E. LUNDAY, NOMINEE TO BE COMMANDANT,
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Admiral Lunday. Senator Graham, thank you very much for the
introduction, sir. Good morning, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member
Cantwell, Chairman Sullivan, Ranking Member Blunt Rochester,
distinguished members of the Committee. I'm honored to appear
before you here today. I'm thankful to President Trump and
Secretary Noem for their trust and confidence to nominate me as
the next Commandant on the Coast Guard, subject to the Senate's
confirmation, and I thank the Committee for your enduring
support for our service. If confirmed, I look forward to
working closely with the Committee and with the rest of
Congress.
I also want to thank the team that helped prepare me for
today. The most important part of that team is right here with
me today, my wife, LyndaLee. I am blessed by our 36 years of
marriage and her enduring love and support that has enabled me
to continue to serve an active career in the United States
Coast Guard. She's a proud military spouse and a champion for
Coast Guard and Joint Force family readiness. Across the many
dynamic challenges of Coast Guard life, she's also maintained
her own professional career as a gifted speech-language
pathologist. She is remarkable, and I would not be here today
without her.
I'm from a family of military service. My dad was a career
Army soldier, of Army infantry and special forces, who rose
from private to colonel. He fought in Vietnam and the Cold War
and commanded troops in combat in crisis. My mom was an officer
in the Army Medical Corps before becoming a full-time mom and
military spouse to raise three sons. My parents taught me my
values and instilled in me my faith in God. They set the
example that's guided me throughout my life and inspired me to
join the armed forces.
Now, I joined the Coast Guard because I wanted to fight the
spread of communism and the Soviet Union, to stop drug
smugglers at sea, and to save lives. I was drawn to the
Service's proud history of fighting in every one of our
Nation's wars. Over the past nearly 39 years, I've served with
crews and led them throughout the Atlantic and Pacific regions
and in cyberspace. Now, while the missions have been rewarding,
I've found the most joy serving as part of a Coast Guard crew
alongside men and women who share the same values as me and who
are, without question, the very best in the world at what they
do. I'm fiercely proud to serve with them and inspired every
day by their unwavering dedication and courage.
Today, as threats and challenges facing our Nation grow, I
believe the American people need a stronger and more capable
Coast Guard today more than ever. For the past 10 months, as
the Acting Commandant, I've led the Coast Guard to achieve full
operational control of our border by controlling, securing, and
defending our border and maritime approaches; to facilitate
commerce that's vital to our economic prosperity and strategic
mobility by ensuring the safety and security of that commerce
in physical and in cyberspace; and third, by ensuring the Coast
Guard is ready to respond to a crisis or contingency that comes
with little or no warning. And I prioritize taking care of our
people, our most precious resource, because service readiness
starts with the readiness of every Coast Guard man and woman
and their families. And to that end, we've continued to work
hard to improve access to quality healthcare and housing and
childcare, and strengthened our Ombudsman Program.
At the same time, I led the early implementation of one of
the most sweeping transformation and modernization efforts for
the Coast Guard in the last century. The Secretary of Homeland
Security has directed me to transform the Coast Guard into a
more agile, responsive, and capable fighting force through
Force Design 2028. This bold plan drives rapid innovation,
delivers new capabilities at speed and scale, and grows the
Coast Guard by 15,000 military personnel. This transformation
is coupled with a historic capital investment of $24.6 billion
through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will rapidly
deliver new cutters, boats, aircraft, shore infrastructure, and
technology. This downpayment is the first step to ensure the
Coast Guard remains always ready. If confirmed, I'll lead the
Service forward, under the direction of the Secretary and the
President and with the strong support of Congress, to ensure we
continue to deliver the best value to the American people.
I'm filled with hope for the future of our Coast Guard
because no matter the challenges ahead, we will prevail. If
there's one thing I know and our Service history proves, with a
ready Coast Guard crew and the strong support of the American
people, there is nothing we can't accomplish. Thank you for the
opportunity to appear before you today, and I look forward to
your questions.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of
Admiral Lunday follow:]
Prepared Statement of Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, U.S. Coast Guard,
Nominee to be the Twenty-Eighth (28th) Commandant of the United States
Coast Guard
Good morning, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and
distinguished members of the Committee. I'm honored to appear before
you today.
I am thankful to President Trump and Secretary Noem for their trust
and confidence in me to serve as Commandant, subject to confirmation by
the Senate.
I thank the Committee for your enduring support of our Service.
If confirmed, I look forward to working closely with you and other
members of Congress. I also thank the team that helped prepare me for
today's hearing.
The most important member of that team is right here with me
today--my wife LyndaLee. I am blessed by our 36 years of marriage and
her amazing love and support that enables me to continue to serve. She
is a proud military spouse who has supported and championed Coast Guard
and joint force families and their readiness. Across many dynamic
challenges of Coast Guard life, LyndaLee has also excelled in her own
professional career as a gifted speech-language pathologist. She is
remarkable, and I would not be here today without her.
I am from a family of military service. My dad was a soldier, a 36-
year career Army officer of Infantry and Special Forces who rose from
Private to Colonel, who fought in Vietnam and the Cold War and led
troops in combat and crisis. My mom served as an officer in the Army
Medical Corps before becoming a full-time mom to raise three sons as a
military spouse. My parents taught me my values and instilled my faith
in God. They set the example that has guided me throughout my life and
inspired me to serve in the Armed Forces.
I joined the Coast Guard because I wanted to help fight the Soviet
Union and the spread of communism, to stop drug smugglers at sea, and
to save lives. I was drawn to the Service's broad missions and proud
history of fighting in every one of the Nation's wars.
Over the past nearly 39 years, I have served with and led crews
throughout the Atlantic and the Pacific, and in cyberspace. While the
missions have been rewarding, I found even more joy serving as a member
of a Coast Guard crew, alongside other men and women with the same
values and who are--without question--the very best in the world. I am
fiercely proud to serve with them and inspired every day by their
unwavering dedication and courage to get the mission done.
Today, as threats and challenges facing our Nation grow, I believe
the American people need a stronger and more capable Coast Guard.
For the past nine months, I have led the Coast Guard as Acting
Commandant to:
Control, secure, and defend the U.S. border and maritime
approaches;
Facilitate and secure commerce that is vital to economic
prosperity, strategic mobility, and America's maritime
dominance; and
Ensure the Service is ready to successfully respond to a
crisis or contingency that may come without warning.
I have prioritized taking care of our people, because the readiness
of the Service begins with the readiness of every Coast Guard man and
woman, and their families. To that end, I have improved housing
availability and quality, increased access to medical care, and
strengthened our ombudsman program.
At the same time, I led the early implementation of the most
significant modernization and recapitalization of the Coast Guard in at
least a century.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has directed me to transform the
Service into a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force
through Force Design 2028. This bold plan drives rapid innovation,
delivers new capabilities at speed and scale, and grows the Coast Guard
by 15,000 military personnel.
This transformation is coupled with the historic capital investment
of 24.6 billion dollars through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This
funding allows the Coast Guard to rapidly deliver new cutters,
aircraft, shore infrastructure, and technology. This down payment is
the first step to ensure the Coast Guard is Semper Paratus--Always
Ready.
If confirmed, I will lead the Service forward under the direction
of the Secretary and the President, and with the strong support and
oversight of Congress, to ensure we continue to deliver the best value
to our great Nation.
I'm filled with hope for the future of the Coast Guard because no
matter the challenges ahead, we will prevail.
If there is one thing I know--and our Service history proves--with
a ready Coast Guard crew and the strong support of the American people,
there is nothing we can't accomplish.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look
forward to your questions.
______
a. biographical information
1. Name (Include any former names or nicknames used): Kevin Eugene
Lunday.
2. Position to which nominated: Coast Guard Nominee to be
Commandant and to the grade of Admiral per 14 U.S.C. Sec. 302.
3. Date of Nomination: 22 October 2025.
4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses):
Residence: Information not released to the public.
Office: Information not provided.
5. Date and Place of Birth: Information not provided.
6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your
spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including
stepchildren and children by a previous marriage).
My spouse, Lynda Lee Lunday, is employed as a part-time
professional speech-language pathologist at the following
company:
My spouse provides speech-language pathology services for
patients in home-health settings in Virginia. She is licensed
to practice in Maryland, Virginia, and Hawai'i.
I have no children.
7. List all college and graduate schools attended, whether or not
you were granted a degree by the institution. Provide the name of the
institution, the dates attended, the degree received, and the date of
the degree.
Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (1987); U.S. Coast
Guard Academy
Certificate (Diploma) (1994); U.S. Naval War College, College
of Command and Staff
Juris Doctor (1997); George Washington University Law School
Master of Science in National Security Strategy (2008);
National War College
8. List all post-undergraduate employment, including the job title,
name of employer, and inclusive dates of employment, and highlight all
management-level jobs held and any non-managerial jobs that relate to
the position for which you are nominated.
I have served as a Coast Guard officer since 5/27/1987. Please see
my official Coast Guard biography and chronology of work history for
detailed information
9. Attach a copy of your resume.
My official Coast Guard biography and chronology of work history
are attached.
10. List any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-time
service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other
than those listed above after 18 years of age. None.
11. List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee,
partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any
corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business, enterprise,
educational, or other institution.
Member, Advisory Committee to the Standing Committee on Law and
National Security of the American Bar Association (August 2015-
July 2017).
Special Advisor to the Standing Committee on Law and National
Security of the American Bar Association (September 2021-April
2022).
12. Please list each membership you have had after 18 years of age
or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable, educational,
political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or religiously
affiliated organization, private club, or other membership
organization. (For this question, you do not have to list your
religious affiliation or membership in a religious house of worship or
institution). Include dates of membership and any positions you have
held with any organization. Please note whether any such club or
organization restricts membership on the basis of sex, race, color,
religion, national origin, age, or disability.
Virginia State Bar (2005 to present)
Arizona State Bar (2022 to present)
Maryland State Bar (1997-2006)
Maritime Law Association of the U.S. (1998 to present)
American Bar Association (2005 to present)
National Naval Officers Association (2009-2010, 2013, 2015,
2017 to present)
National War College Alumni Association (2008 to present)
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association (1983 to present)
U.S. Naval Institute (1983 to present)
Military Officers Association of America (1989 to present)
Army and Navy Club (Washington, DC) (2013-2015)
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)
(2014 to present)
International Association of Privacy Professionals (2021 to
present)
None of these organizations restricts membership on the basis of
sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability.
13. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held a public office
(elected, non-elected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any
campaign has any outstanding debt, the amount, and whether you are
personally liable for that debt. No.
14. List all memberships and offices held with and services
rendered to, whether compensated or not, any political party or
election committee within the past ten years. If you have held a paid
position or served in a formal or official advisory position (whether
compensated or not) in a political campaign within the past ten years,
identify the particulars of the campaign, including the candidate, year
of the campaign, and your title and responsibilities. None.
15. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
entity of $200 or more for the past ten years. None.
16. List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary
society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition
for outstanding service or achievements.
Military medals:
U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal (4)
U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal (2)
Honors:
Honorary Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard (2023)
Honorary Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard (2011)
Distinguished Graduate, National War College (2008)
National Military Intelligence Association Sherman Kent
Strategic Intelligence Writing Award (2008)
American Bar Association Outstanding Military Service Career
Judge Advocate Award (2005)
Director of Central Intelligence National Intelligence
Certificate of Distinction (2004)
Order of the Coif, George Washington University Law School
(1997)
17. List each book, article, column, letter to the editor, Internet
blog posting, or other publication you have authored, individually or
with others. Include a link to each publication when possible. If a
link is not available, provide a digital copy of the publication when
available.
``The Arctic: Shrinking Ice, Growing Importance,'' American Bar
Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security
Anthology--60 Years of National Security Law (Co-author)
(December 5, 2022), https://www.american
bar.org/groups/law_national_security/publications/aba-standing-
committee-on-law-and-national-security-60-th-anniversary-an-
anthology/the-arctic-shrinking-ice-growing-importance/
Chapter 5--International Norms, The Cybersecurity Handbook (3rd
Ed.), American Bar Association (Co-author) (March
2022)(attached)
``Vaccinate the Pacific!'' Security Nexus, Daniel K. Inouye
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (September
2021)(attached)
``Cybersecurity is Operational Readiness,'' AFCEA Signal
Magazine (October 17, 2017), Cybersecurity Is Operational
Readiness | AFCEA International
Chapter--``Homeland Security, The Need for Essential Change:
Four Models of Decision For Improved Governance and a Resilient
Nation,'' Government, Process, and Structure Project. American
Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security
(January 15, 2017)(attached)
``The Coastal Seaspace Patrol Sector Design and Allocation
Problem,'' Computational Management Science (Co-author)
(September 2012) https://www.research
gate.net/publication/
257492741_The_coastal_seaspace_patrol_sector_design_and
_allocation_problem
``Corporate Responsibility in Cybersecurity: Building
International Global Standards,'' Georgetown Journal of
International Affairs (Spring 2011)(Co-author)(attached)
``Maritime Domain Awareness,'' U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings of
the Marine Safety and Security Council (Co-author) (Summer
2009)(attached)
``Coast Guard International Training,'' U.S. Coast Guard
Proceedings of the Marine Safety and Security Council (Co-
author) (Summer 2009)(attached)
``Due Process is a Strategic Choice: Legitimacy and the
Establishment of an Article III National Security Court,''
California Western International Law Journal (Co-author) (Fall
2008) https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cgi/view
content.cgi?article=1093&context=cwilj
``Repeal the 16 Pound Sledgehammer,'' U.S. Naval Institute
PROCEEDINGS (February 2007) https://www.usni.org/magazines/
proceedings/2007/february/repeal-16-pound-sledgehammer
``Every Coast Guardsman is a Lifesaver,'' U.S. Naval Institute
PROCEEDINGS (June 2000) https://www.usni.org/magazines/
proceedings/2000/june/every-coast-guardsman-lifesaver
``Where is Courage?'' U.S. Naval Institute PROCEEDINGS
(December 1998) https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/
1998/december/where-courage
``Using Financial Markets to Protect the Environment: U.S.
Coast Guard Leads Modern Approach,'' University of San
Francisco Maritime Law Journal (Co-author) (Summer 1998)
(attached)
``The Coast Guard Must Bridge the Gap,'' U.S. Naval Institute
PROCEEDINGS (June 1997) (attached)
``Permitting Media Participation in Federal Searches: Exploring
the Consequences for the United States Following Ayeni v.
Mottola and a Framework for Analysis,'' George Washington
University Law Review. (January 1997) (attached)
``Applying the Discretionary Function Exception,'' George
Washington University Law Review. (June/August 1996) (attached)
18. List all speeches, panel discussions, and presentations (e.g.,
PowerPoint) that you have given on topics relevant to the position for
which you have been nominated. Include a link to each publication when
possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of the
speech or presentation when available.
Remarks at Coast Guard Foundation Dinner, Anchorage, AK.
(August 12, 2025). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at Commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EARL
WARREN, Kodiak, AK. (August 11, 2025). (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Remarks at Commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STORIS,
Juneau, AK. (August 10, 2025). DVIDS--Video--Coast Guard Cutter
Storis commissioning ceremony
Remarks at Annual Memorial Ceremony, Grand Haven Coast Guard
Festival, Grand Haven, MI. (August 1, 2025). (I do not have a
link or digital copy).
Remarks at Coast Guard Foundation Dinner, Washington, D.C.
(June 10, 2025). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS)
Survivors Seminar Dinner, Washington, DC. (May 25, 2025). (I do
not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at U.S. Coast Guard Academy Graduation, New London, CT.
(May 21, 2025). Coast Guard Academy Class of 2025 Commencement
Remarks to Council on Foreign Relations Service Chiefs Panel,
Washington, DC. (May 19, 2025). Robert B. McKeon Endowed Series
on Military Strategy and Leadership | Council on Foreign
Relations
Remarks to Dredging Contractors of America, Washington, DC.
(April 30, 2025). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Navigating Tomorrow: Forging a New Era in
Innovation and Shipbuilding,'' U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space
Symposium, Washington, DC. (April 8, 2025). (I do not have a
link or digital copy).
Remarks to Coast Guard National Museum Association Dinner,
Washington, DC. (April 2, 2025). (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Panelist, ``Reinvigorating the Maritime Industrial Base,'' U.S.
Navy League America's Future Fleet symposium, Arlington, VA.
(December 3, 2004). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at National Coast Guard Museum Event, New London, CT.
(October 29, 2024) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at Connecticut Global Security Forum, Hartford, CT.
(September 20, 2024). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
``Navigating Global Challenges: A Conversation with Vice
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard,'' Brookings, Washington,
DC. (August 8, 2024).
Navigating global challenges: A conversation with Vice
Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Lunday | Brookings
Panelist, ``Building and Sustaining the Arctic
Infrastructure,'' U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space Symposium.
Washington, DC. (April 8, 2024)(Building and Sustaining the
Arctic Infrastructure | Sea-Air-Space 2024 (youtube.com)).
Interview, U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space Symposium.
Washington, DC. (April 8, 2024)(DVIDS--Video--Coast Guard
Atlantic Area and Defense Force East commander, speaks at the
Sea Air and Space conference 2024 (dvidshub.net)).
Remarks at the 32nd Annual Salute to the Coast Guard Dinner.
Tampa, Florida. (January 29, 2024)(attached).
Remarks at USCGC BLACKTHORN memorial ceremonial on 44th
anniversary. St. Petersburg, Florida. (January 28,
2024)(attached).
Panelist, ``Arctic Security, Climate Change, and the Law of the
Sea,'' American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and
National Security Annual Review. Washington, DC. (November 17,
2023) (attached).
Address to Veterans Day event and dedication of the Military
and Veterans Center in honor of CAPT Dorothy Stratton, USCG at
Purdue University.
West Lafayette, Indiana. (November 10, 2023)(attached).
Remarks at Interagency Drug Offload Event for USCGC JAMES. Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. (October 26, 2023) (I do not have a link
or digital copy).
Speech at Moline, Illinois Rotary Club. Moline, Illinois.
(October 23, 2023) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Address to New York City Bar Association. New York, New York.
(October 10, 2023) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Address to Business Executives for National Security. New York,
New York. (October 10, 2023) (I do not have a link or digital
copy).
Address to U.S. Sea Services Ombudsman Appreciation Dinner.
Virginia Beach, Virginia. (September 14, 2023) (I do not have a
link or digital copy).
Address to U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association
National Convention. Charlotte, North Carolina. (August 30,
2023) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Address to Annual Coast Guard Memorial Ceremony, Grand Haven
Coast Guard Festival. Grand Haven, Michigan. (August 5, 2023)
(I do not have a link or digital copy).
Speech at Memorial Day Commemoration at Brookwood American
Cemetery, United Kingdom. (May 28, 2023) (I do not have a link
or digital copy).
Speech at Memorial Day Commemoration at Cambridge American
Cemetery, United Kingdom. (May 27, 2023) (I do not have a link
or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Open Source Intelligence in the Homeland Security
Enterprise,'' National Intelligence University. Washington, DC.
(May 9, 2023) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Artificial Intelligence: Building Trust in
Artificial Intelligence,'' U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space
Symposium. Washington, DC. (April 4, 2023) (Building Trust in
Artificial Intelligence | Sea-Air-Space 2023 (youtube.com)).
Remarks to Council on Foreign Relations Small Group, ``Maritime
Cyber Security.'' New York, New York. (March 28, 2023) (I do
not have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Resourcing Challenges: Do the Sea Services Have the
Resources They Need to Meet the Challenges of Today and
Tomorrow.'' U.S. Naval Institute/AFCEA WEST Conference, San
Diego, California. (February 16, 2023) (02.16.23 Panel: Do Sea
Services Have Resources Needed to Meet the Challenges of Today
and Tomorrow? (youtube.com)).
Panelist, ``Deterring Russia at Sea in the High North.'' Wilson
Center and Center for Maritime Strategy. Washington, DC.
(February 9, 2023) (Deterring Russia at Sea in the High North
Pt.2 (youtube.com)).
Address to commemorate the annual memorial of the sinking and
loss of life aboard USCGC BLACKTHORN on January 28, 1980 in
Tampa Bay, Florida. (January 27, 2023) (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Veterans Day Address, City of Portsmouth, Virginia. (November
11, 2022) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Address to U.S. Coast Guard National Auxiliary Conference,
Orlando, Florida. (August 19, 2022) (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Address to National Naval Officers Association 50th Anniversary
Conference, Annapolis, Maryland. (July 29, 2022) (I do not have
a link or digital copy).
Veterans Day Address, Washington College of Law (American
University). (November 11, 2021) (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Charleston Defense Contractors Association 58th Small Business
and Industry Outreach Association: Address. (July 15, 2021) (I
do not have a link or digital copy).
Navy League Special Topic Breakfast: Address. (June 2, 2021) (I
do not have a link or digital copy).
Safeguarding Australia Summit: Keynote Address--``Foreign
Influence and Maintaining a Rules Based International Order.''
(March 4, 2021) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Maritime Cybersecurity Summit: Keynote Address. (November 5,
2020) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
AFCEA Hawai'i Luncheon: Keynote Address. (February 12, 2020) (I
do not have a link or digital copy).
National Judicial College Annual Symposium: Keynote Address.
(February 4, 2020) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
AFCEA Hawai'i Intelligence, Cyber, and Young AFCEA Special
Breakfast: Keynote Address. (October 8, 2019) (I do not have a
link or digital copy).
West Coast Pilots Conference: Guest Speaker. (March 9, 2020) (I
do not have a link or digital copy).
AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific Conference: Keynote Address.
(November 20, 2019) (Keynote: RADM Lunday--YouTube).
University of Hawai'i Future Focus Conference: Opening Speech.
(October 15, 2019) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
American Samoa Flag Day: Main Address. (April 16, 2019) (I do
not have a link or digital copy).
AFCEA TechNet Asia-Pacific Conference: Keynote Address.
(November 15, 2018) (Keynote--RADM Kevin Lunday, USCG Commander
Fourteenth Coast Guard District (youtube.com)).
AFCEA/U.S. Naval Institute WEST Premier Sea Services Event, San
Diego: Panel--``How Do We Leverage the Network to Build
Maritime Power.'' (February 6, 2018) (WEST 2018 6 February:
Afternoon Panel Discussion, 1430-1545 (youtube.com)).
American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National
Security Annual Review: Moderator/Organizer, Panel VII: ``The
Arctic: National Security and Oceans Law for the New Maritime
Frontier.'' (November 17, 2017) (Panel VII--The Arctic:
National Security and Oceans Law for the New Maritime Frontier
(americanbar.org)).
Panelist--Advancing Maritime Cyber Education and Research, 2017
Maritime Cyber Risk Symposium, Tiffin University. (November 13,
2017) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
North Carolina Military Business Center--Southeast Region Cyber
Security and Technology Symposium: Keynote Address. (August 24,
2017) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Information Warfare--Challenges and Solutions in
the Maritime Domain.'' U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space
Symposium. (May 17, 2016) (I do not have a link or digital
copy).
Speaker, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics
Association (AFCEA) Luncheon--U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New
London, CT. (November 17, 2015) (I do not have a link or
digital copy).
Kalaris Intelligence Conference 2015 (National Geospatial
Intelligence Agency and Georgetown University), Washington DC
(Panelist, ``Achieving Transparency, the Evolution of
Intelligence''). (September 24, 2015) (Panel 2 WEB
(youtube.com)).
Speaker, ``U.S. Cyber Command Briefing.'' National Defense
Industrial Association (NDIA) Space Conference. Reston, VA.
(August 4, 2015) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) Annual Leadership,
Professional Development and Training Conference 2015
(Panelist, ``Leadership'' (29 Jul 2015)); (Speaker ``Taking
Ownership of the Command Climate''). (July 30, 2015) (I do not
have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, ``Achieving Information Governance in the Maritime
Domain.'' AFCEA Coast Guard Industry Day, Washington, DC.
(April 2, 2015) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Panelist, AFCEA Monthly Luncheon and Cybersecurity Panel.
(November 17, 2014) (I do not have a link or digital copy).
In addition to the presentations above that were external to the
Coast Guard, I frequently provide remarks at events internal to the
Coast Guard, such as change of command ceremonies, commanding officer
conferences, cutter commissioning or decommissioning events, and
routine unit visits.
19. List all public statements you have made during the past ten
years, including statements in news articles and radio and television
appearances, which are on topics relevant to the position for which you
have been nominated, including dates. Include a link to each statement
when possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of
the statement when available.
Press release on Operation RIVER WALL (October 20, 2025). Coast
Guard launches Operation River Wall to control the border along
the Rio Grande > United States Coast Guard News > Press
Releases
Press release on Coast Guard recapitalizes command and control
aircraft (October 18, 2025). https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-
Releases/Article/4324382/coast-guard-recapitalizes-command-and-
control-aircraft/
Press release on Coast Guard military personnel to receive pay
during government shutdown (October 13, 2025). Coast Guard
military members to receive pay during government shutdown >
United States Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News
Press release on Operation PACIFIC VIPER (August 26, 2025).
Operation Pacific Viper: U.S. Coast Guard Announces Largest
Drug Offload in its History | Homeland Security
Phone interview with Kodiak Daily Mirror, Anchorage, AK.
(August 12, 2025). https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/news/
article_430963b0-7597-4fa5-b52b-035
5ea6400ab.html
Phone interview with Radio Station KMXT, Anchorage, AK (August
12, 2025) `If Not Us, Then Who,' second new USCG cutter
commissioned in Kodiak
Media coverage of commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter
STORIS, Juneau, AK. (August 10, 2025).
https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/08/10/u-s-coast-guard-adds-
icebreaker-to-fleet-for-first-time-in-25-years/
https://seapowermagazine.org/coast-guard-commissions-
icebreaker-storis-in-juneau/
Coast Guard Commissions First New Icebreaker Since the 1990s--
USNI News
Press release on commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter
STORIS, Juneau AK. (August 10, 2025) https://www.news.uscg.mil/
Press-Releases/Article/4270746/us-coast-guard-commissions-
uscgc-storis-bolstering-arctic-presence-and-advancin/
Media coverage of visit to Nome, AK on August 9, 2025 and
discussion with local leaders and members of U.S. House of
Representatives, Nome, AK.
