[Senate Hearing 119-485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-485
THE FLEET WE FUNDED:
ASSESSING COAST GUARD FORCE LAYDOWN ON
THE HEELS OF HISTORIC INVESTMENT
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD, MARITIME,
AND FISHERIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
JANUARY 29, 2026
__________
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
64-227 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND 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 MORANO, 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
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD, MARITIME, AND FISHERIES
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska, Chairman LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware,
ROGER WICKER, Mississippi Ranking
JOHN CURTIS, Utah BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
BERNIE MORANO, Ohio GARY PETERS, Michigan
TIM SHEEHY, Montana TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on January 29, 2026................................. 1
Statement of Senator Sullivan.................................... 1
Article dated December 29, 2025 from the Wall Street Journal
entitled, ``China's Push to Master the Arctic Ocean Opens
an Alarming Shortcut to the U.S.'' by Daniel Michaels and
Sune Engle Rasmussen....................................... 3
Article dated January 15, 2025 from the Wall Street Journal
entitled, ``Greenland Is Nice, but Alaska Is Better'' by
Dan Sullivan............................................... 15
Statement of Senator Blunt Rochester............................. 5
Statement of Senator Wicker...................................... 10
Statement of Senator Baldwin..................................... 17
Statement of Senator Sheehy...................................... 18
Statement of Senator Cruz........................................ 24
Statement of Senator Duckworth................................... 26
Statement of Senator Cantwell.................................... 31
Prepared statement........................................... 33
Witnesses
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant, United States Coast Guard... 7
Prepared statement........................................... 8
Appendix
Response to written questions submitted to Admiral Kevin E.
Lunday by:
Hon. Eric Schmitt............................................ 37
Hon. Maria Cantwell.......................................... 37
Hon. Tammy Duckworth......................................... 44
THE FLEET WE FUNDED:
ASSESSING COAST GUARD FORCE LAYDOWN ON
THE HEELS OF HISTORIC INVESTMENT
----------
Thursday, January 29, 2026
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room
SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Dan Sullivan,
Chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
Present: Senators Sullivan [presiding], Cruz, Wicker,
Sheehy, Blunt Rochester, Cantwell, Baldwin, and Duckworth.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA
Senator Sullivan. Good morning, everybody. Earlier this
month, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard
carried out a number of incredible rescue missions, saving nine
people from a commercial fishing vessel that ran aground on St.
George Island.
Closer to home, a larger scale heroic number of rescues
followed Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska, where some of our
smaller communities were hit by this massive typhoon. Our Coast
Guard, working with the National Guard, rescued 51 Alaskans in
the middle of the night during a typhoon. These missions are a
powerful reminder that the Coast Guard's work is not abstract.
It is immediate, dangerous, and often the difference between
life and death for Americans
Today's hearing, and I am very honored to have our newly
confirmed Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral
Kevin Lunday, is about making sure the historic investments
Congress made in the United States Coast Guard translate into
real operational capability where it matters most, when it
matters most.
Just to remind folks, and I try to remind everybody in
Alaska about this, last year during the budget reconciliation
bill, what we now refer to as the Working Families Tax Cuts
Act, the Congress of the United States, working with the Trump
administration, made the biggest investment in the Coast Guard
in American history; $25 billion.
Now, I like to say the Coast Guard has a great culture,
similar to the Marine Corps, in my view, an ethos of, ``Hey, we
can do more with less. Don't worry, it's OK. We know we have
50-year-old helicopters and cutters and icebreakers, but we can
do more with less.''
Well, it's time, in my view, of the Coast Guard to do more
with more. And that's what we're able to do in this budget
reconciliation bill. The numbers which the Coast Guard needs
are historic in that $25 billion; 16 new Icebreakers. By the
way, we have two, and one is broken. And the Russians have 54.
It's time to close that Icebreaker gap.
Almost $4.5 billion to repair, replace shoreside facilities
and aging infrastructure. 22 new Coast Guard cutters, including
OPCs and FRCs. 40 new helicopters, mostly H-60, 6 new C-130J
aircraft. This is, as I mentioned, the biggest investment in
Coast Guard history.
And I think everybody, including members who didn't vote
for the bill, thought that it was time to do that for the Coast
Guard. So, well, I mean, I think had it been just that bill,
you guys probably would have voted for it. It's a great
bipartisan achievement, and we are very, very excited about it.
The Coast Guard is being asked to do more across every
theater; counter drug missions in the Caribbean and Eastern
Pacific, complex law enforcement actions against sanctioned
dark fleet tankers, sustained operations in the Indo-Pacific,
in the Middle East, search and rescue, combating illegal,
unreported, unregulated fishing, what we call IUU fishing. At
the same time, it must manage operational risk while
transitioning from platforms that, as I mentioned, are decades
beyond their intended service lives.
Nowhere is the need for this investment clearer and more
prominent than in the Arctic. Just months ago, I was with
Admiral Lunday: For the first time ever, we commissioned and
started a home port in American icebreaker where the ice is, in
Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard, the Storis, designated to be
homeported in Juneau, Alaska, represents a generational
investment in the Coast Guard in our national security. It also
marks a long overdue shift in how the United States approaches
the Arctic, not as a distant afterthought, but as a core
strategic domain.
I'd like to show a slide here. As the only Arctic state, we
focus on what's going on in the Arctic a lot. And there is a
lot going on in the Arctic. Our adversaries, particularly
Russia and China, are all over the place in America's Arctic,
in our EEZ, in our ADIZ. You flip that slide over, this gives
you the number of incursions from Russian strategic bombers and
Chinese Navy assets.
And very alarmingly, the green is joint Russian-Chinese
operations in America's Arctic. Strategic bomber task forces,
joint and Navy task forces in our EEZ. Joint green, that's
joint Russian-Chinese. The Chinese were off the coast of Alaska
all summer. There was a really important Wall Street Journal
article about this just a couple weeks ago. I'd like to submit
it for the record, without objection. It's called, ``China's
Push to Master the Arctic Ocean Opens an Alarming Shortcut to
the U.S.''
[The information referred to follows.]
December 29, 2025
The Wall Street Journal
China's Push to Master the Arctic Opens an Alarming Shortcut to U.S.
By Daniel Michaels and Sune Engle Rasmussen
Chinese research submarines for the first time traveled thousands
of feet beneath the Arctic ice this summer, a technical feat with
chilling military and commercial implications for America and its
allies.
U.S. national-security officials say the Chinese undersea
expeditions offer fresh evidence of a growing threat from China in the
Arctic region, known as the High North. This year, Chinese military and
research vessels have operated around Alaska's Arctic waters in
unprecedented numbers, the Dept. of Homeland Security reported in
November.
For China, mastery of Arctic travel could yield valuable data about
the natural resources awaiting below melting ice caps, significantly
reduce travel time for commercial shipping and position nuclear-armed
submarines closer to potential targets, including the U.S., say Western
marine strategists and military officials.
``The Chinese are being more and more aggressive'' across the High
North, said U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top military
leader of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Chinese vessels on
research missions often give cover to military purposes, he said.
China has declared itself a ``near-Arctic power,'' an informal
designation Beijing hopes will place it alongside the U.S. and Russia.
China's Foreign Ministry says its activities in the Arctic are
reasonable and lawful, ``contributing to the maintenance and promotion
of peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.''
Beijing views future sea routes through the High North as a
shortcut for global commerce, a so-called Polar Silk Road. China this
summer sent a cargo ship to the Polish port of Gdansk by skirting the
North Pole, a route twice as fast as travel times using the Suez Canal.
Chinese officials have said they plan to expand trans-Arctic cargo
traffic with Russia, particularly imports of liquefied natural gas.
During the Cold War, the Arctic marked a front line dividing NATO
members and Moscow. Its waters offered Russia gateways to the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, which the U.S. and its allies closely patrolled
until the early 1990s--and are now policing again.
Arctic waters provide a military advantage because of the North
Pole's proximity to other nations. The U.S. in 1959 sent the world's
third nuclear submarine there to pop up from under ice, delivering a
potent warning to the Kremlin. Moscow reciprocated in 1962. Today, the
two rivals are again dispatching submarines on Arctic exercises.