City of Nome hosts acting commandant of the Coast Guard
High-Ranking U.S. Coast Guard officials and visiting
congressmen listen in on plan to expand Nome's Arctic Deep
Draft Port
Quote, ``Force Design 2028 Execution Plan,'' MyCG (July 16,
2025). Coast Guard shares execution plan for Force Design 2028
> United States Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News
Quote, ``Force Design 2028,'' MyCG (May 16, 2025) Sec. Noem:
``The change I'm asking of you--Force Design 2028, our roadmap
for change--is the biggest change since 1915'' > United States
Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News
Quote, ``New Systems Pending, but Coast Guard Stretched Thin,''
Seapower Magazine (May 14, 2025) New Systems Pending, but Coast
Guard `Stretched Thin,' Lunday Says--Seapower
Quote, ``Coast Guard Force Design 2028,'' MyCG (April 3, 2025)
Coast Guard Force Design 2028 > United States Coast Guard > My
Coast Guard News
Quote, ``Over half a billion dollars in cocaine offloaded in
Fort Lauderdale by Coast Guard,'' Miami Herald (March 20,
2025). Coast Guard offloads over 45,000 pounds of cocaine in
Broward | Miami Herald
Video: ``Secretary Kristi Noem announces Coast Guard seizure of
`over half a billion dollars of drugs,'' Forbes Breaking News
(March 20, 2025) BREAKING: Sec. Kristi Noem Announces Coast
Guard Seizure Of 'Over Half A Billion Dollars' Of Drugs
Press Release on operational success on drug interdiction and
border control operations. (March 18, 2025). Coast Guard
achieves major milestone in drug interdiction, border control
operations > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
Acting Commandant's Action Order Number 2: Increasing Coast
Guard Operational Focus on Combating Fentanyl. (January 29,
2025). Coast Guard Action Order #2
Acting Commandant's Commander's Intent. (January 23, 2025).
Commander's Intent
Acting Commandant's Action Order Number 1: Increasing Coast
Guard Operational Presence. (January 21, 2025). document
Press Release on actions to support President's Executive
Orders. (January 21, 2025) Coast Guard announces immediate
action in support of presidential executive orders > United
States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
Facebook post, Coast Guard holds Mission Mighty Mississippi
recruiting event in Rock Island, IL. (September 21, 2024).
Mission Mighty Mississippi | We're in the Quad Cities with Adm.
Kevin Lunday, vice commandant of the Coast Guard, senior
leadership, recruiters and representatives of our missions at .
. . | By Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard |
Facebook
Holiday message to Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Portsmouth, VA.
(December 23, 2023) During this season of celebration and
reflection, the Atlantic Area Commander Vice Admiral Kevin
Lunday and Command Master Chief Jeremy DeMello thank the . . .
| By U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command | Facebook
Quote, ``Coast Guard Touches Down in Rock Island to Recruit
Next Generation of Service Men and Women.'' (October 22, 2023)
https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/coast-guard-rock-
island-mission-mighty-mississippi-river-recruit/526-788ae361-
4996-4eb3-ad65-f36a94f045ba
Quote, ``U.S. Coast Guard Offloads $500M Worth of Drugs at Port
Everglades.'' (October 26, 2023) https://wsvn.com/news/local/
broward/us-coast-guard-offload-500m-worth-of-drugs-at-port-
everglades/
Interview at New York Fleet Week, Ken Kraetzer Media. New York,
New York. (June 12, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=GV4pOp7OVtw
Live Interview at New York Fleet Week, John Elliot, CBS2. (June
12, 2023)(I do not have a link or digital copy).
Statement on Ombudsmen Appreciation Day. Portsmouth, Virginia.
(April 25, 2023) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/880987/coast-
guard-ombudsman-appreciation-day
Interview at U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space Symposium.
Washington, DC. (April 17, 2023) https://www.dvidshub.net/
video/879390/coast-guard-commander-atlantic-area-and-defense-
force-east-speaks-sea-air-space-2023
Interview at Signing of MOU between U.S. Coast Guard and
Norfolk State University. Norfolk, Virginia. (March 23, 2023)
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/
norfolk-state-university-renews-recruitment-partnership-us-
coast-guard/291-e41f6e5a-b883-4f21-9b07-55c9cd49bc5f
Quote, ``U.S., Allies Need to Operate in the High North More to
Deter China, Russia Experts Say.'' (February 13, 2023) https://
news.usni.org/2023/02/13/u-s-allies-need-to-operate-in-the-
high-north-more-to-deter-china-russia-experts-say
Holiday Message to Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Portsmouth,
Virginia (December 22, 2022) https://twitter.com/USCGLANTAREA/
status/160607730539825
9712?lang=en
Quote, ``Coast Guard Honors Veterans in Special Ceremony in
Portsmouth.'' (November 11, 2022) https://www.13newsnow.com/
article/news/local/mycity/portsmouth/coast-guard-portsmouth-
virginia-veterans-day-ceremony/291-ede12
5e9-993d-4a6a-b866-a184ecc62490
Interview with Fox News, ``Coast Guard Assisting with Search
and Rescue After Ian.'' (October 1, 2022) https://
www.foxnews.com/video/6313123124112
Interview with CNN Newsroom on Hurricane IAN response.
Portsmouth, Virginia. (October 1, 2022) https://archive.org/
details/CNNW_20221001_160000_
CNN_Newsroom_With_Fredricka_Whitfield/start/600/end/660
Statement on Hurricane IAN response. Portsmouth, Virginia.
(September 29, 2022) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/859065/
coast-guard-atlantic-area-vice-adm-command-master-chief-give-
brief-hurricane-ian-efforts
Interview, ``Atlantic Area Visits Coast Guard World War II
Heroes in Belgium.'' (June 15, 2022) https://www.dvidshub.net/
news/423110/atlantic-area-visits-coast-guard-world-war-ii-
heroes-belgium
Interview at New York Fleet Week, CBS2 John Elliott. New York,
New York. (May 25, 2022) https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=3JwztTw-CF0
Interview at New York Fleet Week, Maurice Dubois, CBS2. New
York, New York. (May 25, 2022) https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=d-0c7FxpDAA
Holiday Message to Coast Guard Fourteenth District. Honolulu,
Hawai'i. (December 20, 2019) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/
730498/rear-adm-kevin-
lunday-holiday-message
Quote, ``U.S. Coast Guard and UH Manoa Sign Agreement
Increasing Student Opportunities.'' (November 5, 2019) https://
manoa.hawaii.edu/news/article
.php?aId=10282
Spring Address to Coast Guard Fourteenth District. Honolulu,
Hawai'i. (July 5, 2019) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/678126/
rear-adm-kevin-lunday-spring-2019-address
Interview, ``Coast Guard Celebrates Flag Day Alongside American
Samoa Leaders.'' (April 18, 2019) https://www.dvidshub.net/
news/318769/coast-guard-celebrates-flag-day-alongside-american-
samoa-leaders
Interview, ``Coast Guard Recognizes Communities for Outstanding
Support in Hawai'i Pacific.'' (February 21, 2019) https://
www.dvidshub.net/news/311550/coast-guard-recognizes-
communities-outstanding-support-hawaii-pacific
Interview, ``U.S., Federated States of Micronesia Conduct
Bilateral Engagement; Celebrate Operation HAILSTONE.''
(February 21, 2019) https://www.dvids
hub.net/news/311462/us-federated-states-micronesia-conduct-
bilateral-engagement-commemorate-operation-hailstone
Message to the Public Upon Approach of Hurricane LANE.
Honolulu, Hawai'i. (August 24, 2018) https://twitter.com/USCG/
status/1033072859948744704
Message to Fourteenth District from new District Commander.
(July 27, 2018) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/615828/rear-adm-
kevin-lunday-address-district-14
Interview, Federal News Network. (December 8, 2017) https://
federalnews
network.com/all-news/2017/12/coast-guard-cyber-command-just-as-
important-as-cutters-and-aircraft/
Interview at Cyberscoop Forum: ``Cyber Talks 2017.''
Washington, DC. (November 22, 2017) https://cyberscoop.com/
video/kevin-lunday-coast-guard-cyber-talks-2017/
Remarks to Coast Guard, ``Coast Guard Enterprise Mission
Platform.'' (July 19, 2017) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/
538980/coast-guards-enterprise-mission-platform
Remarks to Coast Guard, ``The Coast Guard's Role in
Cyberspace.'' (June 26, 2017) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/
534379/coast-guards-role-cyberspace
Remarks to Coast Guard, ``Cyberspace is an Operational Domain
for the Coast Guard.'' (May 14, 2017) https://www.dvidshub.net/
video/ 531804/cyberspace-operational-domain-coast-guard
Quote, ``Inside the Pentagon's Secret Preparations for a Cyber
9/11,'' MilitaryTimes. (June 21, 2016) https://
www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/06/21/inside-the-
pentagon-s-secretive-preparations-for-a-cyber-9-11/
Quote, ``U.S. Agencies Conduct Cyber War Games,'' Wall Street
Journal. (July 5, 2015) https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-
agencies-conduct-cyber-war-games-1436069213
20. List all digital platforms (including social media and other
digital content sites) on which you currently or have formerly operated
an account, regardless of whether or not the account was held in your
name or an alias. Include the full name of an ``alias'' or ``handle,''
including the complete URL and username with hyperlinks, you have used
on each of the named platforms. Indicate whether the account is active,
deleted, or dormant. Include a link to each account if possible.
Linkedin (active): ``Kevin E Lunday'' (Kevin Lunday--Career
U.S. Coast Guard officer--U.S. Coast Guard | LinkedIn).
Facebook (active): ``Kevin E Lunday'' (Kevin Lunday |
Facebook).
Twitter/X (inactive since 2020, deleted): ``KevinLunday''.
21. Please identify each instance in which you have testified
orally or in writing before Congress in a governmental or non-
governmental capacity and specify the date and subject matter of each
testimony.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee
on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, ``The Future of the
Coast Guard: Review of Coast Guard Programs and Structure,''
(June 5, 2025) https://transportation.house.gov/calendar/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=408694
House Committee on Appropriations, Homeland Security
Subcommittee, ``Policy Accomplishments and Administration
Priorities,'' (May 14, 2025) http://appropriations.house.gov/
schedule/hearings/oversight-hearing-united-states-coast-guard
Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries,
Climate Change, and Manufacturing, ``Drug Enforcement and
Interdiction in the Maritime Domain,'' (September 19, 2024).
Coast Guard Drug Interdiction and Enforcement in the Maritime
Environment--U.S. . . .
22. Given the current mission, major programs, and major
operational objectives of the Coast Guard, what in your background or
employment experience do you believe affirmatively qualifies you for
appointment to the position for which you have been nominated, and why
do you wish to serve in that position?
I believe I am affirmatively qualified for appointment to the
position of Commandant in the grade of Admiral per 14 U.S.C. Sec. 302
based on a proven record of successfully leading the Coast Guard,
including as the Acting Commandant for nine months, the Vice Commandant
for seven months, and commanding Atlantic Area for two years. I have
led Coast Guard men and women to conduct operations and deliver results
across the broad spectrum of Service missions, including during complex
contingencies, and have demonstrated success leading mission support
activities at the enterprise level and formulating and executing the
Service's budget. I have demonstrated successful strategic leadership
and ability to work with joint and interagency partners from Federal,
state, and local governments, the private sector, and with allies and
foreign governments. I have specialized competence through education,
training, and experience in the fields of strategy, operations, mission
support, law, and national security.
I wish to serve in the position of Commandant in the grade of
Admiral per 14 U.S.C. Sec. 302 because I believe that I can best serve
the Coast Guard and our people, the Department of Homeland Security,
the joint force, and the Nation in a position of senior executive
leadership during a time of transformational change for the Service. I
am well prepared to lead Coast Guard men and women to safely and
effectively conduct operations to deliver mission results under
complex, dynamic conditions and challenges, including evolving threats,
fiscal constraints, and public scrutiny of government functions. I am
also well prepared to lead the Service as we implement Force Design
2028 and a historic $24.59B capital investment to restore the Coast
Guard as an agile, capable, and responsive fighting force. I also
believe that as a senior U.S. government attorney and military officer,
I have a thorough understanding of my obligations and duty regarding
the constitutional authority, roles, and responsibilities of Congress,
the Executive, and the Judiciary, and the critical importance of
civilian control of the military to the Nation.
23. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to
ensure that the Coast Guard has proper management and accounting
controls, and what experience do you have in managing a large
organization?
If confirmed, I will ensure the Coast Guard has proper management
and accounting controls by personally understanding, directing, and
ensuring compliance with the full scope of statutory, regulatory and
policy requirements governing management of public property and funds
and performance of government activities. I will ensure that the Coast
Guard maintains policies and systems for management and accounting
controls, trains personnel in their use and application, executes
functions in accordance with those controls, and reports failures or
violations of controls to appropriate enforcement and oversight
authorities. I will ensure transparency of Coast Guard functions to
Congress to enable the performance of its constitutional oversight
role.
I have experience successfully leading and managing large
organizations at the executive level.
From January 2025 to present, I have served as the Acting
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible for command and
strategic leadership of the Service during a time of significant change
in operational priorities to control, secure, and defend the U.S.
border and maritime approaches, starting at the southern border where
the President declared a national emergency. I have also directed
increased efforts to control, secure, and defend U.S. ports, waterways,
and shipping--in the physical domain and cyberspace--and facilitate the
flow of commerce to ensure the Nation's economic prosperity and
strategic mobility. I am responsible for leading over 55,660 military
and civilian employees and 20,754 Auxiliary volunteers operating 237
cutters, 180 aircraft, and over 1,443 boats, and management of an
annual $12.6B operations and capital investment budget.
From June 2024 to January 2025, I served as the Vice Commandant of
the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible as the Chief Acquisition Executive
for oversight and execution of Service acquisition programs. I oversaw
significant progress in achieving design maturity of the Polar Security
Cutter to enable start of pre-fabrication assembly unit production in
December 2024, start of initial construction of the Offshore Patrol
Cutter Stage 2 (Austal Shipyard) in August 2024, and accelerated
procurement and delivery of the commercially available polar ice
breaker, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STORIS, in December 2024 that is now
commissioned and operational. In this role, I also directed executive-
level decision-making on a broad range of issues impacting the Coast
Guard, including enterprise planning, programming, budgeting and
execution, as well as policy and enterprise risk management.
From May 2022 to June 2024, I served as the Commander of U.S. Coast
Guard Atlantic Area, responsible for directing Coast Guard forces and
operations across all mission areas in five Districts from the
Navigable Inland Waterways east of the Rocky Mountains to the Great
Lakes, Gulf Coast, and East Coast of the U.S. throughout the Caribbean
Sea and Atlantic Ocean and adjacent parts of the Arctic Ocean to the
Arabian Gulf. In this role, I was responsible for leading over 22,000
military and civilian employees and 17,900 Auxiliary volunteers
operating 177 cutters, 91 aircraft, and over 1,000 boats, and
management of $192M in operating funds. I also served as Commander,
Coast Guard Defense Forces East, responsible for providing Coast Guard
support as part of the joint force to the Department of Defense and
Combatant Commanders for national defense missions.
From January 7, 2023 to June 2024, I concurrently served under
Presidential appointment as the Director of Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Joint Task Force East, responsible for coordinating and
synchronizing DHS cross-component operations to address a range of
threats to the Southeast U.S. Border and maritime approaches.
From 2020 to 2022, as Deputy for Materiel Readiness, I provided
oversight of program management and advised the Deputy Commandant for
Mission Support regarding: engineering and logistics; Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, and Information Technology (C4IT);
acquisitions; delivery of operational logistics at the field level;
and, personnel security and physical security policy and management.
This involved advising on leading over 9,000 personnel and the
execution of over $1.7B in maintenance funding and $2.2B in
procurement, construction, and improvement funding.
From 2018-2020, as Commander, Oceania (Fourteenth) Coast Guard
District, I directed U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout Oceania in
the Pacific, including Hawai'i, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern
Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and activities in Japan and Singapore.
My duties included leadership of over 1,300 personnel and management of
$24M in operating funds.
From 2016-2018, I commanded U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command where I
directed the operation and defense of Coast Guard networks and computer
systems and response to cyber incidents involving the U.S. maritime
critical infrastructure. During that same period, I simultaneously
served as the Assistant Commandant for C4IT (CG-6), responsible for
policy, management, and direction of C4IT business and infrastructure
assets, including information management. My concurrent duties in both
of those positions included leading over 900 people and management of
over $500M in operating and maintenance funding.
While serving as the Director of Exercises and Training (J7) at
U.S. Cyber Command, I led the joint training of the Department of
Defense (DoD) Cyber Mission Force and delivery of trained and ready
cyberspace forces for DoD.
24. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the
Coast Guard, and why?
1. How does the Coast Guard successfully execute Force Design 2028,
the Secretary of Homeland Security's strategic direction to
restore the Service as an agile, capable, and responsive
fighting force, including successful execution of $24.59B in
historic capital investment? The Coast Guard today is emerging
from its lowest point of readiness since the end of World War
II. Force Design 2028 is bringing vital transformation across
the Service by developing the force structure and operating
concepts required to execute our missions; reform acquisitions
to rapidly deploy capabilities needed by operating forces;
exploit technology at every turn to enhance mission execution;
and, eliminate non-essential or obsolete programs. Successful
execution of Force Design 2028 and the $24.59B in capital
investments will bring the most significant organizational
change to the Service since 1915 when the modern Coast Guard
was formed. Force Design 2028, coupled with an increased,
sustained annual budget, will ensure the Coast Guard is Semper
Paratus--Always Ready to serve the American people now and into
the future.
2. How does the Coast Guard successfully recruit, develop, lead, and
retain the best people from across our United States when there
are increasing demands and competition with other government
agencies and the private sector for specialized talent? People
remain our greatest resource. The Coast Guard workforce
requires more specialty knowledge and technical proficiency
than ever before, meaning increased time and investment to
provide employees with technical training and competence in
skills that are increasingly perishable and in high demand by
the private sector and other government agencies. The Service
must improve its ability to attract, develop, and retain the
best talent into our workforce. This requires re-examining
current personnel management, training, and assignment policies
and systems, then adapting them to meet current and future
requirements. Further, Coast Guard employees deserve, and the
public expects, inspiring leadership at every level. The Coast
Guard must continue to improve leadership training and
performance to ensure it meets the highest standards and
traditions of the Service and the expectations of our people,
the President, and Congress.
3. How does the Coast Guard effectively combat sexual assault,
sexual harassment, bullying, hazing, and retaliation from
within its ranks to restore the trust of our workforce and the
public we serve? Sexual assault is a serious crime that
inflicts devastating trauma and destroys military readiness.
Each day despite the implementation of aggressive measures to
eliminate these crimes, there are still Coast Guard men and
women who live in fear of fellow service members. We have made
progress, but we have much more to do. The Coast Guard and
other military services must continue to place highest priority
on policies, leadership, and actions to prevent and respond to
incidents, hold predators accountable, care for victims, and
reduce and eliminate sexual predators from the military. The
Service must continue to identify and implement solutions to
address the problem, including effective prevention through
early interventions, care for victims, and accountability for
offenders.
b. potential conflicts of interest
1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement
accounts, such as a 401(k) or pension plan.
Please see my nominee PFDR.
2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal,
to maintain employment, affiliation, or practice with any business,
association, or other organization during your appointment? If so,
please explain. No.
3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
the position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will
resolve each potential conflict of interest.
None, please see my nominee PFDR. If any conflicts of interest or
potential conflicts of interest arise, I will obtain advice from a
Coast Guard ethics official and follow that advice.
4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last ten years, whether for
yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will resolve
each potential conflict of interest.
None, but if any conflict of interest or potential conflict of
interest arises, I will obtain advice from a Coast Guard ethics
official and follow that advice.
5. Identify any other potential conflicts of interest, and explain
how you will resolve each potential conflict of interest.
None, but if any conflict of interest or potential conflict of
interest arises, I will obtain advice from a Coast Guard ethics
official and follow that advice.
6. Describe any activity during the past ten years, including the
names of clients represented, in which you have been engaged for the
purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or
modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and
execution of law or public policy.
In 2021, I authored an article in Security Nexus, the journal for
the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies,
supporting U.S. efforts to promote global vaccine distribution, access,
and availability for voluntary administration, and urging targeted
efforts to distribute other health services aid to Pacific Island
nations in Oceania as essential to U.S. national security. See
``Vaccinate the Pacific!'' Security Nexus, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-
Pacific Center for Security Studies (September 2021) The article is
attached.
In 2017, I authored a chapter titled--``Homeland Security, The Need
for Essential Change: Four Models of Decision For Improved Governance
and a Resilient Nation,'' as part of the American Bar Association
Standing Committee on Law and National Security's ``Government,
Process, and Structure Project.'' The chapter supported a broad view of
homeland security missions conducted by the Department of Homeland
Security and urged consideration of additional authorities for the
Secretary of Homeland Security to enable more effective governance and
national resilience in response to emerging threats. The article is
attached.
c. legal matters
1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics,
professional misconduct, or retaliation by, or been the subject of a
complaint to, any court, administrative agency, an Inspector General,
the Office of Special Counsel, professional association, disciplinary
committee, or other professional group? If yes:
a. Provide the name of court, agency, association, committee, or
group;
b. Provide the date the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
personnel action was issued or initiated;
c. Describe the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
personnel action;
d. Provide the results of the citation, disciplinary action,
complaint, or personnel action.
On May 13, 2025 I was the subject of a civil complaint in Federal
court. I was sued in U.S. District Court in my official capacity (along
with the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, and other individuals) by 20 U.S. states requesting declaratory
and injunctive relief regarding the policy of Federal boating safety
grants being conditioned on grantee compliance with civil immigration
requirements. The case is pending.
In 2008, I was the subject of a civil complaint in Federal court. I
was sued in U.S. District Court in my personal and official capacity
(along with the Coast Guard) by an insurance agent who alleged
violation of his constitutional rights in 1999 and 2000 for actions
that he claimed interfered with his business aboard a Coast Guard
installation at which I was assigned as the Staff Judge Advocate. The
court dismissed the lawsuit on 12/8/2008. (USCOURTS-dcd-107-cv-02351-
0.pdf (govinfo.gov)).
Other than the above matters, I have none.
2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by
any Federal, State, or other law enforcement authority of any Federal,
State, county, or municipal entity, other than for a minor traffic
offense? If so, please explain. No.
3. Have you or any business or nonprofit of which you are or were
an officer ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency
proceeding, criminal proceeding, or civil litigation? If so, please
explain.
Yes, as described in response to question C.1 above.
4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
offense? If so, please explain. No.
5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual
harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national
origin, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation,
and pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, marital status,
parental status, political affiliation, engagement in a protected Equal
Employment Opportunity/Equal Opportunity (EEO/EO) activity, whistle
blower activity, or any other basis? If so, please explain. No.
6. If you have ever served as a general court-martial convening
authority involving sexual misconduct or assault, have you ever
disapproved the findings of a court-martial related to the offense(s)
or reduced the sentence adjudged by a court-martial, other than in
connection with a pre-trial agreement? No.
7. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in
connection with your nomination.
I am a member in good standing of the Arizona State Bar, the
Virginia State Bar, and U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
d. relationship with committee
1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with
deadlines for information set by congressional committees, and that
your department/agency endeavors to timely comply with requests for
information from individual Members of Congress, including requests
from members in the minority? Yes.
2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can
to protect congressional witnesses and whistleblowers from reprisal for
their testimony and disclosures? Yes.
3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested
witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with
firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the Committee? Yes.
4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
reasonably requested to do so? Yes.
5. Do you agree, if confirmed, to keep this Committee, its
subcommittees, other appropriate Committees of Congress, and their
respective staffs apprised of new information that materially impacts
the accuracy of testimony, briefings, reports, records--including
documents and electronic communications, and other information you or
your organization previously provided? Yes.
6. Do you agree, if confirmed, and on request, to provide this
Committee and its subcommittees with records and other information
within their oversight jurisdiction, even absent a formal Committee
request? Yes.
7. Do you agree, if confirmed, to ensure that you and other members
of your organization protect from retaliation any military member,
Federal employee, or contractor employee who testifies before, or
communicates with this Committee, its subcommittees, and any other
appropriate committee of Congress? Yes.
______
Addendum to the questionnaire submitted to the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 119th Congress
by ADM Kevin Lunday
Upon further review, I have identified one edit that is responsive
to question A.12 on the Committee's questionnaire. It is:
Virginia State Bar (2006-present)
Upon further review, I have identified three additional items and
four edits that are responsive to question A.18 on the Committee's
questionnaire. They are:
Remarks at Commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EARL
CUNNINGHAM, Kodiak, AK. (August 11, 2025). (I do not have a
link or digital copy).
Remarks at Coast Guard Foundation Dinner, Washington, D.C.
(June 10, 2025). Acting Commandant ADM Kevin Lunday | 2025
Tribute to the Coast Guard in our Nation's Capital
Quote, ``Sea Air Space: CMS Breakfast Panel Discussed How to
Make Future Shipbuilding Shipshape'' (April 10, 2025) Sea-Air-
Space: CMS Breakfast Panel Discusses How to Make Future
Shipbuilding Shipshape--Seapower.
Panelist, ``Reinvigorating the Maritime Industrial Base,''
U.S. Navy League America's Future Fleet symposium, Arlington,
VA. (December 3, 2024). (I do not have a link or digital copy).
Remarks at Coast Guard Foundation Dinner, Houston, TX.
(November 21, 2024). MK1 Chad Rollins Promotion | 2024 Texas
Salutes the Coast Guard
Remarks at Connecticut Global Security Forum, Hartford, CT.
(September 20, 2024) Navigating the Future Together: The Coast
Guard & Our Allies | Global Security Forum 2024--YouTube
Panelist, ``Information Warfare--Challenges and Solutions in
the Maritime Domain.'' U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space
Symposium. (May 17, 2016) DVIDS--Video--SAS 2016: Panel:
Information Warfare--Security Challenges and Solutions in the
Maritime Domain
Upon further review, I have identified 28 additional items that are
responsive to question A.19 on the Committee's questionnaire. They are:
Press Release on Coast Guard Sets Historic Record with
Amount of Cocaine Seized in FY25. (November 6, 2025). Coast
Guard sets historic record with amount of cocaine seized in
FY25 > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
Press release on Coast Guard commissions Coast Guard Earl
Cunningham (WPC 1159) in Kodiak, Alaska (August 11, 2025).
Coast Guard commissions Coast Guard Cutter Earl Cunningham (WPC
1159) in Kodiak, Alaska > United States Coast Guard News >
Press Releases
Media coverage of commissioning of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter
STORIS, Juneau, AK. (August 10, 2025). Must Read Alaska on X:
``Sen. Dan Sullivan and Admiral Kevin Lunday during the soggy
August day commissioning of the new Coast Guard icebreaker
Cutter Storis. https://t.co/wigPlfB9dO''/X
Quote, ``They are the Best America Has: Coast Guard Holds
National Memorial Service.'' (August 2, 2025). 'They are the
best America has': Coast Guard holds National Memorial Service
| Fairs & Festivals | grandhaventribune.com
Quote, ``Force Design 2028 Execution Plan,'' MyCG. (July 16,
2025). Coast Guard shares execution plan for Force Design 2028
> United States Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News
Press Release on Coast Guard Renames Geographic Operational
Districts. (July 3, 2025). Coast Guard renames geographic
operational districts > United States Coast Guard News > Press
Releases
Press Release on Coast Guard Achieves Major Milestone in
Drug Interdiction, Border Control Operations. (March 18, 2025).
Coast Guard achieves major milestone in drug interdiction,
border control operations > United States Coast Guard News >
Press Releases
Quote, ``Sea Air Space: CMS Breakfast Panel Discussed How to
Make Future Shipbuilding Shipshape.'' (April 10, 2025). Sea-
Air-Space: CMS Breakfast Panel Discusses How to Make Future
Shipbuilding Shipshape--Seapower
Acting Commandant's Action Order Number 1: Increasing Coast
Guard Operational Presence. (January 21, 2025). Coast Guard
Action Order: Increasing Coast Guard Operational Presence and
Focus on Border Control and Protecting the Territorial
Integrity of the United States.
Quote, ``When the Coast Guard Intercepts Unaccompanied
Kids.'' (December 7, 2023). When the Coast Guard Intercepts
Unaccompanied Kids--ProPublica
Interview at Mission Mighty Mississippi, WQAD 8. Rock
Island, IL. (October 22, 2023). Coast Guard hosts Mission
Mighty Mississippi in Rock Island | wqad.com
Quote, ``Coast Guard Touches Down in Rock Island to Recruit
Next Generation of Service Men and Women.'' (October 22, 2023).
Coast Guard hosts Mission Mighty Mississippi in Rock Island |
wqad.com
Live Interview at Mission Mighty Mississippi, FOX18. Rock
Island, IL. (October 20, 2023). United States Coast Guard hosts
Mission Mighty Mississippi family-friendly event |
OurQuadCities
Quote, USCG Atlantic Area on X: ``Today @USCG personnel were
honored to ring in the Nasdaq Stock Market closing bell!A ``We
know here, being at the Nasdaq, that the health of our Nation
is based on the health of our economy,''--Vice Adm. Kevin
Lunday.'' (May 25, 2023) See more8https://t.co/7PBp0SOwpd
#fleetweek #nasdaq #NYC https://t.co/UtiDgQyloY''/X
Live Interview at New York Fleet Week, Reagan Medgie, FOX5.
New York, New York. (May 24, 2023). Exciting Kickoff of Fleet
Week NYC 2023: Ships, Performances and More
Coast Guard Ombudsman Appreciation Message. (March 24,
2023). DVIDS--Video--Coast Guard Ombudsman Appreciation Day
Holiday Message to Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Portsmouth,
Virginia. (December 12, 2022). DVIDS--Video--Coast Guard
Atlantic Area Commander sends a holiday greeting
Interview at New York Fleet Week, CBS2 John Elliott. New
York, New York. (May 25, 2022). Fleet Week: Meet the newest
vice admiral of U.S. Coast Guard. Fleet Week: Meet the newest
vice admiral of U.S. Coast Guard
Press Release on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dependable
Celebrated for 56 Years' Service During Heritage Recognition
Ceremony. (April 10, 2024). US Coast Guard Cutter Dependable
celebrated for 56 years' service during heritage recognition
ceremony > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
Press Release on Coast Guard Offloads Nearly $500 Million in
Illegal Narcotics at Port Everglades. (October 27, 2023). Coast
Guard offloads nearly $500 million in illegal narcotics at Port
Everglades > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
Quote, ``U.S. Continues Maritime Safety Security
Improvements with Republic of Palau.'' (June 4, 2020). DVIDS--
Video--US Continues Maritime Safety Security Improvements with
Republic of Palau
Press Release on U.S. Coast Guard Commissions William Hart
in Honolulu. (September 26, 2019). DVIDS--U.S. Coast Guard
Commissions William Hart in Honolulu
Press Release on Interior Announces More Than $1.2 Million
in Funding Support for the Republic of Palau. (May 30, 2019).
Interior Announces more than $1.2 Million in Funding Support
for the Republic of Palau | U.S. Department of the Interior
Quote, ``U.S. Coast Guard Supporting U.S. Pacific Fleet
Navigation Initiatives Federated States Micronesia.'' (May 24,
2019). DVIDS--U.S. Coast Guard Supporting U.S. Pacific Fleet
Navigation Initiatives Federated States Micronesia
Press Release on U.S., Federated States of Micronesia
Conduct Bilateral Engagement; 75th Commemorate Operation
Hailstone. (February 22, 2019). U.S., Federated States of
Micronesia Conduct Bilateral Engagement; 75th Commemorate
Operation Hailstone > U.S. Indo-Pacific Command > News Articles
Press Release on United States Files Complaint Against
Hawaii Fishing Companies, Managers, and Vessel Operators Over
Illegal Oil Discharges and Lodges Partial Settlement With
Managers. (September 7, 2018). Office of Public Affairs |
United States Files Complaint Against Hawaii Fishing Companies,
Managers, and Vessel Operator Over Illegal Oil Discharges and
Lodges Partial Settlement With Managers | United States
Department of Justice
Address to District 14. (July 27, 2018). DVIDS--Video--Rear
Adm. Kevin Lunday Address to District 14
Video Series, The Coast Guard's Role in Cyberspace.
Washington, DC. (June 26, 2017). DVIDS--Video--The Coast
Guard's Role in Cyberspace
I have been notified of an additional item responsive to question
C.l. on the Committee's questionnaire. It is:
On October 7, 2025, I was the subject of a civil complaint in
Federal court. I was sued in U.S. District Court in my official
capacity (along with the Commander of Coast Guard Personnel Service
Center and another Officer) by Students for Fair Admissions requesting
declaratory and injunctive relief regarding the Coast Guard's College
Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) program alleging that the
CSPI program discriminates based upon race and ethnicity in violation
of the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment. The case is pending.
______
Senate Commerce Committee Coast Guard Nominee Questionnaire 119th
Congress
Additional Questions for Coast Guard O-10 Nominee:
1. Were you ever officially, or unofficially, accused of sexual
assault, sexual harassment, or any other sex crimes during your time in
the service (including the Academy and/or other accession points)?
Please describe.
No. I am unaware of any accusation against me for sexual assault,
sexual harassment, or any other sex crimes during my time in the
service.
2. Did you have any knowledge, official or otherwise, of Operation
Fouled Anchor before CNN broke the story on June 30, 2023? Please
describe your knowledge, and subsequent actions in detail.
On June 12, 2023, the Commandant held a conference phone call with
the Vice Admirals, the Vice Commandant, and Master Chief Petty Officer
of the Coast Guard and discussed the investigation known as Operation
Fouled Anchor and that a forthcoming news media report on the
investigation would be released. I was traveling in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba at the time of the call. That was the first time that I learned of
Operation Fouled Anchor.
a. If so, in what capacity did you receive this information?
The Commandant was informing senior Coast Guard leaders during a
phone call on June 12, 2023.
b. If so, what did you do with that information? Did you report to
CGIS, or others? Please describe.
I did not do anything as the Commandant was informing senior Coast
Guard leaders about Operation Fouled Anchor and the actions that were
being taken.
c. If not, had you heard of an investigation surrounding sexual
assault but did not know if it was a part of Operation Fouled Anchor?
If so, please describe.
While assigned as Commander, Oceania (previously Fourteenth) Coast
Guard District in Honolulu, HI from July 2018 to June 2020, I heard at
some point in time (probably late 2018 or 2019) that there was an
ongoing investigation into certain alleged sexual assaults that had
occurred years before at the Coast Guard Academy. I don't recall the
date or circumstances I heard this information. However, I was not
informed that there were any officers then assigned to Coast Guard
Oceania District who were alleged to have committed sexual assaults as
part of that investigation, and I don't recall the term ``Operational
Fouled Anchor'' as any part of the discussion.
3. Have you ever heard of a group called ''Theta Gamma'' or ``the
Dirty Thirty''?
No.
a. If so, did you ever take part in meetings, events, or other
related formal or informal gatherings or discussions?
I never heard of this group.
b. Did you ever consider yourself a part of the group?
No.
c. If you have an Academy class ring, do you have anything
inscribed on it? If so, please describe.
Yes. I had the words ''Revere Honor, Honor Duty'' inscribed inside
my class ring to remind me of the words in the floor of the entrance to
Chase Hall, the Coast Guard Academy cadet barracks: ``Who Lives Here
Reveres Honor, Honors Duty.''
4. Are you aware of instances of sexual assault, sexual harassment,
or any other sex crimes that were handled incorrectly either at the
Academy or any other unit that you served in, or had knowledge of,
during your time in the Coast Guard?
No.
a. If so, how did you handle this?
I was not aware of any instances as asked above.
5. Did you at any time during the course of Operation Fouled
Anchor, or following its conclusion, have any influence or
conversations, direct or indirect, formal or informal, on the decision
to not disclose the investigation to Congress? Please describe.
No.
a. Did you have any awareness of the decision process to not
disclose? Please describe.
No.
6. Have you ever received an order or direction, formal or
informal, to not pursue any actions regarding sexual assault, sexual
harassment, or any other sex crimes from anyone in authority overseeing
any reported or nonreported, cases/claims? Please describe.
No.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday assumed the duties of Acting Commandant on
January 21, 2025. He leads the 56,000 men and women of the U.S. Coast
Guard as part of the Department of Homeland Security team protecting
America and one of the six military services and part of the joint
force defending it. As a maritime Nation, the U.S. relies on a strong
Coast Guard to assure our national security. We control the U.S.
maritime borders and approaches and protect U.S. sovereignty. We assure
the operation, security, and defense of U.S. maritime critical
infrastructure-vital to America's economic prosperity and strategic
mobility. We save lives through prevention and rescuing those in
distress at sea. We conduct maritime law enforcement, military
operations, and safeguard navigation on the high seas and navigable
waters of the U.S., including operations in the Arctic, Indo-Pacific,
and Atlantic Oceans. We protect the marine environment and our living
marine resources. We remain Semper Paratus--Always Ready in service to
the American people.
Admiral Lunday previously served as the 34th Vice Commandant from
June 2024. Before that, he served as Commander, Atlantic Area where he
directed operations from the Navigable Inland Waterways east of the
Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, and East Coast of the
U.S. throughout the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent parts of the Arctic
Ocean to the Arabian Gulf. Admiral Lunday has extensive experience in
the Indo-Pacific where he served as Commander of the Fourteenth Coast
Guard District, directing operations throughout Oceania, including
Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands, as well as activities in Japan and Singapore.
Experienced in operational and technical cyberspace operations,
Admiral Lunday served as Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command
where he directed the operation, maneuver, and defense of the Coast
Guard Enterprise Mission Platform as part of Department of Defense
(DoD) networks. He also directed remote and deployable cyberspace
operations to protect U.S. maritime critical infrastructure from
cyberattack. Prior to this role he served as Director of Exercises and
Training (J7), U.S. Cyber Command where he directed the joint training
and certification of the DoD Cyber Mission Force, the Nation's
cyberspace warriors.
Admiral Lunday is a career national security attorney and judge
advocate. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College
with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, and graduate of
the Naval War College with distinction. He holds a Juris Doctor with
high honors from George Washington University Law School and Bachelor
of Science in Marine Engineering with honors from the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy. He has earned numerous personal, team, and campaign awards
during 38 years of service.
______
ADMIRAL Kevin E. Lunday
Current Assignment
Jan 25-present Commandant (Acting), U.S. Coast Guard
Assignment History
Jun 24-Jan 25 Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard
May 22-Jun 24 Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Defense Forces
East
Jan 23-Jun 24 Director, DHS Joint Task Force--East
Jul 20-May 22 Deputy for Materiel Readiness (Mission Support)
Jul 18-Jun 20 Commander, Fourteenth U.S. Coast Guard District
Jun 16-Jul 18 Assistant Commandant for Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, and Information Technology (CG-6)
Jun 16-Jul 18 Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command
Jun 14-Jun 16 Director (J7), Training and Exercises, U.S. Cyber Command
Jun 11-Jun 14 Executive Assistant to the Commandant (CG-00EA)
Jun 08-Jun 11 Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center LANT, Commanding
Officer
Aug 07-Jun 08 National War College, Duty Under Instruction
Jun 04-Aug 07 MLCLANT, Chief, OPLAW Branch/CGD5 Staff Judge Advocate
Jul 01-Jun 04 CG-2, Intelligence Counsel/Legal Advisor (detailed from
G-LMI)
Jun 99-Jul 01 TRACEN Yorktown, Staff Judge Advocate
Jul 97-Jun 99 TRACEN Yorktown, Ass't Chief/Legal Advisor, MLE School
Jul 94-Jul 97 George Washington Univ. Law School, Duty Under
Instruction
Feb 93-Jul 94 CG Intel Coord Center, Chief, Global Intel Branch,
Analysis Div.
Jul 91-Feb 93 CG Intel Coord Center, Indications & Warning Watch
Officer
Jun 89-Jul 91 USCGC POINT MARTIN, Commanding Officer
May 87-Jun 89 USCGC SWEETGUM, Deck Watch Officer/Operations Officer
Educational Summary
2008--National War College, M.S., National Security Strategy,
Distinguished Graduate
1997--George Washington Univ. Law School, J.D., with high honors
1994--Naval War College, College of Command & Staff (Non-resident),
Diploma with distinction
1987--USCG Academy, B.S., Marine Engineering with honors
Military Personal Awards and Significant National Recognition
or Achievement
CG DSM (2024, 2018), DSSM (2016), LOM (2022, 2020, 2014, 2011), MSM
(2010, 2007, 2004), COM (2008, 2001, 1998, 1994), ACH (1999, 1989), LOC
(2003)
2023, Honorary Master Chief Petty Officer 2011, Honorary Chief Petty
Officer
2008, National Military Intelligence Assoc. Sherman Kent Strategic
Intelligence Writing Award
2005, American Bar Assoc. Outstanding Military Service Career Judge
Advocate Award
2004, Director of Central Intelligence National Intelligence
Certificate of Distinction
1997, Order of the Coif, George Washington Univ. Law School
Significant Current Professional Credentials or Recent Activities
Admitted to practice law, Arizona 2022 (active)
Admitted to practice law, Virginia 2006 (active)
Admitted to practice law, U.S. Supreme Court 2002
Admitted to practice law, Maryland 1997 (inactive)
Certification as Military Judge under Article 26(b) UCMJ, 2005
Certification as a Judge Advocate under Article 27(b) UCMJ, 1997
Member, American Bar Association (2005-present)
Special Advisor to the Standing Committee on Law and National Security,
American Bar Association (Sep 2021-May 2022)
Member, Advisory Committee to the Standing Committee on Law and
National Security, American Bar Association (Aug 2015-Jul 2017)
Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States (1997-present)
The Chairman. Thank you, Admiral. After years of neglect,
the Coast Guard is finally receiving the resources it needs to
stop illegal immigration, to intercept drug traffickers, and to
keep Americans safe at sea. Senate Republicans fought hard to
secure nearly $25 billion for the Coast Guard in the One Big
Beautiful Bill to fund the largest recapitalization of the
Coast Guard in history. In your judgment, how big a deal is
that investment in the Coast Guard?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, it is not only a historic
investment, but it comes at a time where the Coast Guard was
facing decades of underinvestment that resulted in a readiness
spiral for us. And so, this infusion of capital investment will
enable us to recapitalize in the areas I just described, and
that, coupled with higher sustained annual authorization and
appropriations, particularly the operating funds necessary to,
for example, bring on those 15,000 Coast Guard men and women,
are going to enable us to be successful into the future.
The Chairman. I very much agree. Another element of the One
Big Beautiful Bill is that we cut through layers of red tape,
and we gave the Coast Guard flexibility to quickly buy new
ships and aircraft. This will help you address urgent readiness
gaps before the funding window closes and adversaries get ahead
of the U.S. In your judgment, how would backtracking and
reinstating those acquisition hurdles impact the Coast Guard's
ability to deliver the paid-for assets on time and on budget?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, the relief provided from--in
the One Big Beautiful Bill Act from the regular pre-acquisition
requirements in Title 14, Chapter 11, is essential for our
ability to move at speed and scale to deliver the assets the
Coast Guard and America needs, and so if that were to be pulled
back, that would slow us down. Those requirements are
originally probably intended to reduce risk, but they've
resulted in delays and our ability to not move at the pace
America needs us to move. And so, a permanent change that
allows us to not be bound by those that slow us down so we can
continue to deliver at speed is vital.
The Chairman. Thank you. Earlier this month at Coast Guard
Base Alameda, we saw what happens when anti-enforcement
activism gets out of hand. During a protest by the radical left
against immigration enforcement, a driver attempted to ram a
truck into Coast Guard personnel. Meanwhile, the left has
continued to vilify law enforcement and Homeland Security
personnel simply for doing their jobs. Admiral Lunday, what
message does it send to your service members when acts of
aggression like this are met with political indifference?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, the safety of our Coast Guard
men and women and the safety of the public is our paramount
concern. In that situation, our Coast Guard men and women
were--who were standing security were faced with an imminent
threat. As the driver of that truck reversed and accelerated
toward them, it presented a deadly force situation. From all
accounts that I know of and can see, they acted with discipline
and professionalism to defend themselves and also to protect
the public. The driver of that truck, there's an ongoing FBI
investigation. The driver has been charged with a Federal
crime, and--but our personnel acted with discipline and
restraint in that situation.
The Chairman. Turning to a different topic, Iran has used
maritime drug trafficking in the Middle East, including
trafficking drugs on fishing dhows, to finance its malign
activities. I know that you are operating under the command of
the Navy, but is it fair to say if the Coast Guard discovers
illegal narcotics aboard a vessel in this region, these would-
be drug traffickers face no punishment other than having their
drugs seized?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, under the current practice
under the Department of War, that is the--that is the outcome.
We seize and destroy the drugs, but we do not seize the vessel.
The Chairman. And it's my understanding that the fishermen
aboard face no legal punishment. Is that correct?
Admiral Lunday. That's correct, Mr. Chairman, in almost all
cases.
The Chairman. And the fishermen take control of the dhow
and are allowed to continue sailing after the interdiction?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. You will not be surprised to know that I
think that makes no sense whatsoever, and I very much hope the
Department of War changes the protocols in those circumstances.
Shifting to another topic, for too long, the Coast Guard
has watched from the sidelines as Russia and China have
expanded their Arctic operations with fleets of heavy
icebreakers. That's why the One Big Beautiful Bill helped fund
a modern icebreaking fleet. My understanding is that the Coast
Guard is writing a plan, as directed by a Presidential
memorandum, to phase construction of the Arctic security
cutters and eventually transition production to U.S. shipyards,
including in the great State of Texas. What are some of the
critical debates you are having about that plan, and when will
it be made public?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, we're continuing to work on
delivering that plan that we owe back to the President within
60 days of his October announcement. Our principle focus on
that plan is to deliver an onshoring strategy. So, the
President determined that four of those Arctic security cutters
would be built first overseas as part of the two consortiums,
but then we would onshore that capability back into U.S.
shipyards that strengthens our U.S. shipbuilding industrial
base, and the remaining Arctic security cutters will be built
here in the U.S. by American workers.
The Chairman. That is enormously important capacity, and I
think it's going to have profound and long-term effect. All
right. Final question. How do you expect the Coast Guard to
take full advantage of these new Arctic security cutters to
support U.S. presence and interest in the Arctic? Put another
way, how will things be different for the Coast Guard in the
Arctic?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Mr. Chairman, as you know, the Coast
Guard operates the only U.S. surface presence that accesses
both of the polar regions, but particular to the Arctic, that
will give us the ability to have sustained presence to
challenge adversary behavior. You know, this summer we saw five
Chinese-flagged research vessels that were operating north
along our Northern border, north of Alaska, along our extended
Outer Continental Shelf area. We sent the older medium
icebreaker HEALY up there and the new commercial icebreaker,
STORIS, that we just commissioned in August, and we ran them
out of there. But we need stronger, sustained Coast Guard
presence to be able to enforce U.S. sovereignty, protect our
border and our maritime approaches throughout the Arctic Ocean.
The Chairman. I very much agree. Senator Klobuchar.
STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral,
congratulations on your nomination, and I'm going to take you
to some colder places as Senator Cruz left off with that: the
Port of Duluth. Have you been there before?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I have not been to the Port of
Duluth, but I look forward to visiting.
Senator Klobuchar. Excellent answer. It is, in fact, the
largest port by tonnage on the Great Lakes, 35 million tons of
cargo, one of the Nation's top 20 ports. We're very proud of
it. Over the years, we've put a lot of funding into making it
multimodal, and there are all kinds of things shipped back and
forth, and that Senator Baldwin and I, as a result of her work
on the Great Lakes, have been really focused on the acquisition
of a second Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaker to be used on
the Great Lakes and the port. Do you have the resources you
need, and can you talk about the importance of icebreakers?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you. The Great Lakes, as you
know, is a critical system to our national economy and also our
national security. And so, the Coast Guard operates the
Mackinaw, which is the current Great Lakes icebreaker, and we
need a second Great Lakes icebreaker. I want to thank the
support of Congress in Fiscal Year 2024 budget for
appropriating $20 million to continue the pre-acquisition, the
analyze-and-select phase for the next Great Lakes icebreaker,
but we need an additional $35 million to complete that analyze-
and-select phase and move toward that acquisition. I just
released our Fiscal Year 2026 unfunded priorities list, and
that includes a request for that additional funding on the
unfunded priorities list.
Senator Klobuchar. OK. Very good. Thank you, and we hope we
can get this done. It's just so important for the future of the
economy. One of these supply chain issues--I know you've worked
on supply chains, and what are some of the biggest challenges
the Coast Guard is facing when trying to manage shipping
vessels when there is congestion as opposed to the icebreaker
issue?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Senator, one of the biggest
challenges that we face is we have to keep the commerce moving.
And while we keep it moving, we also have to make sure that it
is safe and secure through our entire marine transportation
system. So, that's our ports, our inland waterways as well,
and, of course, the Great Lakes system. And so, we also license
U.S. mariners, which is critically important, to make sure that
our mariners have the training and capability to be able to
operate the--what will be a growing U.S. fleet, under the
President's direction, to restore America's maritime dominance.
All of that falls under the Coast Guard's authority and
responsibility.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you, and you pledge to coordinate
with our very friendly neighbor to the north, Canada, which is
near and dear to my heart?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, we do. The Coast Guard has a
strong operational relationship with Canadian forces, whether
it's Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Canadian Defense, and
that's a strong working relationship across our Northern border
and into the Arctic. You know, yesterday I was with Secretary
Noem at the icebreaker collaboration effort meeting that she
chaired with representatives of Canada and Finland, and she
talked about the importance of our partnership with not only
Canada, but also Finland. And so, it's just another example of
that close working relationship, Senator.
Senator Klobuchar. Yes. Senator Murkowski and I are meeting
with members of the Finnish Parliament today about just this
same subject. So, the Edmund Fitzgerald, we just recognized the
50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, loss
of 29 crew members transporting taconite from Minnesota's Iron
Range, where my dad grew up. My grandpa was an iron ore miner.
It wasn't just a very famous song that came out of that, but
coming out of that was a Coast Guard investigation that led to
major changes to Great Lake shipping practices. You should know
in freezing cold weather, 2,000 Minnesotans gathered outside on
the North Shore just last week to recognize those that we lost,
including some of their descendants and family members. In your
testimony, you mentioned the Coast Guard's role in responding
to crises that come without warning. Just to confirm that
you'll continue to prioritize that.
We lost a Coast Guard station in Grand Marai. We have now
worked with the tribe up there and gotten some funding to have
a tribal Coast Guard, because if the Coast Guard comes from
Duluth, it's such a long way up the North Shore, it's worth
looking into what they've resorted to. But we do have some
ships, some boats that can rescue people that the state and the
tribe worked on together, but just in general, if you could
look into that and how we're kind of band-aiding it together,
and then also just a commitment to continue to prioritize
safety.
Admiral Lunday. Senator, if confirmed by the Senate, I look
forward to working to prioritize safety and also certainly to
visit Duluth.
Senator Klobuchar. Yes. Well, really, you will be a very--a
famous celebrity to come to Duluth on--to see that port, only
because we just love the Coast Guard up there, so thank you.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Klobuchar. Look forward to it.
The Chairman. And, Admiral, I will say it's excellent
instincts if any member of this committee asks you to visit
this--their state. The only answer is, ``absolutely yes.''
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Senator Wicker.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER WICKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI
Senator Wicker. Admiral, I would suggest you wear layers
when you go to Duluth.
Senator Klobuchar. Unnecessary.
[Laughter.]
Senator Wicker. Admiral Lunday, the experience of serving
the--in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has real
benefits. A RAND Corporation study found that students who
participated in JROTC have higher grades, better attendance
rates, and are more likely to graduate from high school than
other students. Mississippi was pleased to welcome the Coast
Guard's first JROTC program in the state at Clinton High School
in 2023. This is in the Heartland District of the Coast Guard.
Let me also note that the Coast Guard is congressionally
required to have a JROTC unit in every district by December 31
of this year.