Tensions over the High North, renewed by Russia's invasion of
Ukraine, are being amplified by China's reach. The U.S. and its allies
expect Beijing will be able to send armed submarines to the North Pole
within a few years. China already has military-grade surface vessels in
the Arctic region while expanding its fleet of ice-breaking ships.
The U.S. and allies are training more Arctic troops in response to
new dangers. They have beefed up sub-hunting patrols out of Iceland and
other locations. President Trump struck a shipbuilding deal with
Finland to expand the U.S. icebreaker fleet and has pressured Denmark
into expanding defenses on and around Greenland.
Grynkewich in December put NATO members Denmark, Sweden and Finland
under the alliance's Atlantic and Arctic command to bolster the defense
of the High North, citing ``the alignment of our adversaries.''
Chinese and Russian military planes last year flew patrols near
Alaska for the first time, with Chinese long-range bombers operating
from a Russian air base.
Such cooperation not only gives China new abilities to strike North
America but raises the prospect of a joint attack by America's most
powerful adversaries, Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the
North American Aerospace Defense Command, or Norad, told Congress in
April.
`Basically warships'
China in 2015 updated its national-security law to include
defending national interests in polar regions, seeking unfettered
access to new sea lanes and resources, said Ryan Martinson, an
associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College's China Maritime
Studies Institute. There is much evidence, he said, that China's goal
is to conduct naval operations in the Arctic Ocean.
Beijing says its commercial and research vessels in Arctic waters
are peaceful. That was accurate until recently, according to Rob Bauer,
a retired Dutch admiral who served as one of NATO's top military
officials until this year. Beijing, in addition to staging joint air
patrols with Russia, is now sailing coast guard vessels that resemble
frigates near the Alaska coast, he said.
``They're basically warships, but they're painted white,'' Bauer
said. Joint patrols with Russian navy ships indicate China's aim is
gaining military advantage, he said, not coastal security. When more
ice melts along international waterways in the High North, the same
shortcuts used by commercial vessels could speed China's navy into the
Atlantic, he said.
Arctic travel by Beijing's commercial and scientific vessels
benefits China's navy by gaining experience and data about a region
relatively new to its military leaders. China's policies merge its
civilian and military spheres, aiming to strengthen its armed forces
through collaboration with universities, research institutions and
defense companies.
Beijing's polar exploration echoes its military expansion in the
South China Sea. China launched research expeditions and published
academic papers about the region almost 20 years ago. In 2013, Beijing
used what it learned to begin building artificial islands that now hold
military air bases, according to intelligence officials from the U.S.
and Pacific allies.
In the Arctic, the U.S. and NATO worry most about subsea warfare.
Submarine navigation relies on detailed knowledge of ocean-floor
topography and undersea conditions. China is cataloging the world's
oceans to build computer models to guide submarines and help them evade
detection, military experts say.
``China doesn't field the world's largest fleet of oceanographic
survey ships because they want to save the whales,'' said Hunter
Stires, a naval strategist who until this year advised the Secretary of
the Navy. ``China aims to take the lead in marine and climate science
because understanding the ocean and the climate is a critical enabler
to success in naval operations, particularly in anti-submarine
warfare.''
U.S. analysts say data China gathered from its Arctic dives north
of Alaska and Greenland isn't just about studying climate change, as
Beijing's state news agency reports, but also to educate the Chinese
navy, which operates relatively noisy submarines that are easily
tracked by U.S. forces.
Arctic ice impedes airborne submarine detection that works in other
oceans. Water temperature layers and changing salinity from melting ice
interfere with sonar. Icebergs colliding and the chatter of marine
mammals generate sounds that complicate submarine detection.
Information gathered on Chinese Arctic voyages enables its scientists
to build computer models of undersea conditions, which its navy can
later tap to plot routes allowing them to operate more freely in the
open sea.
China's ultimate aim, said Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-
Pacific Command, is to end ``American undersea dominance,'' he told a
conference in Canada in 2024. To help Beijing reach that goal, Paparo
said, ``I expect Russia to provide submarine technology.''
Partners of convenience
Beijing sells Russia electronics and components for military
equipment Moscow needs to wage its war in Ukraine, and ships civilian
products restricted by international sanctions over the war.