In the 2025--in 2025, the Senate passed the Coast Guard
Reauthorization Act and included a negotiated provision
directing you to expand JROTC to no fewer than 20 programs by
the end of 2026. There are currently 14 programs. It shouldn't
be too difficult for you to get from 14 programs to 20 programs
by the end of next year. Would you comment about that?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator Wicker. The Junior ROTC
programs are great programs, and I know the one in Clinton is--
Clinton High School is one of our largest with the greatest
participation of many others. I'm proud to tell you that we are
ahead of schedule in establishing a Coast Guard Junior ROTC
program in every one of the Coast Guard districts, and if
confirmed by the Senate, I will--I will work to complete the
requirement by the end of 2026, as you described, Senator.
Senator Wicker. That's good to hear. It is a citizenship
builder for sure. Now, let's move then to IUU--illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing. It's a real problem.
Admiral Paparo has commended the Coast Guard for its service in
his area of the world in that regard. Do you believe the Coast
Guard is serving U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific by
combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator. I do, and this is a
topic I've actually talked personally with Admiral Paparo
about. Combating IUU fishing is not just one of our statutory
missions, it's actually a national security imperative,
particularly pushing back against the malign influence of China
and their distant water fleets. You know, throughout the Indo-
Pacific, we see those fleets encroaching on Pacific Island
nations, and there are--who don't always have the capability to
push back, or even on the high seas, violating international
rules about illegal fishing. And so, the Coast Guard's presence
in the Indo-Pacific to enforce not only our sovereignty,
because beyond Hawaii and our three territories and their
exclusive economic zones, there are broad other areas of U.S.
sovereignty, exclusive economic zones around smaller tolls and
islands throughout South and Central Pacific, and we are
responsible for protecting our sovereignty. We also help
Pacific Island nations who don't have the capability through
our ship rider agreements. So, yes, sir, it's of critical
importance.
Senator Wicker. It's a more than $2.4 billion problem for
the United States alone, IUU fishing, and, yes, it is more than
an economic problem. It involves human trafficking, forced
labor, and undercutting a very vital industry in the United
States. Finally, let me ask you this. It's a bit of good news
that the--that Amtrak has opened the Mardi Gras Service between
New Orleans, going across the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, and on
to Mobile. The passenger participation has been through the
roof, outstripping every optimistic projection we've had, so
that's very good news. One lingering issue concerns CSX's
effort to remotely operate several drawbridges in Alabama and
Mississippi. This company has invested nearly $60 million in
safety and automation upgrades to run a remote pilot during the
pandemic, yet they've been working for the last 5 years for
full automation approval from the Coast Guard. If confirmed,
would you be willing to work with me to resolve this issue and
ensure the process better supports modern rail infrastructure,
while maintaining navigational safety?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I'm aware of the issue, and if
confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to working with you to
resolve that issue.
Senator Wicker. I think--I think if we work together, we
can get that resolved. The automation is ready, and we need to
find a way to ``yes.'' So, thank you very much for that
assurance, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Baldwin.
STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY BALDWIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN
Senator Baldwin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral Lunday,
thank you for meeting with me in advance of this hearing today,
and thank you for your service.
When we met, you said that closure of a number of search-
and-rescue facilities across the country is under consideration
by the Coast Guard, including at least three in Wisconsin. I
actually think this would be a reckless decision. Search and
rescue is one of the core missions of the Coast Guard, and the
people of Wisconsin depend upon the Coast Guard when disaster
happens. The Coast Guard's resources in the region are already
stretched very thin by the significant commercial and
recreational usage of the Great Lakes. Any cuts to the Coast
Guard's search-and-rescue capabilities means that Wisconsinites
are going to be less safe on the water. So, Admiral Lunday,
will you commit today that you will not close facilities in
Wisconsin and ensure that there are adequate search-and-rescue
resources on the Great Lakes?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question.
Search-and-rescue is not just one of our 11 missions, it's part
of our DNA. It's a sacred trust we have with the American
people and the communities you are describing. You know, unlike
the other military services that live on bases, we live in
those communities, and so we're neighbors in those communities.
We took an action to reduce the staffing and change the status
temporarily several years ago because of a shortage in our
enlisted workforce. I was at the Atlantic area--commanding
Atlantic area, and I was part of the decision on where to take
action to reduce the staffing at those stations, so I was
responsible for that. And we are looking at those decisions to
make sure we are not reducing search-and-rescue coverage in a
way that unduly increases risk of response, but we are still
assessing it.
Senator, part of Force Design 2028 that the Secretary
directed, one element is to look at our operating concepts and
our force structure throughout the Coast Guard, everywhere that
we're located, and we're just beginning that work, and part of
that will be an assessment on where our stations are and
whether where our other facilities are located as well. So, we
haven't gotten deep into that work yet, and so I'm not ready to
be able to commit that we won't close any stations, but there
is a statutory process if the Coast Guard were to move forward
with any closure of stations that includes public comment and
input. And we know that the members of the public are very
interested in the Coast Guard facilities and stations in their
communities. So, thank you, Senator.
Senator Baldwin. And please keep me apprised. I know that
our communities in Wisconsin that could be impacted by closures
would be very eager to provide input. You heard from my
colleague about the Port of Duluth. We call it the Twin Ports
of Duluth and Superior.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. Please correct the record, Mr. Chair.
[Laughter.]
Senator Baldwin. And so, we hope that if you visit Duluth,
you'll also visit Superior, Wisconsin, but I want to seriously
focus, as my colleague did, on the existence of only one heavy
Coast Guard icebreaker in the Great Lakes. There are certainly
smaller icebreakers that are there, but when we're talking
about early winter and late winter commerce, we have a need for
an additional heavy icebreaker. I think about when we've had
heavy ice in the Great Lakes, the negative impact on commerce.
It can affect billions of dollars in commerce and tens of
thousands of jobs in the Great Lake Region. And over the last
several years, I have advocated for both authorization of a
second heavy Coast Guard icebreaker, but also funding to get
that process moving. You know, there's a lot of discussion of
recent investment in Coast Guard assets, but I have seen
progress on the heavy icebreaker really slow at the very same
time. And so, if confirmed, will you commit to prioritizing
this project so that the Great Lakes can be more accessible to
commerce?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you. If confirmed by the
Senate, I will commit to prioritizing the acquisition of a
second Great Lakes icebreaker, given the importance in the
Great Lakes.
Senator Baldwin. I appreciate that very much. Finally,
supporting Strong by America standards is a top priority for
me, especially when it comes to the areas under this
committee's jurisdiction. Making sure that Coast Guard ships,
their components, their equipment are produced in the United
States guarantees that Coast Guardsmen are getting the absolute
best products while providing well-paying jobs to Americans.
I've been particularly concerned over the last several years
with irregularities in Coast Guard procurement and have
questioned whether the Coast Guard is fully adhering to Buy
America requirements. So, Admiral Lunday, if confirmed, will
you commit to following all of the Buy America requirements for
Coast Guard procurement in law?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question. I
will--I will commit to complying with the law related to
construction of Coast Guard cutters and assets in the United
States. I would note that for the Arctic Security Cutter
Program, the President, under the President's authority, made
an announcement on the 9th of October about the construction,
the need--national security need for construction of the first
four of those overseas to be able to onshore the remaining
program back into the United States in shipbuilding, but that
was a specific action under the President's authority. The
remainder of Coast Guard shipbuilding is conducted in Coast
Guard shipyards--excuse me--in United States shipyards for
Coast Guard cutters.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you. I yield, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Sullivan.
STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral, great
to see you again. Appreciated our meeting yesterday.
Congratulations, and I want to congratulate and thank your
wife, LyndaLee, as well, the master chief of the Coast Guard,
who's here. I've appreciated you coming up to Alaska many times
already. I'd love to see you more. We love our Coast Guard in
Alaska. You know, I don't like bragging about Alaska, but I
always do. So, we have more coastline than the rest of the
country combined, so the Coast Guard is really important, and--
--
The Chairman. Did you just say you don't like bragging
about Alaska?
Senator Sullivan. I do like bragging about Alaska. I'm
sorry.
[Laughter.]
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and you love
hearing it. And by the way, I want to really thank, and this is
Alaska/Texas issue, the rescue missions you've done in our
recent--the typhoon in Alaska, the big floods in Texas, just
heroic efforts. You and our National Guard, Coast Guard members
saved 51 people in Alaska. Didn't make any news. You saved 51
lives. It's just unbelievable. Crews operated in the middle of
a typhoon, isolated, flooded communities, no infrastructure. It
was just incredible, so can you please pass on my thanks, the
Committee's thanks for the great work you're doing?
Admiral Lunday. I will, Senator. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Senator Sullivan. And when I thanked them, I told them,
look, it's never been a better time to be in the Coast Guard.
The Chairman and I worked very closely with Secretary Noem and
you, sir, on the budget reconciliation bill, the biggest
investment in Coast Guard history, $25 billion. By the way, I
just walked past the Senate Liaison Office, this giant sign of
the Coast Guard outside your Senate Liaison Office, ``Historic
investment.'' That's what's happening. It's great, and part of
that, Senator Cruz already talked about 16 icebreakers in the
budget reconciliation bill. We need it. As you know, the number
I actually have, the Russians have 54 icebreakers, many of
which are nuclear powered, weaponized. The Chinese, I think,
have more heavies than we do. We have two heavies right now and
one is broken, so we got a lot of work to do.
I want to thank President Trump, who has been very focused
on closing this icebreaker gap, as we call it in Alaska, but as
you mentioned, the Russians and Chinese are all over my state
in the Arctic. We've had six Russian incursions in our ADIZ
since August. And as you mentioned, we had rush--Chinese ships
``doing research'' in the Arctic, also known as spying in the
Arctic, and off the coast of Alaska all summer. So, the Indo--
the ice pack event was a great event yesterday to--essentially,
what we want, and I know you want, to build icebreakers and
deploy them and home port them very quickly. Can I get your
commitment to work with this committee on doing just that?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, if confirmed by the Senate, I
will work with this committee to do that, yes, sir.
Senator Sullivan. And now, in terms of home porting
icebreakers, especially the heavies and the mediums, I can't
imagine any scenario where you wouldn't home port icebreakers
where the ice actually is and where our adversaries are. That
hasn't always been the case. As you and I talked about
yesterday, when I was the Chair of the Coast Guard
Subcommittee--I'm still the Chair right now--when the Coast
Guard a few years ago--you were involved with this--announced
that it would home port all three heavy ice breakers in Seattle
over 2,000 miles away from the ice, I learned about it in a
press release, which I didn't like. So, there was zero
consultation with me as the Chairman of this committee. Can I
get your commitment to--well, do you agree that was just
unacceptable for the Chairman of the Coast Guard Committee to
learn about the home porting of icebreakers in a press release?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, I wasn't involved in that----
Senator Sullivan. I know.
Admiral Lunday.--but I think that it's important we consult
with the Committee.
Senator Sullivan. Yes, it was unacceptable. Let me--let me
ask to get your commitment to work with me and this committee
on the home porting of the medium icebreakers and where we're
going to home port those? Can I get your commitment to do that?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Sullivan. And look, I know the Coast Guard is
working on home porting plans right now. Is there any scenario
in which a significant numbers of these medium icebreakers--we
have a lot for the Great Lakes already--the heavies are going
to go to Seattle, which, again, I don't think makes a lot of
sense, but whatever. You guys made that decision, but is there
any scenario in which a significant number of these medium
icebreakers would not be home stationed in the Arctic, in the
state where the ice is, in the state where our adversaries are,
and our adversaries are up in Alaska, in the Arctic a lot. Can
you imagine any scenario where that would happen?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Mr. Chairman, we haven't made any
decisions on home porting yet, but we look forward to working
with you as the Chair and other Members of Congress on that
decisionmaking process. You and I were--and I want to thank you
for being with us in August along with the Deputy Secretary
that commissioned the First Coast Guard icebreaker, Storis,
that will be home ported in Juneau. We're very excited about
that.
Senator Sullivan. Great. Well, look, I--again, I want to
get your commitment, and I already have it, worked closely with
this committee. No blindsides for sure as what happened on the
heavies, which I didn't appreciate, but I appreciate your
commitment there. Just one final question. We talked about
yesterday the delivery and timeline for the two OPCs slated for
Kodiak. Are they still expected to be hulls number three and
four? Kodiak has the largest Coast Guard base in the country.
Do you know what the timeline is on those, Admiral?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, I don't have the exact
timeline, but the third and fourth OPCs that are delivered to
the Coast Guard will go to--be home ported in Kodiak.
Admiral Lunday. Great, and I want to thank you again. I
think you're extremely well qualified. We need to get you
confirmed ASAP. There's so much work to do in the Coast Guard
right now. It's a super exciting time to be in the Coast Guard.
The Congress of the United States has said enough of this, as
we talked about yesterday, hey, the Coast Guard has this--which
I think is admirable, but this ethos of, hey, we're going to do
more with less. Well, if you got 50-year-old cutters and 60-
year-old icebreakers, you can't do more with less. So, we said,
no, you're going to do more with more, and that's why this bill
that we just passed is really exciting, and it's a great time
to be in the Coast Guard. And I think you're going to be an
exceptional leader, and we need to get you confirmed ASAP.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Kim.
STATEMENT OF HON. ANDY KIM,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY
Senator Kim. Thank you, Chairman. Admiral, thank you for
coming before us, and thank you for your service to our
country. I wanted to just get a little more clarity from you in
terms of the protocols when it comes to interceptions of drug
smuggling boats. So, if you don't mind, can you walk me
through, just as a--Coast Guard is approaching a drug smuggling
boat, what are the next steps that happen in terms of their
protocol?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you for the question, Senator. So,
typically, the Coast Guard is performing our drug interdiction
mission as a maritime law enforcement under our maritime law
enforcement authority on the high seas, whether that's in the
Eastern Pacific or the Caribbean or other locations, but
principally in those areas. We normally receive information
that could be from surveillance aircraft or other means that
there is a suspected drug smuggling boat that is headed north,
and then we will interdict that boat. Sometimes we use an armed
helicopter to disable the boat, and then we will go aboard,
seize the boat, and typically take a representative--or take
the samples, the cocaine that's on the boat, if we can recover
it. We'll destroy the boat as a hazard to navigation, and then
we'll take the detainees who were operating the boat, and we'll
process them and then--and then we'll take them to wherever
they're going to go.
Senator Kim. So, arrest and then seek to prosecute. You
said an armed helicopter. Is there a protocol for the Coast
Guard to fire upon a ship if they--with lethal force if
unprovoked?
Admiral Lunday. Our normal use of the Helicopter
Interdiction Tactical Squadron, which are the helicopters, very
specialized crews that do this work, and they are trained and
they're effective at disabling the engines. The time they would
use lethal force is if they were fired upon from the drug
smuggling boat under our mode of operating as a law enforcement
agency.
Senator Kim. But without being provoked, does the Coast
Guard have legal authority to destroy a boat or to kill the
crew with lethal force if there has not been a provocation?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Senator, we're operating out there
under our Coast Guard law enforcement authority as a law
enforcement agency--a maritime law enforcement agency. And so,
that's not within our authority as a law enforcement agency
during our Coast Guard operations under the Department of
Homeland Security's authority.
Senator Kim. In your tenure so far leading up to Coast
Guard, has anyone from the Trump administration asked you if
the Coast Guard is able to take action that would be against
drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean?
Admiral Lunday. Under our Coast Guard law enforcement
authority, we're continuing our maritime law enforcement
operations, both in the Caribbean and in the Eastern Pacific.
Senator Kim. Have they asked you whether or not you're able
to use lethal force against these boats unprovoked?
Admiral Lunday. No, Senator, I haven't had that discussion
about the Coast Guard doing that as a maritime law enforcement
agency.
Senator Kim. Does the Coast Guard--has the Coast Bar--Coast
Guard been asked to provide resources or assets to the current
military buildup in the Caribbean?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Senator, the Coast Guard is a proud
member at all times of military service and part of the armed
forces, the joint force, and we regularly provide our forces to
operate under combatant commands around the world, including
U.S. Cyber Command, Northern Command, Southern Command, Indo-
Pacific Command. When they operate in that mode, they operate
under the authority of the Secretary of War, the Department of
War. And so, for any of the--those military operations, I would
refer you to the Department of War.
Senator Kim. OK. Thank you. In terms of questions that
were--came up earlier about the Indo-Pacific Senator Wicker and
others have asked, I guess I just wanted to ask you, are we
doing enough in the Indo-Pacific when it comes to the Coast
Guard actions?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator, because the Indo-
Pacific for the United States Coast Guard is not just an area
somewhere over there. For us, that's the U.S. homeland as
well----
Senator Kim. Mm-hmm.
Admiral Lunday.--not only because of the State of Hawaii,
but also our three U.S. territories in addition in the Pacific,
and so that's the homeland. And so, we have a responsibility to
protect that border in the maritime approaches as well. I had
the privilege of serving out in the Oceania District based in
Hawaii from 2018 to 2020, and during my time, we added nine
additional cutters permanently based--Coast Guard cutters in
the Indo-Pacific because of the importance of our operations
there. And with the support of Congress in Fiscal Year 2024, we
have two additional fast response cutters that will be
permanently based out there in Guam.
Senator Kim. And do you think that that level of resourcing
and additions is enough?
Admiral Lunday. Well, it's a--it continues to move us in
the right direction, but I don't know that it is enough,
Senator. I think we need more support. In fact we--in the
President's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, there's a request
for an additional significant investment in operating funds
specifically for the Indo-Pacific to increase our operations
out there.
Senator Kim. Well, I hope to be able to work with you on
that. I think it's incredibly important to make sure that we're
maintaining and building up that capacity. Thank you, Admiral.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Kim. With that, I'll yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Budd.
STATEMENT OF HON. TED BUDD,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA
Senator Budd. Thank you, Chairman. Admiral, congrats on
your nomination. I look forward to our meeting tomorrow in the
office. You know, in the One Big Beautiful Bill, it provided
$24.6 million of investment in the Coast Guard, and this
included $266 million in funds for long-range unmanned aircraft
systems. So, Admiral, if confirmed, how will you use the new
UAS assets to more effectively perform the Coast Guard's
missions, especially in drug and migrant interdiction?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question. So, we
are looking at what the spend plan will be, which assets we
will purchase for the investment of long-range, unmanned aerial
systems. I think as you know, we've operated for over a decade
with Customs and Border Protection, part of a joint program
office on the MQ-9 aircraft, but we're looking at other
solutions as well. We're currently prototyping one off of San
Diego that's proving very effective. It's a bit shorter--it's a
longer range, but it's not quite as long range as the MQ-9. So,
we're looking at different options to be able to move at speed
and scale and deliver that capability.
Senator Budd. Is that some sort of a clean sheet design, or
is that an existing UAS?
Admiral Lunday. It's an existing UAS, Senator.
Senator Budd. OK. Understood. I had a recent informative,
very good visit with the ALC, or the Aviation Logistics Center,
in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Very proud of what they do
there. You know, that's the only depot-level aviation
maintenance facility, as I understand, in the Coast Guard. The
One Big Beautiful Bill, it included 200--or excuse me--$2.2
billion for depot-level maintenance facilities, as well as $3.4
billion for new MH-60 helicopters and CJ--or C-130J airplanes.
How might these investments impact the ALC and the Coast Guard
aviation fleet?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator. Coast Guard aviation
engineers are the best in the world, and our largest
concentration of them is right there at Aviation Logistics
Center in Eastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City. And so, the
investment in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ALC--or the
Logistics Center--will be key to that. First, we've already
spent up to $80 million in the depot-level maintenance line
item to fund current readiness gaps, and that includes
restocking the inventory control point of critical parts for
our fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and that's located right
there in Elizabeth City. But as we talk about the acquisition
of up to 40 MH-60 helicopters and six C-130Js, the depot-level
maintenance, even some of the missionization that's required
and the support to that, will happen right there in Elizabeth
City at our--at our location.
Senator Budd. Very good. Thank you. I want to talk about
some of your disaster response a little bit. So, Hurricane
Helene devastated Western North Carolina, and we're still
working on the recovery efforts there, but in the immediate
aftermath of the storm about 14 months ago, Coast Guard
responded, and, as I believe I understand it, you all saved
about 21 lives across the Southeast, so excellent work there.
Can you talk a little bit about Coast Guard's disaster response
capabilities, particularly when you're responding to something
that's more of an inland disaster?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Senator. Thank you, and it was--it was
very difficult to watch the devastating impact of Helene in
Western North Carolina. So, our inland flood response
capabilities and disaster response capabilities are in a number
of ways. First of all, we use our helicopters and air crews to
be able to fly over inland areas, particularly where a state
needs assistance. We have authority--Coast Guard authority to
be able to provide that assistance when requested. So, a good
example of that was the terrible flooding on the 4th of July
last year in Central Texas where we responded, as Chairman Cruz
said, and successfully rescued people. For our response in
Helene, most of that--the rescues of the 21 were closer along
the Gulf Coast, but we did have a helicopter that went up and
supported the National Guard and their rescue efforts in
Western North Carolina. We also operate small skiffs that are
powered by an outboard motor that are used for inland flooding
areas, and those are available in a rapidly deployable--rapidly
deployable mode, if requested, for disaster response.
Senator Budd. Thank you very much. Appreciate your time
today and look forward to meeting soon. Chairman.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator.
The Chairman. Thank you. Ranking Member Cantwell.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Admiral Lunday, we had a chance yesterday to talk about the I-5
bridge, which is 108 years old, and if it's not operational, it
will jeopardize $48 billion worth of freight and trucks over
the bridge and barge that transport on the river. We discussed
the fact that the Coast Guard needed to make a preliminary
navigation clearance determination by January 16 or sooner.
Will you commit to that deadline?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I commit to being--coming out with
an updated navigation determination by that date.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you. The seafood industry, Admiral,
is incredibly important to us, 67,000 jobs. I've heard loud and
clear from fishermen that protecting Coast Guard search and
rescue is critical to their safety. That makes sense to you,
correct? You already understand this mission, but do you have a
plan to reopen the 23 search-and-rescue stations that were
temporarily closed?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, we don't have a
plan to currently reopen them. That's part of the assessment
that the Secretary has directed in Force Design 2028, to look
at our operating posture of Coast Guard forces as we look at
the operating concepts as well.
Senator Cantwell. So, what do I tell my fishermen? What do
we tell the fishermen about whether the Coast Guard is going to
be on the beat if they get in a drastic situation?
Admiral Lunday. If there's someone in distress at sea,
Ranking Member Cantwell, the Coast Guard will respond to those
that are in distress.
Senator Cantwell. If the stations are closed and there are
no resources close by?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, we've taken--as we
took actions to address that shortage in our personnel and
through the Force Alignment Initiative, we were very deliberate
to making sure we still had adequate coverage, even across
those areas where we were going to take a station that was
seasonal and turn it into a forward-operating location that
wasn't fully manned constantly, crewed constantly, or we took a
response station and changed it to scheduled mission only. So,
we were deliberate about the risk we were taking in those
areas, so we minimized any impact on our ability to timely
respond to mariners in distress.
Senator Cantwell. Well, I'd like to go over in more detail
that plan with you since I represent a state with great
coastline and great remoteness to--getting to a situation very
timely when you think about the strait o Juan de Fuca or out on
the Pacific, so I'll look forward to reviewing that with you.
One of the other aspects of Coast Guard presence in the
Northwest is the Cape Disappointment, critical to our--you
know, important strategy for the region, but also for the Motor
Life Boat School, which is really very impressive. I think
everybody thinks of the Kevin Costner movie where he rescues
people, but that's exactly what we train people to do at Cape
D. So, we need a solution to new docks that accommodate
replacement of 52s and a cutting-edge facility to support the
workforce and training, and to help with critical
infrastructure, like protecting the rescue capacity at Ilwaco
by doing dredging. So, will you commit to those objectives?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, I will. You know,
the Coast Guard boat drivers are the best in the world,
including there at Cape Disappointment, where we train them.
It's critically important. The Coast Guard is going to expend
$110 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to address the
dredging issue that you described in Ilwaco.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you.
Admiral Lunday. Rather than the continual dredging
challenges, we spoke about a more permanent solution, and so
we're going to work for a design that will be able to do that
effectively.
Senator Cantwell. Well, I welcome you to visit that area of
the state. I brought up in my opening statement obviously the
challenges we faced about sexual assault and misconduct at the
Academy. Do you support legislation that we passed out of this
committee to improve Coast Guard oversight in response to
sexual assault and misconduct, establishing an independent
oversight, holding leaders accountable for misconduct,
improving care for victims?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, I commit to, if
confirmed by the Senate, working on any activity that will make
the Coast Guard better able to combat and eliminate sexual
assault from our organization.
Senator Cantwell. Would you approve a role of the Office of
Chief Prosecutor because we've found that you need--you have to
have intended oversight and independence for these sexual
assault cases?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, we currently have,
and have had since the changes to the National Defense
Authorization and Military Justice Reform Act, we've had a flag
officer who is our chief prosecutor in the Coast Guard who has
the jurisdiction to prosecute those covered offenses. Just as
in the other military services, they have a special trial
counsel, so we are already implementing that.
Senator Cantwell. OK. So, a couple of other--so there were
33 recommendations outlined by the previous Commandant, so I
assume that you will work on a timeline to complete those?
Admiral Lunday. I will, Ranking Member Cantwell. We've
completed 24 of the 33, and we're working to complete the
remaining ones, and I look forward to briefing you on those.
When those are done, we will not be finished because we're
going to keep taking aggressive action to combat and eliminate
sexual assault, not only care for the victims who are victims
of this terrible and violent crime that is a cancer on our
readiness, but also to make sure we have justice, that we
investigate and prosecute those who commit these crimes and
hold them fully accountable under the law.
Senator Cantwell. Admiral, thank you for that very strong
statement. Very much appreciate it. Two really quick things.
There's some talk about tsunami warning systems being canceled.
I would assume you really appreciate tsunami warning systems in
the Coast Guard?
Admiral Lunday. I wasn't aware of that, Ranking Member
Cantwell, but we rely on tsunami warning because of the Coast
Guard units around the Pacific Rim.
Senator Cantwell. And then we had a chance to talk about
fentanyl and the challenges facing us with fentanyl, and the
inter-cooperation between Federal and State and local agencies.
Do you support those kind of efforts?