Western military officials believe Russia is repaying China's help,
in part, by sharing advanced technologies in space, stealth aircraft
and undersea warfare. Russia's nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed
submarines, and its agility in deploying them, have kept the country a
superpower, despite its economic decline since the breakup of the
Soviet Union.
China is already mastering other complex naval domains. It now
deploys three aircraft carriers, among the most demanding surface
warships to build, manage and deploy effectively. Only the U.S. has
more.
Both Beijing and the U.S. are short of vessels capable of
navigating thick Arctic ice compared with Russia, which has more than
40. China last year commissioned its fifth icebreaker. The U.S. has
only two such vessels in operation, and Trump is buying more.
After years of development, China launched its first domestically
built icebreaker in 2019 with Finnish help. Last year, it built and
deployed its first domestically designed icebreaker in 10 months, a
swift accomplishment noted with worry in Arctic countries.
Russia also has advocated for greater Chinese involvement in
governance of the High North and invited China to develop
infrastructure in Arctic Russia. The two nations created a working
group in 2023 to develop northern sea routes. They agreed to coordinate
Arctic maritime law-enforcement, initiated by their recent joint
patrols.
``China wants to shape rules before they are settled,'' said David
Cattler, a former U.S. intelligence officer and NATO Assistant
Secretary-General for intelligence and security. ``Early presence
shapes future influence.''
China's expanding presence and influence in the Arctic helps Russia
now, but it might prove to be a problem for Moscow later, Western
military officials said. Since the Cold War, the Arctic has offered
Russia a remote sanctuary for much of its nuclear arsenal. Until now,
only the U.S. could seriously threaten Russian bases or military assets
there.
Chinese vessels operating north of Russia could complicate matters
for Moscow, especially if the national interests of the two countries
diverge and the current ``no-limits partnership'' breaks down.
``Chinese operations in the High North are as direct a challenge to
Russia as to any other power,'' Stires said.
For now, Western countries are the ones sounding the alarm about
China's naval advance in the Arctic.
French Adm. Pierre Vandier, who oversees NATO's efforts to prepare
for future warfare, sees the possibility of China's navy sailing from
the Pacific to the Atlantic over the Arctic, bypassing more easily
observed and defended routes through the Suez or Panama canals or
around South Africa.
``For all of us, for NATO and the U.S., it means the threat that is
in the Pacific is ubiquitous,'' Vandier said in an interview. ``If we
have Asian forces in the Atlantic, it would be a huge game-changer. And
we need to be prepared for that.''
Senator Sullivan. They weren't doing research. They were
spying on us, and everybody knows it. So, the Arctic is another
key place where the Coast Guard with its new significant
investment dollars, is going to be making much more important
investments to protect the northern domain of America. I'd like
to again commend Admiral Lunday for his great work on this
issue as well. But it's just one area that the Coast Guard's
global demands have to be met.
So, what we want to do in this hearing is not just focus on
the Arctic. I'll do that significantly, but I'm sure my
colleagues want to have a better sense of the Coast Guard's
force posture, lay-down global deployments, workforce
decisions, and importantly, how the Coast Guard sees its
ability to rapidly deploy the investments that the Congress and
the Trump administration made this past summer, again, the most
significant investments in Coast Guard history. It's about
time.
We are very fortunate to have with us Admiral Kevin Lunday,
the Commandant of the Coast Guard, who was confirmed at the end
of last year at a pivotal moment for the service. Admiral, we
appreciate your leadership, your willingness to discuss
candidly how the Coast Guard is manning operational risks,
global deployments, acquisition execution as these historic
investments begin to come online.
So, I would now like to offer the statements from my
Ranking Member, Senator Blunt Rochester, at this important
hearing.
STATEMENT OF HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM DELAWARE
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
To you, Admiral Lunday, welcome back, to your team as well, and
thank you for being here for today's hearing.
I want to first congratulate you in person, and just say
also thank you so much for your responsiveness. As this year
has gone by, whenever I text you, whenever I called, you
responded so promptly. And I want to thank you and your team
for your responsiveness.
I also want to say how just proud we are of the Coast Guard
in this country. And as you know, I got the opportunity to be
with some of the Coasties in Delaware and spend some very good
quality time. And so, I think on behalf of all of us, I know
established in 1790, I think it was, you have stood the test of
time, and we're pleased to see that today we can talk about the
future. Your leadership is especially important as we enter
into a new era of modernizing the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard recently received the historic $25 billion
investment. And so, while you're poised to revolutionize your
ability to counter emerging global threats and protect
mariners, fishermen, and marine environments, this is a moment
that is going to really present clear opportunities for you to
show your leadership.
And so, today, we will talk about that blueprint, Force
Design 2028, and the investments that were made. We will also
talk about how do we guarantee success. The question before us
is whether the Coast Guard can convert all of that funding into
something that is sustainable, long-term improvements that will
correctly anticipate the growing maritime threats from global
actors, as our Chairman has shared, and from competitors as
well, and keep us safe at the same time.
I think it's also important to know that the reason this
hearing is so vital is that Congress and the American people
need to know how do we go from the blueprint, to the plan, to
execution. And in your testimony that I received last night,
you're already making a lot of steps very quickly in that
regard. But what you do every day is connected to our safety,
our economy, and our national security.
Again, reading through your testimony last night, I am
really eager to especially focus on your plans to recruit, and
train, and retain a workforce as you leverage this increase in
assets, as well as the rapid increase in assets. And again,
this isn't just about investing in vessels, it is also about
investing in the people. And I was pleased to see in your
testimony, that's where you started, with workforce.
It also means ensuring that Coast Guard families have
access to affordable housing, good health care, and quality
child care, because it's our responsibility to take care of the
Coast Guard at home so that you can serve our country with
confidence at sea.
A large part of investing is investing in training. And
that's why I want to recognize the critical role of the Coast
Guard's training institutions, whether it's Woods Hole, Rhode
Island, or Coast Guard Boot Camp in Illinois, or the training
center, Cape May, which is just across the bay from Delaware.
These institutions remain foundational to Coast Guard personnel
development.
So, Admiral, again, thank you so much for the
responsiveness, for your service, and the service of all of the
Coasties and their families. And I look forward to your
testimony, and discussing how your leadership will guide the
Coast Guard through this critical period.
And Mr. Chairman, thank you. I yield back.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you. And Admiral, I want to
introduce you again. Recently confirmed as the 28th Commandant
of the U.S. Coast Guard after serving as the 34th Vice
Commandant, previously also commanded the Coast Guard Atlantic
Area, and led at the district level in the Indo-Pacific.
So, thank you for being here. You are now recognized for
five minutes for your opening statement.
STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL KEVIN E. LUNDAY, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Member
Blunt, Rochester, distinguished members of this subcommittee.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and represent
our Coast Guard men and women. Chairman, I ask that my written
testimony be entered into the record.
Senator Sullivan. Without objection.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, and thank you for the
Subcommittee's strong support for our Coast Guard, especially
our people. For over 235 years, America has depended on the
Coast Guard to ensure our national security and economic
prosperity. In the face of unprecedented challenges, including
adversary threats to our sovereignty, prosperity, and way of
life, the Nation needs a strong, capable, and more ready Coast
Guard now more than ever before.
With the leadership and support from President Trump, and
Secretary Noem, and this Congress, the Coast Guard is better
positioned than it was one year ago to achieve operational
control of the border and maritime approaches, facilitate the
flow of commerce, and rapidly respond to crisis.
Through Force Design 2028 and the historic $25 billion
investment through budget reconciliation, we are renewing the
Coast Guard to become a more agile, capable, and responsive
fighting force. Your continued strong support, including for
sustained, higher annual top-line growth in our appropriation,
is vital to our continued success.
2025 was a historic year for the Coast Guard in delivering
mission results with record-setting outcomes. Two examples: we
interdicted over 510,000 pounds of cocaine at sea that was
headed for the United States. That's over 193 million
potentially lethal doses that would have otherwise reached
American communities.
And we saved an additional 5,000-plus lives through search
and rescue operations, including over 290 following devastating
storms in Texas, in Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. All of
this while implementing Force Design 2028 as the most sweeping
service transformation in more than a century.