Admiral Lunday. I do, Ranking Member Cantwell. On the 29th
of January, I directed a focused effort to combat fentanyl
trafficking that came from our discussion in the hearing on
countering drugs last year before the Committee. And so, we
have increased by over 41 percent our multi-agency strike force
operations targeting fentanyl and precursor shipments in the
commercial shipping in our ports, and that relies on a very
strong relationship with State and local law enforcement----
Senator Cantwell. Thank you.
Admiral Lunday.--as well as other Federal partners.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Blunt Rochester.
STATEMENT OF HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM DELAWARE
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and
Ranking Member Cantwell. Admiral, congratulations to you and
your family, and I thank you for the meeting yesterday as well
as our past briefings.
As a new member of the Senate, one of the greatest honors
for me was to be named Ranking Member of the Coast Guard,
Maritime, and Fishery Subcommittee. I take great pride in this
role and take it very seriously. You know, as we discussed, I
want to ensure that there is partnership and that we uphold the
highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and
accountability, and that we are fully committed to the well-
being of our service members and their families. I also shared
with you, you know, concerns about the Coast Guard not being
politicized. The termination of Admiral Fagan left a poor taste
for many. The purchase of the two luxury jets, I shared, causes
concerns, even though we know there are some challenges with
the current planes that you have. And again, what I appreciated
in the conversation was you focusing on making sure that you
are mission ready, mission critical, you're apolitical, and
that you're just here to serve the American people, and so
hearing your vision was also very important to me as well.
And I recently had the honor of visiting Sector Delaware
Bay at the Indian River Inlet, and I was proud to meet some
really incredible individuals who love what they're doing and
really are making a difference. I got a chance to talk to them
about some of the concerns and the challenges that they have as
well, and one of the top priorities for me has been affordable
housing, and for many of them, that is a huge challenge. And
so, I wanted to make sure I put that on the record and also
just ask, what steps is the Coast Guard taking to ensure
members assigned to high-cost-of-living or high-vacation-rental
markets can obtain safe, affordable housing in the communities
they serve? Delaware, we're on that coast--excuse me--and it's
really expensive, so.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Ranking Member Blunt Rochester.
First, I just want to make sure I had addressed something you
said in the beginning of the question, the purchase of the two
C-37 long-range command and control aircraft.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Yes.
Admiral Lunday. The Coast Guard operates, as part of our
fleet of fixed-wing military aircraft, long-range command and
control aircraft, either military aircraft that we use for
command and control, secure, reliable, on-demand military
transport and secure communications for the Secretary, the
deputy, and the senior leadership of the Coast Guard. So, that
is part of the operational fleet we've always operated in.
That's what we're purchasing, but your question----
Senator Blunt Rochester. Didn't you say they were--
actually, they have to be outfitted and refitted and
retrofitted to make them military ready, correct?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Ranking Member. They require a
missionization process to turn them into the military aircraft
that we'll use them for. To your question on the housing, thank
you for that question because that's critical to taking care of
our people. We have three key areas that we're focused on in
improving available--access to available and affordable
housing. The first one is making sure that the housing
allowances accurately reflect the cost of living, so one way to
do that is we've increased the number of critical housing
areas. That enables--if there's not enough available housing in
the market, it enables a Coast Guard person to have their
family live elsewhere, and then they get the benefit of the
higher housing allowance in the other location. Second way is
improving Coast Guard-leased housing that members can live in,
and then the third way is building Coast Guard housing in a
place like Kodiak, Alaska, where we just opened a new housing
area where there's no other housing available.
Senator Blunt Rochester. And I know that there had been an
inaugural nationwide housing satisfaction survey. Will you
continue to do that, you know, continue to have regular
structured feedback so that you can hear from the members
themselves and also tailor your housing policy and allotment
resources?
Admiral Lunday. We will, Ranking Member. The housing survey
is very important. What's also really important is traveling
around and meeting with the crews, and not just the crews, the
master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, and then
LyndaLee will travel with me. She'll often hear from the family
members, and they sometimes tell a different story than the
everything's great story that the crew members tell me, and
oftentimes she'll hear about housing issues that she'll take
right to me, and we'll take action on it.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Excellent, and last, I wanted to
talk about supply chains. We talked a little bit about that and
our supply chain legislation, but as you know, the Coast Guard,
especially the cyber protection teams, play an integral role in
improving the resilience of the maritime transportation system
and coastal infrastructure, which are key to our supply chains.
Admiral, how will you leverage the Coast Guard's cybersecurity
capabilities to protect our ports and supply chains, knowing
that state actors, like China or North Korea, continue to
evolve in this space? And we can follow up with what is your
strategic vision for that as well, as it pertains to supply
chains?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Ranking Member. So, first, we're
using our regulatory authority. We have new regulations out
on--cyber regulations to improve the cybersecurity of U.S.
facilities and shipping, and so that's just gone into effect,
and that's groundbreaking regulation that's going to improve
the baseline standard of cybersecurity and hygiene. The second
one that you mentioned is deploying our Coast Guard Cyber
Protection teams. These are expert teams that, under our
authority, are able to deploy on U.S. critical infrastructure
to harden infrastructure and make sure we are resilient in our
supply chain. And then also, that signals to potential
adversaries that they will be unable to hold our critical
infrastructure at risk, that it will be resilient and we'll be
to defend ourselves in cyberspace.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you so much, and best of
luck to you, Admiral.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Ranking Member.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Markey.
STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD MARKEY,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your
service, sir. I've long worked closely with my colleagues,
Senator Sullivan and Senator Wicker, on this committee to
support the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research and
Training Program. This program is authorized through the annual
Coast Guard bill and is administered through a memorandum of
understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services.
The program works with trusted local partners who understand
the health and the safety needs of our commercial fishermen.
Fishermen face major mental and physical burdens in their work,
and services from the Fishing Safety Program are proven to save
lives. So, Admiral Lunday, do you agree that fishing safety
programs can help prevent catastrophes at sea?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I agree. They're very important to
prevent us from having to go out on a search-and-rescue case if
we can. The best search and rescue case is one that never
happens because of safe--fishing safety programs like the one
you described.
Senator Markey. Thank you, and if confirmed, would you
support the ongoing implementation of the Fishing Safety
Program?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, if confirmed, I look forward to
working with you on advancing that program.
Senator Markey. Thank you. That's very helpful. Under the
Deepwater Port Act, the Coast Guard jointly processes deepwater
port license applications with the Maritime Administration.
These deepwater ports are set up primarily to export massive
amounts of fossil fuels. This raises prices for Americans at
home and puts our health, ocean, and environment in peril just
to boost profits for Big Oil and Big Gas. Under the most recent
Coast Guard Authorization Act, the Coast Guard would transfer
its authority to act as the lead agency on environmental
reviews of deepwater ports to MARAD. Admiral Lunday, is it true
that the Coast Guard has 50 years of expertise in understanding
the construction, the operation, the environmental impacts of
deepwater ports?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, the Coast Guard has significant
experience with deepwater ports, but MARAD owns the primary
responsibility, including for managing the National
Environmental Policy Act process. The Coast Guard's been
supporting MARAD through that process, but, essentially, that
is under their authority as MARAD.
Senator Markey. Well, if the Coast Guard gives up its
decades-long expertise and authority in this area and it's then
the understaffed Maritime Administration, especially as Big Oil
and Big Gas are demanding more exports than ever, we need to
actively strengthen MARAD's capabilities. They're not strong
enough right now, and we're removing the Coast Guard from the
equation in terms of ensuring that safety is, in fact, made
prime--given primacy. So, I've introduced the NO SPILLS Act to
push MARAD to be more vigilant in its licensing activities to
better protect the American public from spills and price
spikes. I think it's a mistake to remove 50 years of expertise
from this process, especially as we're seeing an expansion.
It's only going to get more and more dangerous. We should have
learned from Deepwater Horizon that these accidents can occur,
and you need the smartest, most experienced people on the job.
And by removing the Coast Guard and having an Agency without
the full level of personnel which they need, it's almost like
we're putting this whole area into a regulatory black hole, and
it's going to be very dangerous because we've seen from past
experience how the oil and gas industry just continues to move
forward because of their profits, regardless of the dangers
that we see out on the open ocean. So, I thank you, Mr.
Chairman, and thank you again, Admiral for your service.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator.
The Chairman. Thank you very much. Senator Peters.
STATEMENT OF HON. GARY PETERS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN
Senator Peters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral Lunday,
it's good to see you here today. Congratulations on your
nomination and certainly enjoyed the time we spent in my
office. And I understand a number of my colleagues have already
raised the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund
Fitzgerald. Was a--was a big story in Michigan years ago, 50
years ago, and is one that people continue to remember, and it
certainly reminds us of how dangerous Lake Superior can be and
the importance of the Coast Guard's critical prevention. Your
search-and-rescue missions are vitally needed. And as you know,
folks in Michigan love the Coast Guard, and you've been to the
``Coast Guard City'' there and have made many trips as you--as
we talked about.
And I also want to just reiterate--you've addressed this
question a few times, but I want to just reiterate the concerns
that I have about some permanent closures for Coast Guard units
in the Great Lakes. My concern is primarily in Michigan, and we
want to make sure that those are there because they are--they
are--provide a critical service. And I know there are going to
be some operational adjustments that are going to be announced,
but we are going to be anticipating some of those. But if you
could say a little bit about that and how you see the services
being provided to Michiganders, particularly given the fact
that, as we talked about in my office, you have--experiencing
record recruitment, which is a--certainly a hats-off to the men
and women in the Coast Guard, that folks want to be a part of a
great service. With those extra folks coming in, will that
potentially lead to additional support for your facilities in
the State of Michigan?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for your question, and
thank you for sharing in our meeting yesterday the letters from
your constituents about their strong support for the Coast
Guard. I was able to read those last night, and so I appreciate
having that direct feedback from your constituents and our
neighbors and the communities we live and work in in Michigan,
and you noted the strong recruiting success, and we have. We've
recruited more in this year than any other time since 1991, and
the caliber of those young men and women--we just sponsored a
recruit class--LyndaLee, Chief Master of the Coast Guard Nye--
and the caliber of those young men and women are--is
remarkable, the best I've ever seen.
Senator Peters. Great.
Admiral Lunday. You asked about the--our presence in
Michigan going forward. So, we took a step several years ago to
reduce--because we had such a shortage, reduce our footprint in
the operating status of several of those stations. That remains
a temporary situation, but we are directed now in Force Design
to assess our operating concept and our entire force structure
everywhere the Coast Guard is located. We haven't gotten far
into that analysis yet. We owe that recommendation and report
to the Secretary, and we're just beginning that work. But an
important part of that will be making sure we understand what
the concerns of those in the communities and the Senate here
and the rest of Congress are in terms of the--our facilities
and--throughout the United States, especially in Michigan, to
your question, Senator.
Senator Peters. Great. No, I appreciate that, and I--and I
appreciate you referencing the letters which I have brought.
Mr. Chairman I would ask you unanimous consent that I have--
these letters are entered into the record talking about--
concerns about manning at various locations throughout the
State of Michigan.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Senator Peters. Thank you.
[The information referred to follows:]
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Senator Peters. In our office meeting, Admiral, we talked
about a variety of issues, including some of the visits to
facilities in Michigan. And one I would like you to talk a
little bit about is the Great Lakes Center for Oil Expertise
and the concern about oil spills in the Great Lakes, and the
fact that we still need to learn a lot more about how we deal
with oil and fresh water. There's a lot of knowledge regarding
that for salt water, but fresh water presents a unique set of
challenges, and when you think about the Great Lakes providing
drinking water to over 40 million people, that's particularly
important. Could you share with the Committee your--kind of
your takeaways from your visit to that center and how you
believe it continues to really be involved in a critical
mission?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for asking, and thanks
for the support to create that center and have it be--and its
work and its mission that it's focused on. I was able to go up
there when I was commanding Coast Guard Atlantic Area. I went
up in January 2023 to visit the region and then also visit that
Center of Expertise, and I learned the important work that they
do there to understand the critical nature of the Great Lakes
system, not only from a national security perspective and its
Northern border, but also what a potential oil spill or other
environmental damage, such as invasive species, could create in
the Great Lakes. And so, the importance of that work informs
our understanding of risk and then the ability to prevent
activities that could cause that damage, and then be ready to
successfully respond to it, such as an oil spill.
Senator Peters. Wonderful. Chairman, I have one brief
question. May I be allowed to ask?
The Chairman. Yes.
Senator Peters. Admiral, Coast Guard personnel, including
those in Michigan, have reported to me about some significant
challenges in obtaining housing, particularly in areas of high
demand for seasonal and vacation rentals, which we have along
our lakes, and that certainly affects their ability to find
affordable housing. Just a quick question. What actions do you
plan to take to address some of the housing challenges facing
Coast Guard personnel, specifically in Michigan and some of our
high-tourist areas with expensive real estate? But clearly,
it's a problem in other places around the country.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator, because housing is
critical to the readiness of our families and their ability to
be ready to get the mission done. So, the--one of the first
things we did was we made sure that the information that feeds
into the broader system that all the military services use to
calculate our basic allowance for housing is accurate
information. And so, one of the things the Great Lakes District
Commander at the time did several years ago was paid a company
to gather that data that was more accurate, and then we could
input that into the system so that it could more accurately
reflect the outcome and the cost of housing. Another parallel
effort is to--is to designate additional critical housing areas
that enable personnel, if there's an area where housing isn't
available, enable those personnel to have their family, if
necessary, in another area, and then take advantage of that
higher housing allowance for the other area. And then the other
area we're looking at is expanded use of government-leased
housing, where the Coast Guard leases housing and then members
come into the area, and rather than spending time and effort
trying to find housing where it's not available, we already
have a home or apartments or a block of homes that they can
live in. But it is a challenge because our personnel don't
typically live, with rare exception, on large bases, and there
are none in Michigan.
Senator Peters. Right, right. Well, I appreciate your
attention to that and your focus. Thank you, Admiral, for that.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Peters. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Lujan.
STATEMENT OF HON. BEN RAY LUJAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO
Senator Lujan. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Admiral,
for years I've been pushing one administration after another to
go after the cartels and drug trafficking. We all represent a
lot of people who have lost their lives and others that are
preyed upon, and I've also been after administrations to say
that they should be going after financial institutions in a
meaningful way that are suspected of laundering money for
cartels. A lot of those folks, they just pay a fine, no one
ever goes to jail, and it just becomes the cost of doing
business. Something has to be done in this space, so any
attention brought to stopping this nonsense, I appreciate.
Now, with that, I have a lot of questions, and there's no
clarity that I'm aware of that has been shared from the
administration to Members of Congress, outside of maybe one
small interaction that was available to a few members of the
U.S. Senate in the area where Senator Kim, I think, asked you
some questions about the military strikes on vessels in the
Caribbean and the Pacific. I think 83 people have been killed
to date, if I have the number correct, unless something
happened from my walk over from where I was to where I am
today. My question, Admiral, is, yes or no, does the U.S. Coast
Guard have a role in these military strikes on vessels in the
Caribbean or Pacific?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question. So,
under our Coast Guard maritime law enforcement authority, we're
not involved in the Department of War's operations that you're
describing. That's under the Department of War, Senator.
Senator Lujan. Yes or no, are you aware of the Department
of--I'm still going to call it Department of Defense--is
utilizing the U.S. Coast Guard's Title 14 law enforcement
authorities to conduct these strikes?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I'm not aware of that at all.
Senator Lujan. Yes or no, as a lawyer and career Coast
Guard officer, do you believe these strikes fall within U.S.
and international law?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Senator, those strikes you're
describing are being carried out under the Department of War's
authority, and so I'll defer to them for questions about the
authority for that military activity.
Senator Lujan. You're the top person at the Coast Guard,
aren't you, sir?
Admiral Lunday. I'm the Acting Commandant, yes, sir, that's
correct.
Senator Lujan. You're also a lawyer?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, sir, that's correct.
Senator Lujan. You're a career Coast Guard officer?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Senator.
Senator Lujan. Probably one of the most knowledgeable
people serving in the Coast Guard today about all these
activities. I'll ask the question one more time in case there
might be an answer. Yes or no, as a lawyer and career Coast
Guard officer, do you believe these strikes fall within U.S.
and international law?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, my focus as the Acting Commandant
and, if confirmed, the future Commandant, my focus is on our
operations under Coast Guard maritime law enforcement
authority, not the Department of War's operations. I will defer
to the Department of War to answer the questions on their
military activities that you're describing, sir.
Senator Lujan. Admiral, have you been pulled into any
meetings around this?
Admiral Lunday. I have not been involved in meetings
regarding those military activities specifically, no, Senator.
Senator Lujan. The Secretary of Defense--as you refer to,
the Secretary of War, Secretary Hegseth--has not had a
conversation with you about these strikes?
Admiral Lunday. I have not had a conversation with
Secretary Hegseth about these strikes, no, Senator.
Senator Lujan. Is this Coast Guard responsibility in the
Caribbean and the Pacific? You have responsibilities in this
area?
Admiral Lunday. We do, Senator. So, the Coast Guard
provides--under our maritime law enforcement authority and our
capabilities, we're continuing to execute the direction of the
Secretary of Homeland Security for our traditional counter-drug
mission under law enforcement authority. That's one of a series
of instruments that are available to the President, and so we
are continuing the activities under our authority and making
record seizures of drugs. In fact, this morning, the Coast
Guard cutter Stone is offloading in Florida a record amount of
drugs--cocaine--that they seized in the Eastern Pacific as part
of Operation Pacific Viper that the chairman described.
Senator Lujan. And this is the Coast Guard's mission?
Admiral Lunday. That's a Coast Guard mission and operation.
Senator Lujan. I applaud--I applaud you for that. Let's
turn there. So, I agree that the U.S. Coast Guard's efforts to
interdict vessels has been effective, as you pointed out just
this morning, but in 2025, the numbers I have is you disrupted
over 402 metric tons of cocaine, an estimated value of $7.2
billion. I applaud that. Yes or no, do the Coast Guard's
interdiction operations yield intelligence opportunities beyond
the immediate outcomes of an individual mission?
Admiral Lunday. Our interdiction operations--our maritime
law enforcement operations do yield intelligence. Yes, they do,
Senator.
Senator Lujan. Do interdiction efforts contribute to a
stable global trade system and help prevent piracy and
smuggling?
Admiral Lunday. Our operations do, yes, sir.
Senator Lujan. Have they resulted in intelligence that can
be used to dismantle networks and prosecute the individuals
involved?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, sir. Traditionally, over the years, we
have gathered intelligence that is fed into the investigative
cycle, and that work continues today with the interdictions
that I've described this calendar year that we've conducted.
Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. It sounds like this is
all in the mission of the Coast Guard. I'm just surprised that
the Secretary of Defense/Secretary of War, they not even talked
to you about this. That sounds disrespectful. That sounds
irresponsible.
Admiral Lunday. Senator, I would say----
Senator Lujan. I'm not asking a question, Admiral. I
apologize, sir. I'm out of time. Chairman's going to take it
from you here in a second. I hope that gets corrected. I hope
the Secretary appreciates your expertise, your service to our
country, what you have achieved and what you have done, and is
willing to pull you in. So, you know, Mr. Secretary, if you're
out there, if you're listening to this, you know, give you the
benefit of the doubt. If you've ignored the Admiral, give him a
holler, pull him in, have a good conversation, and learn from
this wise person. I yield back, sir.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Lujan. Admiral Lunday, my
final question is required of all nominees. If confirmed, do
you pledge to work collaboratively with this committee to
provide thorough and timely responses to the Committee's
requests and to appear before the Committee when requested?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senators will have until the close
of business on November 21 to submit questions for the record.
The nominee will have until the close of business on November
24 to respond to those questions.
That concludes today's hearing. The Committee stands
adjourned.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[Whereupon, at 12:29 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John Thune to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Question 1. Admiral Lunday, what is the status of joint U.S. Coast
Guard and Customs and Border Protection coordination for procuring and
deploying long-duration and long-range unmanned aircraft to support
missions such as border patrol, maritime domain awareness, and drug
interdiction?
Answer. We are evaluating all Long-Range Unmanned Aircraft System
(UAS) options to meet Coast Guard missions. Separately, the Coast Guard
and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue to jointly operate
CBP's MQ-9 UAS fleet from CBP's National Air Security Operations Center
in San Angelo, TX.
Question 2. What is the current force structure behind U.S. Coast
Guard unmanned aerial system operations, and is this a mission that
could be hosted in non-traditional locations, specifically inland
cities and states, given the remote nature of the platform?
Answer. We operate our unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across three
lines of effort: Long-Range, Medium-Range, and Short-Range. We
currently partner with Customs and Border Protection to operate MQ-9s
from San Angelo, Texas for long-range missions.
We employ contractor-owned, contractor-operated UAS onboard our
National Security Cutters for medium-range missions, and over 300 small
UAS flown by more than 600 trained operators at nearly 100 separate
shore and afloat units across the United States support short-range
missions. The Coast Guard is evaluating locations, including inland
sites, for a potential future Unmanned Systems training center.
Question 3. Given the administration's rightful focus on drug
interdiction in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, what
resources or authorizations would bolster ongoing U.S. Coast Guard and
joint force missions to defeat and deter Designated Terrorist
Organizations and cartels? How have resources provided in P.L. 119-21,
One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enabled ongoing operations?
Answer. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is vital, funding the new
cutters, aircraft, unmanned systems, technology, and shore
infrastructure for cutter homeporting and aircraft hangars. We will
rely upon this investment for decades ahead for counter-drug
operations, and providing $2.2 billion for depot maintenance on
existing assets is critical to sustaining readiness of today's aging
assets. This initial capital investment will help ensure the Service
emerges from a readiness crisis decades in the making. To enhance
efforts against narco-terrorists and cartels in the Eastern Pacific and
Caribbean, we need additional and sustained operations and support
funding to grow our military workforce by at least 15,000, operate and
sustain those newly funded assets, and deliver mission success for the
Nation. The Coast Guard is a $20 billion Service operating with a $14
billion budget, and, if confirmed, I look forward to working with
Congress and the Administration on necessary funding increases to
sustain the Service into the future.
______
Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Jerry Moran to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
The recently passed Reconciliation bill included more than $266
million to acquire long-range unmanned aircraft for the Coast Guard. I
understand the USCG has pilots that fly the MQ-9 UAS and jointly
operates them with Customs and Border Protection. Given the unique
capabilities of the MQ-9B--and its commonality with the CBP--this would
be a useful solution for maritime ISR.
Question 1. Can you provide the status of the Coast Guard's
acquisition of such long-range aircraft?
Answer. We are evaluating all potential Long-Range Unmanned
Aircraft System solutions and options to best meet Coast Guard
missions.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Dan Sullivan to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Icebreakers and Homeporting
Congress secured historic Coast Guard funding in the recent One Big
Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reconciliation package. Under OBBBA, the
Coast Guard will receive nearly $25 billion, including nearly $9
billion for icebreakers and is designed to enhance Arctic operations
while revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding.
Strategic shipbuilding projects like the new Arctic Security
Cutters offer both urgent operational capability and an opportunity to
expand U.S. shipbuilding.
Additionally, OBBBA provided approximately $4.4 billion for shore
infrastructure and homeports investments to support the new cutters and
aircraft. Alaska has ports capable of accommodating these vessels, and
communities are willing to invest in supporting infrastructure,
including housing and childcare.
Question 1. Will you commit to considering locations in Alaska--
where the ice is--for the homeporting of multiple Arctic Security
Cutters?
Answer. Yes, if confirmed I will consider locations in Alaska for
the home porting of multiple Arctic Security Cutters.
Question 2. Private investment can complement and support the needs
of Coast Guard personnel and their families, particularly for housing
and childcare. But private partners need clarity and predictable
assurances before they can commit capital. Will you commit to working
with me to provide the assurances and certainty needed to unlock that
investment?
Answer. Yes, if confirmed I will work with you and the Committee to
support the needs of service members and their families, including
options to work with private investment that can appropriately
complement and support Coast Guard efforts.
Alaska Infrastructure Projects
The Coast Guard is undertaking major infrastructure investments
across Alaska--including new homeports, housing projects, and facility
upgrades in Sitka, Seward, St. Paul, Juneau, and Kodiak. These projects
support Arctic and Pacific operations, new vessel homeporting, and
quality of life for personnel. Alaska's remote construction
environment, short building seasons, and high costs make oversight and
timely execution critical.
Question 1. What internal oversight mechanisms are in place to
ensure Alaska infrastructure projects remain on schedule?
Answer. Through Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard is making
sweeping changes to streamline decision-making, accelerate contracting
and acquisitions projects to deliver capabilities at speed and scale,
and strengthen accountability and oversight. To that end, the Service
established the Program Executive Office for Shore Infrastructure,
which is responsible for the lifecycle planning, execution (including
adherence to schedule), accountability, and oversight of shore
infrastructure projects, to include both new construction and repair/
maintenance activities.
Question 2. How are potential delays or funding gaps communicated
to leadership and Congress?
Answer. The Coast Guard regularly provides updates on its shore
infrastructure projects through informal correspondence, delivery of
the Quarterly Acquisition Brief, and topic-specific briefs when
requested. Funding gaps are communicated through the annual budget
process and the Service's Unfunded Priorities List report to Congress,
including the Fiscal Year 2026 Unfunded Priorities List that I released
in November 2025.
Question 3. Are any Alaska-related projects expected to be
submitted in the upcoming budget requests? If so, which projects are
top candidates?
Answer. Yes, the FY 2026 Unfunded Priorities List includes a $30
million request for an aircraft hangar in Saint Paul, AK and $50
million for additional housing at several Alaska locations, potentially
including Kodiak, Seward, Juneau, and/or Sitka. Additionally, personnel
readiness funding requests in the Unfunded Priorities List will
positively impact all Coast Guard members, include those serving
throughout the State of Alaska, if provided for in future
appropriations.
St. Paul Forward Operating Location
The Coast Guard is pursuing a Forward Operating Location in St.
Paul, Alaska. Preliminary hangar repair costs are $30 million, while
new construction would be more expensive. The Coast Guard included $20
million for this project in its FY2025 Unfunded Priorities List.
Question 1. What is the current plan for restoring or rebuilding
hangar capability in St. Paul, and how will the FY2025 Unfunded
Priorities List request be prioritized if not fully funded?