Our operations continue. In the past two months, in the
Caribbean and North Atlantic, Coast Guard tactical teams and
cutters conducted high-profile boardings of dark vessel
tankers, enforcing U.S. and customary international law, along
with others, to stop illegal activity, including sanctions
violations and funding of narco-terrorism.
In the polar regions, the Nation's only heavy icebreaker,
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, commissioned 50 years ago this
week, is right now conducting icebreaking operations vital to
the resupply of America's McMurdo Station in Antarctica. But
Polar Star is only one of three operational U.S. polar
icebreakers, so we're rapidly expanding our icebreaking fleet
to secure our northern border and maritime approaches in the
Arctic.
Under the President's leadership and direction, we're
moving to expand our icebreaking capacity with the construction
of 11 Arctic security cutters. We recently awarded two
contracts to rapidly build and deliver six Arctic security
cutters, two to a shipyard in Finland, four to a shipyard in
the United States. And we're working on awarding additional
contract for five more that will onshore more shipbuilding into
U.S. shipyards and strengthen America's industrial base.
But assets do not make the Coast Guard, our people do. We
must grow our workforce, and support the readiness of our men
and women, and their families. We must increase annual
operating funds to provide our people and their families the
housing, childcare, medical care, training, and the support
services they need to be able to serve and serve successfully.
Last year, the budget reconciliation funded
recapitalization of aging assets and new technology needed for
the Coast Guard to rebuild readiness. We've already obligated
$7.8 billion, and will obligate over $20 billion, 75 percent of
the full amount, by the end of this year to deliver new
cutters, boats, aircraft, shore infrastructure, and technology.
But this is a down payment. We need significant, sustained
higher annual top-line growth, especially in our operating
funds, starting with the 2026 appropriation. Any lapse in
appropriation disrupts our ability to conduct operations,
rebuild readiness, and deliver value to the American people.
Any shutdown means that many of our people will go without pay,
even while they have to continue working, which is an
unwarranted financial hardship.
I urge the Congress in strongest terms, to pass a budget
now that funds the Coast Guard and pays our people. I also ask
for the Senate's support to put the full Coast Guard senior
leadership team in place by confirming the President's nominees
for our Vice Commandant, our four Vice Admiral positions, and
our other Presidential nominees. The new leadership team is
critical to our success now.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
[The prepared statement of Admiral Lunday follows:]
Prepared Statement of Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant,
United States Coast Guard
Chairman Sullivan, Ranking Member Blunt Rochester, and
distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the
opportunity to testify before you today on the Coast Guard's
transformation and the historic results we are delivering for the
American people.
As a vital instrument of national power, the U.S. Coast Guard
controls, secures, and defends the U.S. border and maritime approaches,
facilitates the safe and secure flow of commerce that is vital to
economic prosperity and strategic mobility, and responds to crises and
contingencies that may come without warning. As part of the Department
of Homeland Security team protecting our Nation and as a military
service and part of the Joint Force defending it, every action the
Coast Guard takes delivers value through our statutory missions. The
American people depend on the Coast Guard, and the Service provides
unmatched return on investment, generating more than $74 billion in
social and economic value through cost avoidance--representing a 6-to-1
return on taxpayer investment.
Thanks to the strong leadership and support of President Trump,
Secretary Noem, and this Congress, the Coast Guard is emerging from a
readiness crisis that was decades in the making. In May 2025, Secretary
Noem launched Force Design 2028, a bold blueprint to transform the
Service into a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force.
Coupled with the capital investment passed by Congress and signed into
law by the President of nearly $25 billion in the Working Families Tax
Cut, the Coast Guard is executing the most significant modernization
and recapitalization in at least a century.
My top priorities are conducting our statutory missions to deliver
value to the American people and transforming the Coast Guard by
executing Force Design 2028, fueled by the historic capital investment
to rebuild the readiness of the Service, starting with our workforce.
As detailed in the first update on Force Design 2028 released on
January 15, 2026, our remarkable mission success in 2025 is already
proving the importance of Force Design 2028 and setting the course for
even greater achievements in 2026.