Answer. The FY 2026 Unfunded Priorities List includes a $30 million
request that provides for an aircraft hangar in Saint Paul, AK.
Sitka Homeport and Housing Projects
Sitka will serve as a key homeport for Fast Response Cutters (FRCs)
and a vital housing hub for Coast Guard personnel. The Coast Guard
awarded a contract for FRC and WLB pier improvements in August 2025,
and long-term housing recapitalization and construction plans are
underway.
Question 1. Do you anticipate needing additional funds to complete
the Sitka homeporting and housing projects? If so, how does the Coast
Guard plan to secure that funding--through future budget requests or
reprogramming actions?
Answer. Yes, the FY 2026 Unfunded Priorities List includes a $50
million request for additional housing across Alaska, potentially
including Sitka.
Seward Homeport and Housing Projects
Seward is slated to become a new homeport for FRCs, with a new
waterfront facility and supporting housing. Environmental work and land
acquisition are largely complete, and detailed design and contract
awards are expected in FY 2026.
Question 1. Are you confident current funding will cover both the
homeport and housing projects, or should we expect an additional
funding request next Fiscal Year?
Answer. No. The Coast Guard fully funded the FRC homeport project
in Seward and the FY 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds
the initial housing project. The FY 2026 Unfunded Priorities List
includes a $50 million request for additional housing across Alaska,
potentially including Seward.
Petersburg--WCC Program
Petersburg Borough is a small, but proud Coast Guard community and
is the homeport of the PIKE, a Coast Patrol Boat, and the ELDERBERRY,
an Inland Buoy Tender. The ELDERBERRY and its Coast Guard crews have
performed great service over the years managing aids to navigation in
area Southeast Alaska waters that have major tidal swings and often
dangerous currents. The ELDERBERRY, however, is aging and in need of
replacement. There are currently four inland buoy tenders nationally in
the ELDERBERRY's class that the Coast Guard is proposing to replace
with three WLIs as part of the WCC Program. The Coast Guard's prior
leadership committed to replace the ELDERBERRY with one of those WLIs
and homeport it in Petersburg.
Question 1. Under your leadership, will the Coast Guard keep that
commitment and homeport a future WLI in Petersburg?
Answer. Yes.
Western Alaska Oil Spill Response
In 2023, Congress enacted Section 11309 of Division K of the Don
Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (part of the James M.
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, P.L.
117-263) to direct the Coast Guard to develop oil spill response
criteria specifically for Western Alaska. These Western Alaska Oil
Spill Planning Criteria (WAOSPC) are intended to replace the existing
Alternative Planning Criteria (APC), which have been used because
National Planning Criteria (NPC) are not suitable for the unique
geography, weather, and infrastructure of Western Alaska. Stakeholders
continue to raise questions regarding the Coast Guard's implementation
of Section 11309, the interim use of APC, and the consideration of
subzones before the WAOSPC framework is finalized.
Question 1. What is the current status and timeline for
implementing the Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria (WAOSPC)?
Answer. The Coast Guard conducted comprehensive outreach and
consultation and assembled a workgroup of subject matter experts to
develop a Regulatory Project Proposal that will support WAOSPC
regulations. The Service is moving forward with the NEPA analysis,
which will take 18-24 months.
Question 2. APC has been used in lieu of National Planning Criteria
(NPC) because NPC is inappropriate for Western Alaska. Has anything
changed regarding this determination?
Answer. No. Under the current program, a vessel owner or operator
makes the determination as to whether NPC is appropriate for that
specific vessel and operating area. Section 11309 states that the Coast
Guard is to determine where in Western Alaska that NPC is
inappropriate. The Coast Guard's determination will be incorporated
into the WAOSPC implementing regulations.
Question 3. What steps have been taken to ensure that updates to
existing APC plans--while necessary to maintain coverage until WAOSPC
are in place--are accepted in a timely manner?
Answer. The Coast Guard has a uniform review process applied to all
APC submissions. The time required for the review depends on the
complexity of the APC submission and the scope of the proposed updates.
Each plan is unique to the submitter and therefore review timelines
vary accordingly.
Question 4. What steps have been taken to ensure that APC plans are
fully consistent with the statutory requirements of Section 11309 and
not reliant on outdated APC criteria wherever possible?
Answer. The Coast Guard reviews each submission independently and
according to a uniform review process. While Section 11309 does not
have requirements for APC submissions, the Coast Guard does review
submissions for consistency with all applicable requirements of the
Clean Water Act.
Question 5. Given that subzones have previously been attempted and
proven ineffective in Western Alaska, and that Section 11309 only
allows such consideration after WAOSPC are finalized, why is the Coast
Guard exploring subzones now, before the necessary framework and
regional lessons learned are fully integrated?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not developed subregions or subzones in
Western Alaska with respect to planning criteria at this time.
Tribal Consultation
15 years ago, under 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1321c, Congress directed the
Coast Guard to develop a tribal consultation policy and authorized the
Service to enter into cooperative agreements with Indian tribes to
improve oil-spill prevention, preparedness, and response. That
authority has never been utilized.
In the Senate-passed Coast Guard Authorization Act, Sections 144,
169, and 216 would reinforce this direction by requiring the Coast
Guard to consult with Indian tribes, establishing a Special Advisor for
Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs, and assessing the adequacy of
emergency-response capabilities at Alaska ports near Bering Strait
vessel traffic, including Point Spencer, Nome, and Kotzebue.
All of these provisions are aimed at addressing the long-standing
gaps in spill prevention and response that put our coastal villages,
communities, and environments at risk.
Question 1. Given the existing authority Congress provided, the
direction offered in the Senate-Passed Coast Guard Authorization Act,
and the growing risks to our coastal communities, will you commit to
take specific steps to work with tribal governments to close these gaps
in oil-spill prevention and response?
Answer. Yes.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Todd Young to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Question 1. How should we be working with our international
partners to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing
and other Chinese gray zone activities?
Answer. First, the Coast Guard enforces U.S. sovereignty over the
vast areas of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in Oceania, protecting U.S.
fish stocks from IUU fishing. We also combat IUU fishing by assisting
other nations, leveraging strong partnerships through joint patrols
supported by 12 bilateral law enforcement agreements. We deploy and
embark those nation's shipriders, share intelligence, and build
capacity to counter illegal fishing and malign Chinese activity. This
asserts U.S. leadership, protects our shared interests, and ensures a
free, open, and secure maritime domain.
a. What regions are the most troubling to you in the IUU fishing
space? Answer. The Indo-Pacific and West Africa regions are the most
troubling for Illegal,
Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, where state-sponsored
fleets undermine U.S. and partner national security and economic
interests.
b. What other gray zone threats are you focused on?
Answer. In addition to combating illegal fishing, the Coast Guard
is laser focused on securing port infrastructure against physical and
cyber threats, including Chinese-made cranes that, if compromised,
could disrupt the flow of commerce vital to America's economic
prosperity and strategic mobility.
Question 2. How can the Coast Guard work with the Navy to boost our
partnerships with other countries, especially as it relates to Chinese
malign activity?
Answer. The Coast Guard is integrated with the U.S. Navy and other
parts of the Department of War to counter Chinese malign influence,
including conducting joint patrols, exercises, and training with
partner nations to enhance their maritime law enforcement capabilities
and protect their sovereign waters from illegal fishing and other
illicit activities. The Coast Guard's unique blend of military, law
enforcement and intelligence authorities makes us a trusted partner in
regions like the Indo-Pacific.
a. What unique attributes does the Coast Guard bring to these
partnerships?
Answer. The Coast Guard is uniquely positioned to support these
partnerships as the only U.S. Federal agency with the capability and
authority to project law enforcement presence throughout the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas.
b. Are there any authorities that the Coast Guard needs to be able
to implement and manage these international partnerships?
Answer. Yes, the Coast Guard requires its own organic authority and
funding to unilaterally provide training and other security assistance
to international partners. The Service currently relies on the
Department of State and the Department of War for both the funding and
authority to conduct these security cooperation missions, which is
inefficient and limits the ability to respond to emerging
opportunities. Additionally, using foreign ports for homeporting or
operations may require authority to negotiate new status of forces and
other international agreements.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Cape Disappointment
The Coast Guard must address the emergency damage and shoaling that
has taken place at Station Cape Disappointment (``Cape D''), a critical
Coast Guard unit in the Pacific Northwest. We need a long-term strategy
to invest in Cape D and the National Motor Lifeboat School overall.
That plan must include solutions to stop the shoaling, new docks that
can accommodate the replacement 52's, and cutting-edge facilities to
support the workforce such as housing and training facilities.
Question 1. Yes or No: Will you commit that the entire funding
included in the Coast Guard reconciliation spend plan will be used to
rebuild the critical infrastructure at Cape D?
Answer. Yes, we will use approximately $115 million of the funding
provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to fund shore infrastructure
projects at Station Cape Disappointment.
Question 2. Will you work with the Army Corps to come up with a
more sustainable plan for dredging to protect search and rescue
capacity in Ilwaco?
Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will continue to work with the Army
Corps of Engineers to address shoaling and persistent silting issues at
Station Cape Disappointment.
Base Seattle
Coast Guard Base Seattle is currently the homeport for all Coast
Guard Polar icebreaking operations--a critical program for our national
security.
The Coast Guard recently began a contract for Base Seattle's
modernization and homeporting program which includes dredging Slip 36
and construction of two modernized major cutter berths that are capable
of hosting two Polar Security Cutters.
Question 1. Will you work with stakeholders in Seattle, including
labor groups and tribes, to ensure that future development at Base
Seattle also supports the long-term economic growth of the region?
Answer. Yes, the Coast Guard will continue to work with
stakeholders, including labor groups and tribes, to consider long-term
impacts of any future development at Base Seattle.
Yes or No: Will you commit to using all $4.3 billion enacted in the
reconciliation law to continue construction of the PSC fleet?
Answer. Yes.
Tribal Engagement
The Coast Guard Authorization Act would provide the Coast Guard
with new authorities to support habitat conservation and other
resilience projects with state, local, and tribal governments. This new
authority would ensure tribes can partner with the Coast Guard to
protect treaty fishing rights and maintain access to cultural and
natural resources--a priority in the state of Washington.
Question 1. Do you support the Coast Guard having the authority to
partner with Tribes, which would be parity with the Department of
Defense?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. Do you commit to working with Tribes on Coast Guard
Base Seattle negotiations and treaty fishing right issues?
Answer. Yes.
Operation Fouled Anchor
On June 30, 2023, a CNN article revealed that the Coast Guard had
conducted a number of investigations, known as ``Operation Fouled
Anchor,'' from 2014 to 2020 concerning cases of rape, sexual assault,
and sexual harassment that occurred at the Coast Guard Academy (the
``Academy'') from 1988 to 2006. That same day, Senator Baldwin and I
sent a letter to the Coast Guard seeking additional information
regarding the investigations, and more specifically what the Coast
Guard did in response to the ``Operation Fouled Anchor'' findings.
Admiral Fagan began a 90-day review and identified 33 specific actions
the Service needed to implement. You mentioned 24 of those have been
completed.
Question 1. What are the specific steps that you have taken since
January 20, 2025, to address the issue of sexual assault and harassment
within the ranks of the Coast Guard and at the Academy, specifically
regarding ``Operation Fouled Anchor''?
Answer. I have taken decisive action to combat and eliminate sexual
assault and sexual harassment from our Service. We have completed 24 of
the 33 Commandant's Directed Actions, including six since January 20,
2025. We are on track to fully complete all 33 actions in 2026.
Further, we will take additional actions to continue to combat and
eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment from the Coast Guard.
Question 2. I appreciated your commitment to implement all 33
Directed Actions, as well as to continue the work to mitigate sexual
misconduct in your ranks. When will the nine remaining Directed Action
items be completed?
Answer. We continue to make progress on the remaining items and are
on track to complete all in 2026. The Coast Guard will continue to
provide updates on this progress.
Question 3. Have you changed any internal Coast Guard policies on
sexual assault or sexual harassment since January 20, 2025? If so, what
are they? How do any new internal policies specifically help members?
If no new policies have been created, please explain why.
Answer. Yes, as part of the Commandant's Directed Actions, the
Coast Guard implemented the new Servicemember Transformation and
Readiness Training (START) course in Spring 2025. This course provides
the Service's newest members a better understanding of sexual assault
prevention, workforce resilience, suicide indicators and intervention,
and alcohol awareness. This complements other key policies like our
``Safe to Report'' framework, which protects victims who come forward.
In May, we significantly upgraded the physical security at the
Coast Guard Academy's Chase Hall with comprehensive camera surveillance
and new electronic locks on all cadet room doors. Additionally, we
improved career leadership courses to better prepare servicemembers for
leadership roles.
In July, we improved the workforce resiliency organizational
structure to enhance field support and victim care and staffed new
regional coordinator positions to improve care coordination.
In November, the Coast Guard focused on improving tools for
addressing improper conduct, reinforcing its commitment to fostering a
safe and accountable environment for all personnel.
Question 4. What steps have you taken since January 20, 2025, to
institute cultural change within the Coast Guard (including at the
training centers such as Cape May) to protect cadets and the Coast
Guard workforce from sexual assault and harassment?
Answer. On January 23, 2025, I issued my Acting Commandant's
intent, which emphasized the Coast Guard Core Values and the importance
of respect for each other. On February 21, 2025, I issued direction and
expectations for all Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge, and
Command Senior Enlisted Leaders that gave my intent and specific
expectations on leadership and climate within the Service. In March
2025, I delivered a leadership address to the Coast Guard Academy
cadets, faculty, and staff that reinforced our Core Values. Also, we
have completed 24 of the 33 Commandant's Directed Actions, including
six since January 20, 2025, including: establishing a preparatory
course (START) for new recruits which they attend immediately following
Basic Training; enhancing physical security in the Coast Guard Academy
barracks; developing more effective career leadership courses;
improving the workforce resiliency organizational structure; improving
victim recovery policy by staffing new regional coordinator positions;
and addressing improper conduct through non-judicial punishment reform.
Question 5. What barriers, including any legislative, policy,
cultural, institutional, or other, contributed to the failure of the
Coast Guard to publicly release Operation Fouled Anchor?
Answer. I was not aware of or part of this past decision. I will
continue to lead by example to ensure the Coast Guard is transparent to
enable Congress to conduct its constitutional oversight role and that
we maintain the sacred trust of the American people we serve.
Question 6. Is the Coast Guard fully cooperating with the Inspector
General investigation into Operation Fouled Anchor, including providing
access to all documents, personnel, and any other information
requested?
Answer. Yes.
Question 7. Has the Inspector General requested any specific
material that the Coast Guard has not provided? If so, please
specifically identify what requested material the Coast Guard has thus
far withheld and the basis for withholding.
Answer. No, the Coast Guard has not withheld information from the
Inspector General.
Question 8. If confirmed as Commandant, will you hold perpetrators
of sexual assault and harassment accountable to the fullest extent of
the law?
Answer. Yes.
Question 9. I appreciated your acknowledgement at that the hearing
that the Coast Guard independently stood up the Office of the Chief
Prosecutor, in line with the other services following the Fiscal Year
2023 NDAA. Yes or No: Do you support the codification of the Office of
the Chief Prosecutor, for the Coast Guard?
Answer. Yes.
Office of the Inspector General
The DHS Inspector General does not have the resources to meet all
Coast Guard oversight needs, and they lack a dedicated staff to handle
military law related matters.
Question 1. Do you support establishing a Coast Guard Office of
Inspector General to improve oversight of military crimes and to
improve oversight of the Coast Guard?
Answer. Yes.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a national
security threat with destabilizing effects on vulnerable coastal States
and world markets. As the only agency with the infrastructure and
authority capable of maintaining a law enforcement presence throughout
the 3.36 million square mile U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in
key areas of the high seas, the U.S. Coast Guard is uniquely positioned
to combat IUU fishing. Importantly, a major part of being able to
effectively combat IUU fishing is the ability to create a presence in
partner nations with limited enforcement capacity.
Question 1. Is the Coast Guard actively working to identify partner
nations with limited enforcement capacity? If so, are they adding
counter-IUU fishing to existing U.S. bilateral enforcement agreements
and pursuing new agreements with flag States and countries in the
identified priority regions?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. As the primary U.S. agency responsible for monitoring
at-sea compliance with bilateral enforcement agreements, does the Coast
Guard find that it requires new policies and/or laws to ensure it is
able to uphold current and future agreements effectively guaranteeing
the management of transboundary and highly migratory fish stocks? If
yes, what are the new policies and/or laws needed to ensure the Coast
Guard can uphold current and future agreements?
Answer. Yes, the Coast Guard requires its own authority and funding
to unilaterally provide training and other security assistance to
international partners. The Service currently relies on the Department
of State and the Department of War for both the funding and authority
to conduct these security cooperation missions, which is inefficient
and limits our ability to quickly respond to emerging opportunities.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Brian Schatz to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
The U.S. Coast Guard's adoption of a new policy that labels clearly
hateful symbols, such as swastikas and nooses, as ``potentially
divisive'' is appalling. There should be no room for discussion in the
Coast Guard about whether symbols such as swastikas or nooses can be
``considered'' hateful.
Question 1. Your statement after news of this change was reported
says that ``any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always,
will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished''--why adjust
Coast Guard policy to call these symbols only as ``potentially
divisive'' when they are outright hateful?
Answer. My November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags, and our processes for preventing
and responding to hate incidents.
The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify or are
``downgrading'' the classification of swastikas, nooses or other
extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false.
Through the November 20 policy and lawful order, I clarified that the
display of divisive or hate symbols and flags is prohibited as a
violation of Coast Guard policy and the Uniform Code of Military
Justice. This action was to combat any misinformation and affirm that
the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols.
Question 2. The policy change now gives 45 days to report an
incident; the previous policy had no time limit--why limit how long a
servicemember has to report hateful symbols?
Answer. The November 13, 2025, version of the Harassing Behaviors
Prevention, Response, and Accountability Instruction strengthens our
ability to report, investigate and prosecute those who violate anti-
harassment policy. The 45-day reporting requirement aligns Coast Guard
policy with the Federal EEO complaint process reporting timeframes to
facilitate timely investigations of allegations and effective
resolutions.
However, the policy does not prevent an aggrieved individual from
reporting harassing behavior after the 45 calendar days and provides
broad discretion for accepting reports after the initial 45-day period.
This timeline for reporting has no bearing on the responsibility of
unit commanders to maintain good order and discipline within their
command and respond to any harassing behaviors.
Question 3. How does this time limit make servicemembers who may be
deployed at sea for long stretches safer?
Answer. The November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags, and strengthens our processes for
preventing and responding to hate incidents. If a member is delayed in
the opportunity to file a report beyond 45 days due to deployment, or
another reasonable grounds, then they will still be able to file a
complaint.
Question 4. Before November 20, 2025, issuing of the ``Coast Guard
Policy and Lawful Order Prohibiting Divisive or Hate Symbols And
Flags'' general order, would the updated policy have allowed a swastika
or noose to remain displayed if no official report were made to have it
removed?
Answer. No.
Question 5. What rationales did the Coast Guard and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security use to describe a swastika or a noose
as only ``potentially divisive'' and not hateful?
Answer. There was never an intent to change the absolute
prohibition on the display of swastikas or nooses and other widely
recognized symbols of hate. The Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual,
COMDTINST 5340.4E (October 2020, updated 5 March 2025), which
categorically prohibits such hate incidents, remains in effect.
Question 6. Did the Coast Guard or the Department of Homeland
Security consult with any civil rights groups, stakeholders, or other
experts when crafting this new policy? If so, which groups?
Answer. Yes, the Coast Guard Office of Civil Rights was consulted.
Question 7. If not, why were credible civil rights stakeholders not
consulted?
Answer. We did consult with the Coast Guard Director of Civil
Rights, who is an expert in Federal government civil rights law and
policy.
Question 8. If the Coast Guard was attempting to address a wider
range of symbols that are problematic, what other symbols or views was
this new policy attempting to account for?
Answer. Under the new policy commanders, commanding officers,
officers-in-charge, and supervisors can prohibit the public display of
any symbol or flag co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups as
representations of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, or other
improper bias when the display adversely affects good order and
discipline, unit cohesion, command climate, morale, or mission
effectiveness.
Question 9. Why would potentially broadening the categories of
hateful symbols require downgrading imagery such as swastikas and
nooses?
Answer. The new policy does not downgrade hate symbols such as
swastikas and nooses. It absolutely prohibits them as hate symbols. It
also broadens the scope to prohibit display of any other symbols that
may be adopted or co-opted by hate or extremist groups as
representations of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, anti-
semitism, and other improper bias.
Question 10. What steps is the Coast Guard taking to ensure the
general order remains in force in perpetuity, so that it is not
rescinded or modified in the future?
Answer. The November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags, and strengthens our processes for
preventing and responding to hate incidents. This includes a body of
existing Coast Guard policies that remain in place:
Coast Guard Policy and Lawful Order Prohibiting Divisive or
Hate Symbols (November 2025)
Harassing Behaviors Prevention, Response, and
Accountability, 5350.6A (November 2025)
Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual, COMDTINST 5350.4E Chapters
3F (Hate Incidents and CO/OIC Responsibilities) and 3G
(Notification and Processing for Potential and Actual Hate
Incidents) (updated 5 March 2025)
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Statement
(Updated February 2025)
Equal Opportunity Policy Statement (Updated February 2025)
Tattoo, Branding, Body Piercing, and Mutilation Standards,
COMDTINST 1000.1F (Updated May 2024)
The U.S. Coast Guard plays a valuable role in the U.S. Indo-Pacific
strategy through addressing security threats that fall under its
mandated mission. It's unique blend of law enforcement authority,
humanitarian response capacity, and maritime domain expertise makes it
a versatile tool for advancing U.S. interest in the region. One of the
most visible elements of this presence are the bilateral Shiprider
agreements with various Pacific Island Forum nations remain a
cornerstone of U.S. presence, strengthening sovereignty and deterring
illicit activities such as illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU)
fishing and trafficking.
Question 1. Given NOAA's analysis that Chinese IUU fishing imperils
the global ocean ecosystem, what are your plans for the U.S. Coast
Guard's international collaboration in the Indo-Pacific to fight IUU
fishing and trafficking?
Answer. We will continue combating Illegal, Unreported, and
Unregulated fishing that threatens our national and economic security
by using existing bilateral ship rider agreements, enabling our
partners to enforce their laws from our assets. The Coast Guard is
expanding its presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter malign influence,
strengthen partnerships, and enhance maritime domain dominance.
Question 2. How can the United States Coast Guard leverage recent
Quad maritime exercises with Japan, Australia, and India to expand
multilateral enforcement against IUU fishing and trafficking?
Answer. With increased collaboration and operational coordination,
the Quad exercises can focus on additional threats including IUU
fishing, maritime environmental response, or other illicit maritime
activity. In addition to operational deployments, the Quad is working
to provide joint training to partners in both Oceania and South/
Southeast Asia. These combined activities, consistently exercised, are
expected to serve as a force multiplier to address shared threats.
Question 3. Where should the Coast Guard be conducting more port
visits and where should it have more sustained presence to best build
key partner capacity, provide assurance, deter adversaries and address
illegal and destabilizing activities to best support U.S. national
security?
Answer. The Coast Guard is expanding its permanent presence in the
Indo-Pacific, which will enable more port visits and operations
throughout the region where partner nations face challenges that
likewise threaten U.S. national and economic security.
Question 4. What role should Coast Guard assets play in
multilateral exercises alongside allies to counterbalance China's
growing maritime footprint?
Answer. Coast Guard assets play a valuable role as our Nation's
lead Federal maritime law enforcement agency in multilateral exercises
in the Atlantic and Pacific, including Operation North Pacific Guard,
an annual multi-mission effort between the U.S., Canada, Japan, and
South Korea.
The Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
required a report and briefing on the U.S. Coast Guard's resourcing
strategy for the Western Pacific region. This report is nearly two
years delayed.
Question 1. If confirmed, can you guarantee that you will work in
consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard Commander of the Pacific Area,
the Commanders of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to ensure that this
report is submitted as soon as possible given the delay?
Answer. Yes.
In July, the Coast Guard commissioned three new Fast Response
Cutters in Guam to enhance Pacific coverage amid rising concerns over
overfishing and strategic competition with China. Recent updates show
cutters like the USCGC Frederick Hatch returning to Guam after extended
deployments and maintenance while additional cutters are expected by
2026.
Question 1. As Acting Commandant, how have these Fast Response
Cutters been integrated into regional patrols?
Answer. The Coast Guard's Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are vital to
the Service's efforts in the region to assure U.S. sovereignty, combat
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and enhance cooperation
with allies and partners in the face of malign influence by China.
Coast Guard FRCs based in Hawaii and Guam are key enablers to control,
secure, and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches around
Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa. They also enable partnership growth and sustainment,
appropriately situated to support regional partners across a range of
missions from disaster response to shiprider programs.
Question 2. How do you assess the need for additional cutters or
offshore patrol vessels to meet rising demands, especially in
Micronesia and the Philippines?
Answer. The Coast Guard continues to explore options to stretch its
limited resources to meet the rising demand for operations, activities,
and security cooperation requests in the Western Pacific region.
Additional cutters will increase our capacity to control, secure, and
defend our border and maritime approaches, while enabling the Coast
Guard to strengthen partnerships, deter our adversaries, and counter
malign influence. However, to operate more cutters in the region, the
Coast Guard requires a significant and sustained investment in robust
shore-based operating locations with the appropriate shoreside
logistical, operational, and administrative support and increased
funding. Ports that can viably meet the Coast Guard's needs in the
region are scarce. Traditional homeporting of a fleet of cutters at
ports other than Guam and Hawaii is challenged by port size and the
ability to adequately support assigned cutter families and crews.
Question 3. If confirmed, will you commit to protecting these
resources and advancing U.S. maritime priorities in the Pacific?
Answer. Yes.
Given its international role, the U.S. Coast Guard works closely
with the U.S. Department of State and other Federal agencies to conduct
international port security assessments and share information on
foreign maritime security. To support these efforts, the U.S. Coast
Guard of the Pacific Area is seeking to lay down a Coast Guard Liaison
Officer (CGLO) or attache billets in the region.
Question 1. How would the establishment of a Coast Guard Liaison
Office or related attache billets impact current U.S. Coast Guard
operations in the Indo-Pacific region?
Answer. Establishing additional Coast Guard Liaison Officer or
attache billets in the Indo-Pacific would enhance our operational
effectiveness by strengthening day-to-day engagement and trust with key
partner nations. This persistent engagement allows for more seamless
coordination, targeted training to build partner capacity, and improved
information sharing to counter Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated
fishing and other maritime threats.
Question 2. What are the potential locations for additional
positions?
Answer. The Coast Guard continues to assess locations for
additional Coast Guard Liaisons and attache billets.
Those who live in Pacific Island countries face difficulties
accessing U.S. consular services due to travel restrictions. The
Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act that I introduced this Congress alongside
Senator Wicker aims to conduct a feasibility assessment of attaching
U.S. Department of State consular officers to U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.
Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.
Question 1. What challenges do you anticipate in integrating
Department of State consular officers into U.S. Coast Guard mission in
the Indo-Pacific region?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not assessed the feasibility of
integrating Consular officers into Coast Guard missions in the region.
Question 2. How would you coordinate with the U.S. Navy to ensure
consular support missions are feasible, efficient, and aligned with
broader U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy?
Answer. The Coast Guard defers to the Department of State.
Question 3. What operational adjustments would the Coast Guard need
to make to host consular officers aboard cutters or during deployments?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not assessed the operational
adjustments necessary to host Consular officers aboard cutters.
Question 4. What resources or authorities would be necessary to
make consular integration into Coast Guard missions viable?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not assessed the resources or
authorities necessary to integrate Consular officers into Coast Guard
missions in the region.
The U.S. Coast Guard is facing significant challenges with its
shore infrastructure for both new construction and deferred maintenance
projects. These shortfalls were analyzed in a recent GAO report (GAO-
25-108064), which highlighted an estimated $7 billion backlog.
Question 1. If confirmed, how to plan to address this
infrastructure backlog?
Answer. The $24.6 billion capital investment provided in the One
Big Beautiful Bill Act for depot maintenance and recapitalization of
shore facilities will help the Coast Guard begin to emerge from its
decades long readiness crisis. The Coast Guard requires significant and
sustained investments in depot maintenance and shore infrastructure to
fully address the backlog and appreciates the support of Congress
already provided.
Question 2. Given the role of Hawaii as a hub for the Oceania
District, what infrastructure improvements are most urgent to sustain
operations in the Indo-Pacific region?
Answer. Coast Guard assesses that port facilities in Hawaii and
Guam are currently insufficient to meet the Service's growing needs in
the region. Furthermore, many of the Western Pacific islands'
infrastructure is currently insufficient to meet traditional
homeporting requirements due to lack of adequate maintenance
facilities, access to supplies, medical care, and servicemember housing
options. The Service needs resources in addition to, and not at the
expense of, continuing progress on our major cutter acquisitions and
sustainment of our current fleet.
The heroic response of the U.S. Coast Guard to various disasters,
including the Maui wildfire in August 2024, underscores the critical
role of search and rescue operations. However, a GAO report (GAO-25-
107224) indicates a shortfall of 2,600 active-duty staff and
projections of nearly 6,000 enlisted members missing by 2025
Question 1. As Acting Commandant, where have you identified
personnel shortfalls, and how are they impacting mission execution?
Answer. Our most significant personnel shortfall is in the active
duty enlisted workforce. While our recruiting efforts last Fiscal Year
were the most successful in over three decades, bringing in more than
5,200 active-duty recruits, we are still working to close a gap of
nearly 1,500 members.
This shortage is most acute in our technical ratings. We need the
specialists who maintain our cutters and aircraft and execute complex
operations. Specifically, we project critical shortages through in
ratings like Aviation Survival Technician, Electrician's Mate,
Electronics Technician, and Operations Specialist. This creates a
strain on our experienced members and impacts the maintenance and long-
term health of our assets.
To manage this risk, we made difficult but necessary decisions
under the Force Alignment Initiative. This was not a move to reduce
missions, but a strategic reallocation of our most vital resource--our
people--during a time when that resource was terribly strained. We
temporarily ceased operations on four of our oldest medium endurance
cutters and laid up eleven 87-foot patrol boats. This allowed us to
consolidate our skilled crews onto our most capable assets and
prioritize readiness where it was needed most.
Question 2. If confirmed, how will you make necessary adjustments
to address these gaps, including recruitment and retention?
Answer. If confirmed, my top priority will be our people. To
address workforce gaps, we will build on our recent recruiting
success--the best since 1991--by expanding our recruiting force,
opening new recruiting offices, and professionalizing our recruiting
enterprise. To keep our best personnel, we will use targeted monetary
and non-monetary incentives to fill critical vacancies and expand
career-broadening opportunities. With the support of Congress, will
also invest in quality of life by expanding housing options, fixing our
childcare funding gap, and increasing access to medical care,
especially for members and their families at remote units. Through
Force Design 2028, we will pursue growing both our workforce and annual
budget to reflect the value and need for a dependable, responsive Coast
Guard.
Question 3. What role can Coast Guard auxiliarists play in filling
manpower gaps while long-term solutions are pursued?
Answer. Auxiliarists are critical partners in our mission. They are
already filling gaps in recreational boating safety, marine
environmental protection, and search and rescue support and are
expanding their role in vessel safety checks, public education,
chaplain programs, and administrative support.
Question 1. Can you describe your vision for leveraging uncrewed
systems across the service, and particularly in the Pacific?
Answer. The Coast Guard plans to acquire multi-mission unmanned
systems and counter-unmanned systems capabilities that seamlessly
integrate with and amplify existing capabilities across all domains,
including in the Pacific. We stood up the Robotics and Autonomous
Systems Program Executive Office to consolidate disparate efforts and
rapidly operationalize our Unmanned Systems Strategic Plan. The data
collected from these systems will contribute to the robust, integrated
sensor network the Coast Guard is developing through our Coastal
Sentinel initiative to inform the Service's common operating picture
and enhance operational decision making.
Question 2. How would you propose analyzing the data and
information from uncrewed systems?
Answer. The Coast Guard will analyze data and information collected
from unmanned systems using artificial intelligence and trained Coast
Guard professionals to enhance efficient and effective operational
decision making. The expansion and formalization of data processes and
creation of data teams will further enable the Service to focus efforts
and maximize utility of resources.
Question 3. Would you be willing to partner with other Federal
agencies to include additional sensors for any uncrewed systems the
Coast Guard might deploy?
Answer. Yes, if confirmed I will work with our Federal partners to
consider including additional sensors on Coast Guard uncrewed systems.
Question 4. Do you have any plans on how the Coast Guard might use
its uncrewed systems data and analysis to collaborate with allied
nations?
Answer. The Coast Guard maintains operational information sharing
agreements with numerous partner nations. When appropriate, those
agreements may be updated to include unmanned systems' data and
analysis.
In October, the U.S. Coast Guard launched Operation River Wall
indicating that U.S. Coast Guard assets, such as aircraft, cutters,
small boards, and crews, were diverted under its ``operational
control'' to the southern border.
Question 1. How did the Coast Guard make up for the withdrawal of
resources that were redistributed to the southern border?
Answer. Operational commanders have the authority and
responsibility to allocate resources based on mission demand and
evaluate the risk associated with the current operational environment.
Question 2. Where were these resources diverted from?
Answer. The Coast Guard shifted resources from units across the
organization to support Operation River Wall while minimizing the
impact on individual units or specific regions.
Question 3. If confirmed, how will you ensure that any continuation
of redistributing resources does not weaken our national security?
Answer. Operation River Wall is vital to U.S. national security. If
confirmed, I will continue to evaluate mission demands and ensure
operational commanders apply the necessary resources, informed by risk
considerations, to support national security priorities.
Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visited
U.S. Coast Guard base Fort Wadsworth in New York, which could
potentially be used as a new ICE detention center. Since then, there
has been additional reporting that the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security relocated an essential Coast Guard helicopter away from
Newport, Oregon and is working to relocate other Coast Guard assets
away from Newport to make room for a new ICE detention facility in
Newport.
Question 1. Do you support the use of U.S. Coast Guard facilities
as ICE detention centers and the relocation of essential Coast Guard
resources away from communities that rely on these services to make
room for detention centers?
Answer. The Coast Guard will continue to assist our Department of
Homeland Security partners to control, secure, and defend the U.S.
border. I have not relocated essential Coast Guard resources for the
purpose of making room for detention centers.
Question 2. If confirmed, how will you ensure that, if these
facilities are used as ICE detention centers or if there is a removal
of Coast Guard assets from other communities throughout the U.S., the
Coast Guards' ability to do their job and support these communities
will not be negatively impacted?
Answer. The Coast Guard's dedication to the American public remains
resolute. If confirmed, I will continue to ensure we meet operational
requirements, support our maritime communities, and evaluate the use of
all assets as part of Force Design 2028.
Question 3. If confirmed, will the Coast Guard work closely with
ICE and allow ICE to use the Coast Guard's facilities or relocate the
Coast Guard's resources to make room for new ICE facilities?
Answer. If confirmed, I will continue to assist our law enforcement
partners to control, secure, and defend the U.S. border and allocate
Coast Guard resources to fulfill all our statutory missions.
Women in the Service
Women represent 14.5 percent of the active-duty force in the Coast
Guard. Leadership changes along with a recent decline in top female
leaders across all services are compounding this issue. Furthermore,
recent policy shifts, such as changes in physical standards and the
disbanding of advisory groups, have raised concerns among female
service members about their place in the military.
Question 1. As Commandant, do you believe women play an important
role to the Coast Guard's success as a military service?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. As Commandant, what actions will you take to ensure
women in the Coast Guard are treated as equals to their male
counterparts?
Answer. Women are vital members of the Coast Guard with the ability
to fill every role the Coast Guard conducts. If confirmed, I will
continue to prioritize taking care of all Coast Guard men and women.
Question 3. The Commandant is ultimately liable for any policies
that are enacted in the Service. Will you stand up for all female
service members in the Coast Guard by not enacting policies that are
biased or promote unfair treatment of women?
Answer. Yes.
Search and Rescue
During the hearing we discussed the 23 search and rescues stations
the Coast Guard has temporarily closed. You told me that you have no
plan to currently re-open them. I am deeply concerned about the
fishermen in my state, and their ability to have the necessary
resources for their safety.
Question 1. Please explain your plan in detail for ensuring all
areas impacted by the 23 stations will have the necessary coverage for
their safety.
Answer. The safety of all mariners, including fishermen, remains a
top priority for the Service. The Coast Guard has not made final
decisions regarding permanent closures or reopening of any station
impacted by temporary changes made in the Force Alignment Initiative.
All communities currently impacted by the Force Alignment Initiative
temporary changes are served by nearby stations with overlapping areas
of responsibility, enabling us to adhere to our rigorous response
standards.
Question 2. How many additional stations does the Coast Guard
intend to close (temporary or otherwise)?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made final decisions regarding
permanent closures or reopening of any station impacted by Force
Alignment Initiative. As part of Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard is
evaluating force posture and structure, which will include deliberate
evaluation of these stations.
Question 3. As you noted at the hearing, the law requires the Coast
Guard to hold public meetings and seek comment prior to any station
closures. Have you done that or initiated that process with any
stations?
Answer. No.
Question 4. Is the Coast Guard considering privatizing any aspect
of search and rescue operations?
Answer. No, the Coast Guard is not seeking to privatize or reduce
its role in Search and Rescue.
Former Coast Guard Commandant
The former Commandant, Admiral Fagan, was fired without reason and
then evicted from her home with effectively no notice.
Question 1. Yes or No: were you involved in this decision to evict
Admiral Fagan? If so, please detail the role you played and who else
was involved in making this decision.
Answer. No, I was not part of the decision.
Question 2. Did you try recommending alternative courses of action?
Answer. I was not part of the decision.
Limited Coast Guard Resources Used for the Secretary of Homeland
Security
The Secretary of Homeland Security moved into the home
traditionally reserved for the Commandant, where she's been living for
months.
Coast Guard resources--which are always stretched thin--are being
diverted away from purchasing critical search-and-rescue aircraft to
instead buy two luxury executive jets costing more than $172 million.
Question 1. As the highest-ranking attorney in the Coast Guard,
what is the legal justification for a civilian DHS Secretary living in
Coast Guard military housing?
Answer. I was not part of this decision and refer you to the Office
of the Secretary regarding this matter.
Question 2. Was Secretary Noem or other DHS political appointees
involved in the Coast Guard's decision to purchase the Gulfstream 700
jets? If so, please specify whom and to what extent.
Answer. As Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, I made the
decision to purchase the two newer model Long Range Command and Control
aircraft in coordination with Department of Homeland Security and
Office of Management and Budget.
Hate Symbol Policies at the Coast Guard
On November 20, 2025, media reports documented a new Coast Guard
policy under which the Nazi swastika, nooses, and other abhorrent
symbols would no longer be classified as a hate symbol, instead
reclassifying them as ``potentially divisive.'' Admiral Lunday, I
understand you met with my staff on November 20, 2025, and committed to
changing this policy within 24 hours. Later on November 20, you issued
a memorandum to all Coast Guard personnel stating: ``Divisive or hate
symbols and flags are prohibited. These symbols and flags include, but
are not limited to, the following: a noose, a swastika, and any symbols
or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups as representations of
supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, antisemitism, or any other
improper bias.'' The memo further stated: ``The display of any divisive
or hate symbol is prohibited and shall be removed from all Coast Guard
workplaces, facilities, and assets.''
Question 1. Admiral Lunday, will your November 20 memorandum be
formally reflected in the Coast Guard Harassing Behavior Prevention,
Response, and Accountability policy (COMDTINST 5350.6A)?
Answer. The November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of existing Coast Guard policies that
prohibit divisive or hate symbols and flags and strengthens the
Service's processes for preventing and responding to hate incidents.
This includes a body of existing Coast Guard policies:
Coast Guard Policy and Lawful Order Prohibiting Divisive or
Hate Symbols (November 2025)
Harassing Behaviors Prevention, Response, and
Accountability, 5350.6A (November 2025)
Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual, COMDTINST 5350.4E Chapters
3F (Hate Incidents and CO/OIC Responsibilities) and 3G
(Notification and Processing for Potential and Actual Hate
Incidents) (updated 5 March 2025)
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Statement
(Updated February 2025)
Equal Opportunity Policy Statement (Updated February 2025)
Tattoo, Branding, Body Piercing, and Mutilation Standards,
COMDTINST 1000.1F (Updated May 2024)
Question 2. Will you formally rescind the provisions of the Coast
Guard Harassing Behavior Prevention, Response, and Accountability
policy regarding ``potentially divisive symbols and flags''?
Answer. No. The updated 2025 policy will not be rescinded; I issued
a November 20, 2025 lawful order that clarifies and doubles down on
current policies prohibiting the display, distribution or use of
divisive or hate symbols and flags by Coast Guard personnel.
Question 3. Please explain why the Coast Guard had classified the
display of Nazi swastikas, nooses, and similar abhorrent symbols as
only ``potentially'' divisive?
Answer. The November 2025 changes strengthened the policy on
divisive or hate symbols and flags. There was never an intent to change
the absolute prohibition on the display of swastikas or nooses and
other recognized symbols of hate. The Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual,
COMDTINST 5340.4E (updated 5 March 2025), which categorically prohibits
such symbols, remains in effect.
Question 4. Did anyone outside of the Coast Guard direct you or
anyone else Coast Guard leadership to classify Nazi swastikas, nooses,
or other abhorrent symbols as ``potentially divisive''?
Answer. No.
Jones Act
There is bipartisan agreement that it is critical we increase
American-built ships to support our economy, our national security, and
to shore up our maritime industrial base. Despite this, the Coast Guard
is planning to build four Arctic Security Cutters in Finland.
Question 1. Yes or No: Do you support the Jones Act and other
build-America requirements that apply to the Coast Guard under U.S.
law?
Answer. Yes, the Coast Guard supports and fully complies with U.S.
law.
Question 2. Yes or No: Putting the Arctic Security Cutter aside for
the moment, if you are confirmed will you approve the construction of
any additional Coast Guard cutters overseas?
Answer. If confirmed, I will not. The Commandant does not have
authority under U.S. law to approve construction of Coast Guard cutters
overseas.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Gary Peters to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Operational Adjustments:
Question 1. For each unit, please provide data points and analysis
used by USCG to determine the locations in Michigan selected for
operational adjustments in 2023.
Answer. We made necessary operational adjustments across the
country, including in Michigan, to manage a critical, service-wide
workforce shortage in 2023.
Seven Michigan stations were impacted. Five seasonal stations were
transitioned to forward operating locations: Harbor Beach, Alpena,
Frankfort, Ludington, and Muskegon. Two stations were adjusted to
scheduled mission stations: St. Clair Shores and Saginaw River.
Our analysis focused exclusively on maintaining Search and Rescue
(SAR) coverage to protect the maritime public. We performed a data-
driven review to identify stations that provided redundant SAR response
capabilities. This allowed us to make adjustments while ensuring
adjacent primary and secondary stations could still meet our rigorous
response standard.
Below is an overview of the range ring analysis involving the State
of Michigan's Coast Guard Boat Stations and across the Coast Guard
Great Lakes District. Green circles indicate SAR coverage for primary
stations, yellow circles indicate SAR coverage for secondary stations,
and orange circles indicate SAR coverage for tertiary stations.
Primary: Stations that provide the first layer of multi-
mission response boat coverage.
Secondary: Stations that provide the second layer of multi-
mission response boat coverage
Tertiary: Stations that are currently seasonal Stations
(Station Smalls), non-response Stations & detachments, or
Stations that provide additional (3+) layers of response boat
coverage.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Recruitment and retention:
Question 1. Please provide the number of enlisted members,
officers, and reserve members onboard for Fiscal Years 2023-2025 and
identify where shortages exist.
Answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Duty Enlisted 29,638 30,638 31,930
Active Duty Officer 7,196 7,348 7,558
Active Duty Warrant Officer 1,797 1,787 1,835
Selective Reserve 6,185 6,347 6,406
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our most significant personnel shortfall is in the active duty
enlisted workforce. While our recent recruiting efforts have been the
most successful in over three decades, bringing in more than 5,200
active duty recruits last Fiscal Year, we are still working to close a
gap of nearly 1,500 members.
Question 2. Please provide the number of personnel accessed for
Fiscal Years 2023-2025.
Answer. The below table provides the requested information, but
does not reflect the regular departure of members from the Service
through regular processes (retirement, end of enlistment, etc.). To
overcome the workforce gap, the Coast Guard must continue to seek
ways to retain personnel, but also increase accessions,
particularly as we seek to grow the military workforce by 15,000 under
Force Design.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,126 4,422 5,204
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare:
Question 1. Please provide your plans to address challenges with
healthcare access for Coast Guard members in Michigan and their
dependents.
Answer. If confirmed, through Force Design 2028, and with the
continued support of Congress, the Service will increase the number of
Coast Guard medical care providers and support staff by at least 500
people. Additionally, as we pursue growing to a $20 billion Service, we
will expand access to primary healthcare medical services for Coast
Guard men, women, and their families in remote locations, including
those located in Michigan, by leveraging deployable medical
capabilities and optimizing the use of telehealth.
Policy Changes:
Question 1. Please provide an explanation of the changes made to
USCG policy as described in ALCOAST 459/25-NOV 2025 UPDATE TO HARASSING
BEHAVIOR PREVENTION, RESPONSE, and ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY and in
Harassing Behavior Prevention, Response, and Accountability (COMDTINST
5350.6A, November 2025) and what entities were included in making these
changes. In particular:
a. Why USCG policy is no longer using the term ``hate incident''
and why the handling of hate incidents has been changed.
Answer. The November 2025 changes clarified and strengthened the
policy on divisive or hate symbols and flags. There was never an intent
to change the absolute prohibition on the display of swastikas or
nooses and other recognized symbols of hate. The Coast Guard Civil
Rights Manual, COMDTINST 5340.4E (updated 5 March 2025), which
categorically prohibits such hate incidents, remains in effect.
b. Whether there are any activities that would be labeled under
hate incident that would now neither be classified as harassment nor
display of ``divisive flags and symbols.'' For example, how will the
USCG categorize incidents that are more severe than harassment, like
bullying or hazing, that are motivated by hate against a protected
class?
Answer. No, the scope of prohibited conduct covered under Coast
Guard policy has not changed, including hate incidents, sexual
harassment, harassment, bullying or hazing.
c. Why the terminology ``potentially divisive'' was used to
describe known hate symbols.
Answer. My November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing Coast Guard policies that
prohibit divisive or hate symbols and flags and our processes for
preventing and responding to potential and actual hate incidents. This
includes an absolute prohibition on displays of hate symbols, such as a
swastika or noose, that are widely identified with oppression or
hatred, anti-semitism, racial or religious intolerance, or other
improper bias. Further, Coast Guard policy more broadly also prohibits
display of other divisive or hate symbols and flags that may be co-
opted or adopted by hate or extremist groups. Hate incidents or
potential hate incidents will be immediately reported, thoroughly
investigated, and severely punished.
There is no change to effective Coast Guard policy governing
notification and processing for potential and actual hate incidents,
including responsibility for inquiry or investigation into reported
incidents contained in Chapter 3F and 3G of the Coast Guard Civil
Rights Manual, COMDTINST M5350.4E. The policy, which remains unchanged,
directs the unit commanding officer or officer-in-charge in the case of
a hate incident, such as display of swastika or noose, to immediately
conduct an investigation. In the case of a potential hate incident,
where there may be insufficient evidence of a hate incident at the
start, the commanding officer or officer-in-charge is authorized to
conduct a preliminary inquiry to gather evidence to inform the conduct
of an investigation. In either case, however, the actual or potential
hate incident must be immediately reported up the chain of command and
to the Civil Rights Service Provider.
d. The requirement for reports of harassing behavior to be filed
within forty-five calendar days and any analysis of whether this might
limit reporting of such incidents.
Answer. The 2025 version of the Harassing Behaviors Prevention,
Response, and Accountability Instruction strengthens our ability to
report, investigate and prosecute those who violate such policy. The
45-day reporting requirement aligns Coast Guard policy with the Federal
EEO complaint process reporting timeframes to facilitate timely
investigations of allegations and effective resolutions.
That said, the policy does not prevent or limit a person from
reporting harassing behavior after the 45 calendar days if there is a
reason for the extension and provides broad discretion for accepting
reports after 45 calendar days. This timeline for reporting has no
bearing on the responsibility of unit commanders to maintain good order
and discipline within their command and respond to any harassing
behaviors.
Question 2. Please confirm whether any of these changes are
intended to be reversed in an updated version of this policy document.
Answer. No. The November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles
down and clarifies the strength of existing Coast Guard policies that
prohibit divisive or hate symbols and flags, and strengthens the
Service's processes for preventing and responding to hate incidents.
Question 3. Please explain who will be responsible for determining
what is a divisive symbol or flag.
Answer. For known and widely recognized divisive or hate symbols
and Flags, there is no discretion to determine that they are not
prohibited. For other potentially divisive or hate symbols and flags,
including those adopted or co-opted by hate or extremist groups, the
determinations are made by unit commanders, commanding officers,
officers-in-charge, and supervisors, in consultation with their
servicing legal office, with immediate notification to their chain of
command and the Anti-Harassment Program Office, as appropriate.
Question 4. Given the lack of definition of divisive and the
possibility that there are disagreements on issues unrelated to hate,
how will you ensure that this policy will not be improperly used?
Answer. I have directed that unit commanders, commanding officers,
officers-in-charge, and supervisors remain vigilant to strictly enforce
the prohibitions on divisive or hate symbols and flags in Coast Guard
policy, including my letter and lawful order of 20 November 2025.
Drug Interdictions and Prosecutions:
Question 1. Please provide monthly drug interdiction data for
Fiscal Years 2023-2025. Answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 2024 2025*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 3,288 kgs cocaine 7,691 kgs cocaine 32,056 kgs cocaine
0 lbs marijuana 2,140 lbs marijuana 2,771 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 12,811 kgs cocaine 14,183 kgs cocaine 6,972 kgs cocaine
9,730 lbs marijuana 0 lbs marijuana 5,740 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 3,633 kgs cocaine 3,212 kgs cocaine 19,033 kgs cocaine
4,200 lbs marijuana 9,473 lbs marijuana 0 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1,232 kgs cocaine 2,470 kgs cocaine 38,172 kgs cocaine
0 lbs marijuana 3,180 lbs marijuana 0 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 8,643 kgs cocaine 18,946.3 kgs cocaine 19,458 kgs cocaine
8,456 lbs marijuana 7,604 lbs marijuana 5,141 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 6,895 kgs cocaine 16,794 kgs cocaine 10,332 kgs cocaine
8,416 lbs marijuana 3,094 lbs marijuana 0 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 7,922 kgs cocaine 7,780 kgs cocaine 12,285 kgs cocaine
0 lbs marijuana 3,802 lbs marijuana 6,502 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 11,582 kgs cocaine 5,751 kgs cocaine 26,976 kgs cocaine
1,636 lbs marijuana 97 lbs marijuana 2,599 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 7,822 kgs cocaine 1,503 kgs cocaine 22,336 kgs cocaine
2,091 lbs marijuana 2,229 lbs marijuana 3,317 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 7,253 kgs cocaine 5,404 kgs cocaine 15,725 kgs cocaine
6,547 lbs marijuana 0 lbs marijuana 9,168 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 8,842.8 kgs cocaine 9,689 kgs cocaine 30,947 kgs cocaine
5,325 lbs marijuana 4,418 lbs marijuana 8,030 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 16,299 kgs cocaine 12,869 kgs cocaine 29,293 kgs cocaine
4,967 lbs marijuana 5,763 lbs marijuana 150 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 96,222.3 kgs cocaine 106,293 kgs cocaine 263,584.2 kgs cocaine
51,368 lbs marijuana 41,800 lbs marijuana 43,418 lbs marijuana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data validated through Q3 FY 2025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 2. As it relates to drug interdictions, please provide the
following data broken down by month for Fiscal Years 2023-2025:
a. The total number of detainees taken into USCG custody and the
unique number of detainees taken into custody.
Answer. The Coast Guard does not maintain data for the unique
number of detainees taken into custody. The table below lists the
totals number of detainees taken into custody.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FISCAL YEAR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 2024 2025*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 16 33 50
November 27 32 15
December 13 16 37
January 5 12 66
February 26 44 45
March 24 32 25
April 32 16 30
May 33 10 36
June 15 24 40
July 21 10 28
August 17 26 64
September 38 33 52
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 267caret 288caret 488caret
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data validated through Q3.
caret Detainees not landed ashore in the U.S. or a partner nation for prosecution were either medically
evacuated or treated as SAR survivors if no contraband was located.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Detainees remanded to U.S. for possible prosecution.
Answer. Starting in April 2025, the monthly totals below do not
include detainees landed ashore in the U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 2024 2025*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 16 31 44
November 27 29 15
December 13 12 32
January 2 10 63
February 22 42 39
March 22 32 25
April 27 10 2**
May 29 9 0
June 14 21 0
July 21 10 0
August 17 26 11
September 35 30 2caretcaret
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 245caret 262caret 233caret
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Data validated through Q3
caret Detainees not landed ashore in the U.S. or a partner nation for prosecution were either medically
evacuated or treated as SAR survivors if no contraband was located.
** Detainees were prosecuted for assault on Federal officers, not drug related charges.
caretcaret Detainees were U.S. citizens and therefore not subject to the MDLEA pause.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c. Detainees not remanded to U.S. for possible prosecution.
Answer. Data includes detainees turned over to partner nations but
does not include SAR survivors or detainees that were medically
evacuated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 2024 2025*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 0 2 6
November 0 3 0
December 0 4 0
January 3 0 0
February 0 2 6
March 2 0 0
April 0 6 28
May 4 0 36
June 0 0 40
July 0 0 27
August 0 0 53
September 3 2 50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 12caret 19caret 246caret
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Data validated through Q3
caret Detainees not landed ashore in the U.S. or a partner nation for prosecution were either medically
evacuated or treated as SAR survivors if no contraband was located.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 3. Please indicate any changes made to USCG operations,
processes, and criminal referrals based on the implementation of the
memorandum titled ``Total Elimination of Cartels and Transnational
Criminal Organizations,'' issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi on
February 5, 2025.
a. Please provide any guidance or memorandum issued to USCG
personnel related to implementation.
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made any changes to its operations,
processes, or criminal referrals based on the implementation of the
referenced DOJ memorandum.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Flight Operations:
Question 1. Please provide the total number of flights Coast Guard
has conducted in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) in calendar year 2025, with a description of the purpose of each
flight.
Answer. 763 flights. The purpose of each flight is the transfer of
illegal aliens between ICE detention centers within the continental
U.S.
Question 2. Please provide the total number of noncitizens the
Coast Guard has transported in support of ICE in calendar year 2025.
Answer. The Coast Guard transported 8,234 aliens in support of ICE
in calendar year 2025.
Question 3. Please provide the total cost per flight, including the
personnel costs, fuel costs, and other expenditures.
Answer. The average total cost per flight is approximately
$56,485.00 for a HC-130 and $77,834.00 for a C-27 flight.
Question 4. When conducting a transportation flight in support of
ICE, does USCG maintain its own manual for operations or is ICE
guidance utilized? If USCG maintains its own manual, please provide.
Answer. The Coast Guard operates in accordance with its own
Standard Operating Procedure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Question 5. Do USCG personnel operating flights in support of ICE
receive training before conducting a transport flight?
Answer. Coast Guard personnel arrive having completed and been
certified in standardized Law Enforcement qualifications. Deployed
personnel receive additional on-the-job training from ICE for mission-
specific parameters prior to their first operational sortie.
Question 6. Please provide a list of any non-Coast Guard personnel
present on flights in support of ICE and a description of each of their
roles for the flight.
Answer. As described in the provided Standard Operating Procedure,
non-Coast Guard personnel present on flights in support of ICE include
U.S. Federal Deportation Agents, who maintain legal custody and
accountability of all aliens and associated personal belongings onboard
the flight. Deportation Agents will direct embarkation and
disembarkation procedures (with concurrence of the Security Team and
aircrew), orderly security and care of aliens during the flight, and
tasking/positioning of Security Team members. Deportation Agents are
responsible for any follow-on LE investigative activity resulting from
actions of aliens during AEO. The lead agency is responsible for
providing food, water, and consumables for the care of aliens in
flight. The Coast Guard defers to the Department of Homeland Security
and ICE regarding any other specific roles and responsibilities of
personnel outside of the Coast Guard.
Support to other agencies:
Question 1. When USCG receives a request for support from another
agency, what is your process of reviewing such requests and determining
USCG's ability to fulfill its statutory missions?
Answer. Decisions are typically delegated to the Coast Guard
operational commander to assess current operations and capacity to
dedicate or provide assets in support of an agency request. For larger,
planned events requesting Coast Guard support, such as the United
Nations General Assembly or Boston Marathon, the Coast Guard evaluates
the events through an executive board to recommend the level of planned
support. Operational commanders have the authority to divert resources
from planned support if more emergent mission needs arise.
Question 2. Beyond the flight operations discussed above, please
provide a list of all support provided to ICE or U.S. Customs and
Border Protection pursuant to 14 USC Sec. 701(a) for calendar year
2025.
Answer. In addition to the flight operations above, the Coast Guard
has provided temporary personnel augmentation for missions such as
alien intake, transport, and processing functions at ICE staging
facilities in Florida and Texas, and deployable specialized forces
support to CBP at Border Control Tactical Unit operations.
Question 3. In calendar year 2025, have any USCG facilities been
used for ICE holding or immigration detention? If so, please provide:
a. The name of the facility, the dates the facility was used for
detention, the number of individuals detained (broken down my minors
and adults), the maximum number of individuals detained at one time,
and the maximum amount of time any minor and adult has been detained at
each of the facilities.
Answer. No Coast Guard facilities have been used for immigration
detention.
Question 4. What, if any, USCG resources are being used for
operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay?
Answer. There is a permanent Aviation Detachment at Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay consisting of four Coast Guard members who primarily
support cutter logistics and aircrew deployments.
Operation River Wall
Question 1. Please provide operation details for Operation River
Wall, including:
a. The Federal agency that is the lead on Operation River Wall and
other participating agencies.
Answer. The Coast Guard is the lead Federal agency for Operation
River Wall. Other agencies operating in this area include Joint Task
Force--Southern Border, the Texas Military Department, the Texas Parks
and Wildlife, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Border
Patrol, and the U.S. Custom and Border Protection Air and Marine
Operations.
b. Duties of USCG personnel supporting the operation.
Answer. Coast Guard forces lead maritime law enforcement operations
to control, secure, and defend approximately 260 river miles of the Rio
Grande River along the U.S. maritime border in eastern Texas.
c. The planned duration for the operation.
Answer. The Coast Guard has not determined the duration for the
operation.
d. The geographic locations covered by the operation.
Answer. The operation includes the Rio Grande River in Cameron and
Hidalgo counties in eastern Texas, extending to the sea.
e. USCG assets being used for the operation.
Answer. The Coast Guard has employed various small boats and air
boats capable of operating in the shallow waters along the Rio Grande.
f. The number of USCG personnel supporting the operation, and
whether any personnel have been reassigned from other operating
locations or USCG missions.
Answer. There are currently (as of 24 November 2025) 364 personnel
supporting Operation River Wall, reassigned from various units and
deployable specialized forces to minimize the impact at any single unit
or region.
Question 2. Please provide the number of apprehensions made by USCG
as part of Operation River Wall.
Answer. As of November 22, 2025, the Coast Guard supported the
apprehension of 79 aliens and deterred 98 aliens from reaching the
United States.
a. Of these apprehensions, please provide the number of individuals
have been referred for criminal prosecutions, broken down by charges.
Answer. The Coast Guard defers to U.S. Border Patrol on criminal
prosecution data.
b. Of these apprehensions, please provide the number of individuals
that have been charged with civil immigration violations, broken down
by charges.
Answer. The Coast Guard defers to U.S. Border Patrol for charges
brought against illegal aliens.
Maritime Migration
Question 1. Please provide the number of migrants interdicted at
sea by USCG and transferred to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in calendar
year 2025, broken down by month. `
Answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Year 2025 Migrant Transfers to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Month # of Migrants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1
February 1
March 0
April 1
May 0
June 0
July 1
August 0
September 1
October 0
November 1
December -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Of these individuals, please identify whether any are minors.
Answer. No aliens transferred were minors.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Baldwin to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Since the public disclosure of Operation Fouled Anchor regarding
the investigation of sexual assault and sexual harassment, the Coast
Guard has issued 33 directed actions to prevent and respond to sexual
misconduct. Of those actions, 24 have been completed.
Question 1. If confirmed, what is your plan to fully implement the
remaining recommendations?
Answer. I have taken decisive action to combat and eliminate sexual
assault and sexual harassment from our Service. We have completed 24 of
the 33 Commandant's Directed Actions, including six since January 20,
2025. We are on track to fully complete all 33 actions in 2026.
Further, we will take additional actions to continue to combat and
eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment from the Coast Guard.
Question 2. How much funding is required to fully implement the
remaining recommendations and sustain the already completed
recommendations each Fiscal Year?
Answer. The Fiscal Year 2026 President's Budget provides adequate
resources to complete the Commandant's Directed Actions, including
targeted investments to support sexual assault prevention, trauma-
informed survivor services, and independent investigations.
In addition, the Fiscal Year 2026 Unfunded Priorities List includes
a request for $18.4 million for additional Commandant's Directed
Actions Enhancements to further cultivate and maintain a workplace free
of sexual assault and other harmful behaviors.
Question 3. How is the Coast Guard measuring the success of these
directed actions in preventing and responding to sexual misconduct?
Answer. As part of the Commandant Directed Action ``Survey Analysis
and Trend Development,'' the Coast Guard is developing a tool utilizing
data from existing workforce surveys to track the effect of the
directed actions. Additionally, the Coast Guard seeks direct feedback
from the force through commanding officers, officers-in-charge,
supervisors, and command senior enlisted leaders on the success of
these actions.
Due to the unique nature of the Coast Guard, Coast Guardsmen are
often stationed in remote or rural locations that lack many key
services they depend on for the quality of life of themselves and their
families.
Question 1. If confirmed, what actions would you take to improve
the quality of life of Coast Guardsmen and their families stationed in
remote or rural locations?
Answer. Supporting our members at remote units is one of my top
priorities, and Force Design 2028 offers the Coast Guard a way to
deliver on this priority. If confirmed, I will work with Congress to
increase medical staff, improve housing options, and enhance childcare
services for our members and their families, particularly at remote
units.
Question 2. If confirmed, how would you ensure that Coast Guardsmen
and their families in remote or rural duty stations have access to
broadband internet?
Answer. We are modernizing our network infrastructure by
transitioning to Enterprise Infrastructure Services and deploying
OneWeb satellite services in remote locations. We have already upgraded
58 percent of our legacy data circuits and will complete the transition
by the end of Fiscal Year 2026. We intend to deploy OneWeb satellite
Internet to all areas lacking reliable terrestrial connections by the
end of calendar year 2026.
This effort will provide high-speed, low-latency broadband that
supports mission and mission support activities, such as telehealth,
remote education, and communications with family members.
Question 3. If confirmed, how would you ensure that Coast Guardsmen
and their families in remote or rural duty stations have access to high
quality medical care?
Answer. If confirmed, through Force Design 2028 we will increase
the number of Coast Guard medical care providers and support staff by
at least 500 people to ensure the ability to meet the health care needs
of the workforce. Additionally, as we pursue growing to a $20 billion
Service, we will expand access to primary healthcare medical services
for Coast Guard members and their families in remote locations by
leveraging deployable medical capabilities and optimizing the use of
telehealth.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Duckworth to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Military Personnel Career Management
Question 1. If confirmed, do you commit that you will not support
firing flag officers simply for executing lawful policies of a past
administration?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. If confirmed, do you commit not to retaliate against
flag officers or military servicemembers for executing lawful policies
enacted by a previous administration?
Answer. Yes.
Question 3. If confirmed, do you commit that you will not use
military officers' record of executing policy or their personal beliefs
as promotion criteria either formally or informally?
Answer. Yes.
Question 4. If confirmed, do you commit to providing timely
documented justifications to this Committee for any removals or re-
details of flag officers from command?
Answer. Yes.
Question 5. If confirmed, do you commit to providing timely
documented justifications to this Committee for any actions taken to
execute the Secretary of Homeland Security's direction to reduce the
flag officer corps?
Answer. Yes.
Question 6. If confirmed, you will be the senior-most Coast Guard
officer, setting the tone for professionalism and integrity across the
service. In an environment where officers worry about retaliation for
providing candid advice, what would you say to reassure Coast Guard
officers and enlisted servicemember that their duty to provide their
best military judgment will be respected and protected?
Answer. Coast Guard personnel have a duty to provide candid advice
based on their professional judgment, consistent with their oath of
office or oath of enlistment.
Question 7. How will you ensure that the Coast Guard continues to
provide honest military advice to civilian leaders--even when those
recommendations may be politically inconvenient?
Answer. Coast Guard personnel are bound by duty and their oath of
office or oath of enlistment to provide honest military advice to
civilian leaders.
On January 21, 2025, an unnamed ``senior DHS official'' defended
President Donald Trump's firing of Admiral Linda Fagan by stating,
``She was terminated because of her leadership deficiencies,
operational failures, and inability to advance the strategic objectives
of the U.S. Coast Guard.''
Question 8. Please describe in detail the leadership deficiencies,
operational failures and inability to advance the strategic objectives
of the U.S. Coast Guard that you witnessed Admiral Fagan engage in
while serving as Commandant--or if you disagree with the assessment of
the senior DHS official, please explain why.
Answer. I was not part of the decision to relieve Admiral Fagan and
refer you to the Department of Homeland Security.
Question 9. If the Trump administration truly believes it
terminated Admiral Fagan for cause, why do you believe that you were
not also removed, given your tenure as Vice Commandant under Commandant
Fagan, as well as your significant command responsibilities in the
years leading up to becoming Vice Commandant?
Answer. I was not part of the decision to relieve Admiral Fagan and
refer you to the Department of Homeland Security.
Oversight Responsibilities
Question 1. If confirmed, do you commit that your deliberations and
decisions will only be communicated through official, secure channels
and any decisions properly documented for both oversight and
institutional memory?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. Would you follow an illegal, unlawful or immoral order?
Answer. No.
Question 3. If confirmed, do you commit to executing the Coast
Guard budget faithfully, and rooting out instances of waste, fraud and
abuse?
Answer. Yes.
Question 4. How do you plan to balance shipbuilding challenges with
ensuring the timely delivery of the critical polar icebreaker program?
Answer. The Coast Guard restructured its acquisition organization
with single points of accountability for each program area. The Deputy
Commandant for Systems oversees all major programs, and I chair a
weekly Investment Council to ensure rigorous oversight for management
and execution of all funding provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill
Act. For Polar Security Cutters, we achieved design maturity, resolved
contract issues, and are on track to deliver PSC #1 in 2030.
Question 5. Will you commit to increased transparency and engaging
with Congress on considered cuts or changes to ensure the full impacts
are understood prior to decisions being made?
Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure transparency and engage with
Congress as required on decisions I make.
Question 6. Will you commit to ensuring a timely response to
requests for information?
Answer. Yes.
Station Closures
During our call, you stated you would provide data on station
closures and manning decisions, particularly in the Great Lakes region.
I am concerned by recent actions of this Administration to withhold
funding from constituents solely because they did not vote for this
President.
Question 1. If confirmed, do you commit to providing any and all
data and requirements used in determining Coast Guard station manning
requirements to the Committee?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. If confirmed, do you commit to non-partisan decision
making when determining staffing decisions?
Answer. Yes.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Recent reporting indicates that earlier this month, the Coast Guard
attempted to rewrite its policy on ``Harassing Behavior, Prevention,
Response, and Accountability'' to classify nooses and Nazi-era swastika
insignia as only ``potentially divisive (emphasis added),'' which
triggered intense backlash and forced the Coast Guard to issue a new
policy on Thursday, November 20, 2025, clarifying that the Coast Guard
``specifically sees swastikas and nooses as hate symbols'' and that
they are ``expressly prohibited.''
Question 1. Did you personally approve or reject any effort,
formally or informally, to cease considering nooses and swastikas to be
hate symbols and instead merely ``potentially divisive?''
Answer. My November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags and strengthens our processes for
preventing and responding to hate incidents. The claims that the Coast
Guard will no longer classify or are ``downgrading'' the classification
of swastikas, nooses, or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols
are categorically false. There is no reversal in Coast Guard policy on
this matter.
Question 2. Were you aware of any effort, formally or informally,
to cease considering nooses and swastikas to be hate symbols and
instead merely ``potentially divisive?''
Answer. My November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order clarified the
display of divisive or hate symbols and flags remains prohibited as a
violation of Coast Guard policy and the Uniform Code of Military
Justice. This action was to combat any misinformation and affirm that
the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols. The claims that the Coast
Guard will no longer classify or are ``downgrading'' the classification
of swastikas, nooses, or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols
are categorically false.
Question 3. If you neither approved, rejected or were aware of this
effort to change Coast Guard policy to remain open to the possibility
that nooses and swastikas are not divisive in the Coast Guard, why do
you believe despite serving as Acting Commandant, Coast Guard personnel
sought to make such a deeply alarming policy change without your
knowledge or approval?
Answer. The claims that the Coast Guard will no longer classify or
are ``downgrading'' the classification of swastikas, nooses, or other
extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false. The
term ``potentially divisive'' was used to broaden the scope of
prohibited divisive or hate symbols and flags to include not only those
known and widely recognized hate symbols (e.g., swastikas and nooses),
but also prohibit those symbols and flags that are adopted or co-opted
by hate groups or extremists and displayed as symbols of supremacy,
racial or religious intolerance, anti-semitism, or other improper bias.
Question 4. Do you believe this scandal may be fairly interpreted
as a negative reflection of the command climate you have fostered since
President Trump's firing of Admiral Linda Fagan on January 21, 2025?
Answer. No.
Question 5. What actions have you personally taken to address the
concerns that even a failed attempt by the Coast Guard to classify
nooses and Nazi swastikas as potentially unifying undermines unite
cohesion, weakens trust and calls into question Coast Guard
leadership's commitment to foundational constitutional principles,
including equal protection under the law and religious freedom?
Answer. My November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags and strengthens our processes for
preventing and responding to hate incidents. The claims that the Coast
Guard will no longer classify or are ``downgrading'' the classification
of swastikas, nooses, or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols
are categorically false.
Question 6. If confirmed, how will you ensure non-white and non-
Christian members of the Coast Guard are confident that segments of
leadership--especially individuals involved in the scandal related to
the failed effort to reclassify nooses and swastikas as only
``potentially divisive'' symbols--do not harbor hatred toward them and
sympathy towards the Nazis and/or racists that lynched Black Americans?
Answer. The Coast Guard prohibits and does not tolerate the display
of divisive or hate symbols and flags, including those identified with
supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, anti-semitism, or other
improper bias. Display of these and other hate symbols violate Coast
Guard policy, military law, and our core values.
Question 7. Have you ever owned or displayed swastikas in a
professional or personal setting?
Answer. No.
Question 8. Have you ever owned or displayed a noose in a
professional or personal setting?
Answer. No.
Question 9. Do you believe a noose is a symbol of hate?
Answer. Yes.
Question 10. Do you believe a swastika is a symbol of hate?
Answer. Yes.
Question 11. Do you believe a swastika can be a unifying symbol for
the United States Coast Guard?
Answer. No.
Question 12. Do you believe a noose can be a unifying symbol for
the United States Coast Guard?
Answer. No.
Question 13. Given the Trump administration's gaslighting denials
that this scandal ever took place, will you commit to immediately
requesting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector
General conduct an independent investigation into this deeply troubling
incident that occurred under your leadership?
Answer. The claims that the Coast Guard will no longer classify
swastikas, nooses or other divisive or hate symbols and flags as
prohibited are categorically false. I welcome the Office of Inspector
General's review of Coast Guard policy on the matter.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ben Ray Lujan to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
The Coast Guard has done an admirable job interdicting vessels,
which often leads to arrests and information that can be used to
prosecute drug traffickers and those associated with their operations.
It is my understanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has lost
over 5,000 employees since January 2025.
Question 1. How many lawyers does the U.S. Coast Guard currently
have detailed to the Department of Justice to assist with prosecutions
of drug related crimes?
Answer. Four full-time and two part-time Coast Guard attorneys are
detailed to the Department of Justice. However, their portfolios are
not exclusively to assist with prosecutions of drug offenses.
Question 2. Do you think that the Department of Justice could more
effectively use Coast Guard attorneys to prosecute these drug smugglers
given their successful history?
Answer. The Coast Guard legal program has long had a mutually
beneficial relationship with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and worked
collaboratively to ensure accountability for those who violate Federal
law. We will continue to work closely with our DOJ partners.
On November 20th multiple news outlets reported that the Coast
Guard would no longer classify certain symbols or flags co-opted or
adopted by any hate-based groups, such as swastikas and nooses, as hate
symbols. While I understand a new policy memo was released that re-
classified these symbols and flags as hate symbols, I am concerned
about the processes and decision that allowed this change to even be
under consideration.
Question 1. What approval process did the policy memo that de-
classified these symbols go through?
Answer. There is no reversal in Coast Guard policy on this matter.
The November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order doubles down and
clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit divisive
or hate symbols and flags, and strengthens our processes for preventing
and responding to hate incidents. The claims that the Coast Guard de-
classified these symbols or are ``downgrading'' the classification of
swastikas, nooses, or other hate symbols as prohibited are
categorically false.
Question 2. Did you, as acting commandant, approve the release of
the policy memo?
Answer. Yes.
Question 3. What involvement did the Department of Homeland
Security have in the drafting and approval of this policy memo?
Answer. None.
Question 4. The reported policy change would only trigger a
supervisory inquiry instead of an investigation. In light of your
statement that ``any display, use, or promotion of such symbols, as
always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished,'' can
you explain how these cases will be investigated differently than
before this policy change?
Answer. My November 20, 2025 policy and lawful order doubles down
and clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit
divisive or hate symbols and flags, and strengthens our processes for
preventing and responding to hate incidents. As always, hate incidents
will be immediately reported, thoroughly investigated, and severely
punished. There is no change to effective policy governing notification
and processing for potential and actual hate incidents, including
responsibility for inquiry or investigation into reported incidents,
contained in Chapter 3F and 3G of the Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual,
COMDTINST M5350.4E.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John Fetterman to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Admiral Lunday, while the Coast Guard's station in Erie, PA has not
been included in the Coast Guard's lists of stations to be closed, the
station in Ashtabula, OH--about 50 nautical miles west of Erie--was
included. In 2025, Station Ashtabula was adjusted from a seasonally
operated station to not being staffed at all.
As a result, Station Erie and local first responders in
Pennsylvania are now expected to cover hundreds of nautical miles more
for search and rescue missions, without any additional resources or
manpower.
In 2025, five people tragically lost their lives across three
separate incidents along the Pennsylvania coast of Lake Erie, which is
an abnormally high number for the area. Two of those three incidents
occurred on the same weekend in July.
In response to Senator Baldwin questions on the closure of Coast
Guard stations along the Great Lakes, you said you took part in the
decision on where to reduce staffing at [Coast Guard] stations'' and
that these decisions were made ``due to a shortage in the enlisted
workforce''.
In your response to Senator Peters' questions, you mentioned that
the Coast Guard ``recruited more this year than any other time since
1991''.
Question 1. Given the increase in drownings this past year along
the Pennsylvania coast of Lake Erie and the fact that the Coast Guard's
recruitment numbers are at the highest levels since 1991, will you
commit to either reopening Station Ashtabula or committing additional
staffing to Station Erie to ensure adequate coverage along the Lake
Erie coast?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made final decisions on any
stations impacted by the Force Alignment Initiative. If confirmed, I
will continue to ensure adequate search and rescue coverage along the
Lake Erie coast.
In your response to Senator Baldwin's question regarding the Coast
Guard's plans to close stations in Wisconsin, you mentioned there will
be an assessment as part of Force Design 2028 on the Coast Guard's
force structure and where its stations are.
Question 2. Will you commit to completing this assessment and
implementing any necessary changes before next April, to ensure that
stations along Lake Erie and the Great Lakes are staffed adequately for
the summer of 2026?
Answer. If confirmed, I will direct the assessment and
implementation of any necessary adjustments as swiftly as possible.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Andy Kim to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
Cape May Training Center
Question 1. Admiral Lunday, Cape May is the Coast Guard's only
enlisted basic training facility. It produces every new Coast Guardsman
we send into the field, yet the infrastructure has suffered from
decades of deferred maintenance--crumbling foundations, outdated
barracks, and systems that simply aren't built for today's recruitment
demand. With record enlistments and $425 million now headed to Cape
May, we must finally bring this facility into the 21st century. Can you
commit to me that, if confirmed, you will make Cape May's modernization
a top leadership priority and work with me to ensure the facility is
fully restored to meet the demands of the Coast Guard's growing
workforce?
Answer. Yes.
Coast Guard Policy on Extremism
Question 2. Recent reporting revealed that a November 2 Coast Guard
policy update appeared to reclassify extremist symbols--including
swastikas and nooses--from `potential hate incidents' to `harassment'
or `divisive symbols,' removing the term `hate incident' from policy
language, before the service later issued a clarification reaffirming
that such symbols remain prohibited. This inconsistency raises concerns
about internal policy clarity, communication, and oversight. If
confirmed, will you commit to ensuring that extremist symbols such as
swastikas, nooses, and other hate-based imagery are consistently and
explicitly classified, reported, and treated as prohibited hate symbols
across all Coast Guard policies, and that any future changes to
classification or reporting protocols are communicated transparently
and handled with the seriousness they warrant?
Answer. Yes. There is no reversal in Coast Guard policy on this
matter. My November 20, 2025, policy and lawful order doubles down and
clarifies the strength of our existing policies that prohibit divisive
or hate symbols and flags and strengthens our processes for preventing
and responding to hate incidents. Claims that the Coast Guard will no
longer classify or are ``downgrading'' the classification of swastikas,
nooses, or other hate symbols as prohibited symbols are categorically
false.
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