In 2025, Coast Guard forces seized over 511,000 pounds of drugs,
more than any year in the Service's history, and over three times the
annual average--representing over 193 million potentially lethal doses
and subsequently avoiding $2.3 billion in healthcare costs. We achieved
record-setting recruiting results, bringing in more than 6,000 active-
duty and reserve enlisted members, our best recruiting year since 1991.
And we conducted thousands of search and rescue cases, saving 5,220
lives and assisting 19,437.
Starting in March, we launched three major operations to secure the
U.S. border. Through Operation Border Trident, we achieved operational
control of the border against illegal immigration and drug smuggling in
the California coastal region, increasing interdictions by 44 percent
over 2024 levels. In August, we surged additional assets to the Eastern
Pacific under Operation Pacific Viper, seizing over 100,000 pounds of
narcotics in less than three months. And through Operation River Wall,
we deployed assets and tactical teams to secure 260 river miles of the
U.S. border along the Rio Grande River.
Last summer, the Coast Guard acquired Cutter Storis, the first
icebreaker to join the fleet in over 25 years. Under Operation Frontier
Sentinel, Cutters Storis, Healy, and Waesche intercepted and chased
away five Chinese research vessels operating over the U.S. extended
continental shelf in the Arctic, reflecting our enduring operations to
protect U.S. sovereign rights.
Simultaneously, the Coast Guard facilitated the safe movement of
over 1.8 billion tons of cargo, a 13 percent increase over 2024,
through U.S. ports and waterways and responded to catastrophic flooding
events in Central Texas, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, rescuing
over 290 people. In the past few weeks, Coast Guard elite tactical
teams conducted high-profile boardings of ``dark fleet'' tankers,
enforcing U.S. and customary international law with the Departments of
Justice, State, and War. Across all our statutory missions, Coast Guard
men and women continue to set a new standard for operational
excellence.
Beyond our historic operational successes in 2025, the Coast Guard
is moving at speed and scale to modernize our capabilities, employ
cutting-edge technology, and invest in our people. In just seven
months, we have obligated $7.8 billion of Working Families Tax Cut
funding to begin restoring readiness. By the end of this Fiscal Year,
we will obligate over $20 billion of that funding to deliver new
cutters, boats, aircraft, shore infrastructure, and technology. Moving
forward, significant, sustained increases in annual operating funds are
necessary to crew, maintain, and operate these assets.
In the coming months, the Coast Guard will implement several
significant structural changes and investments, including:
Establishing a Deployable Specialized Forces Command;
Expanding training center facility capacity;
Enhancing maritime domain dominance through Coastal
Sentinel;
Rapidly identifying, testing, and acquiring new operational
assets; and
Reducing bureaucracy and revolutionizing how the Coast Guard
organizes, trains, equips, and employs its forces.
Force Design 2028 is already delivering results. The Coast Guard is
now stronger, more capable, and better prepared than it was a year ago.
We will build on these successes in 2026 and beyond We strongly support
the bipartisan efforts to provide more direct civilian leadership,
oversight and advocacy, with the establishment of a Coast Guard Service
Secretary [as passed in HR4275], reporting to the Secretary of Homeland
Security. These steps are essential to ensure enduring Coast Guard
mission success for decades to come.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your
continued support of the brave men and women of the Coast Guard.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Admiral. And I'm going to
defer my first round of questionings to the distinguished
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. And I will tell you
that Chairman Wicker cares deeply about the Coast Guard. And we
had an important victory in December where we attached the
Coast Guard Authorization Act that we worked on hard here in
this committee to the National Defense Authorization Act, which
is something I've been advocating for for years.
It makes sense to bring all of our military services
together in their Reauthorization Acts in one bill and one
vote. And that's what we achieved at the end of last year. And
we did it in large part because of the Chairman of the Armed
Services Committee.
So, I'm going to defer my first round of questioning to
Chairman Wicker.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER WICKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI
Senator Wicker. Mr. Chairman, I really do appreciate that.
And of course, much of the credit for the inclusion of that
provision in the Armed Services Authorization Bill goes to you
as a Senator from Alaska, and as a subcommittee chairman here.
So, thank you for that.
There's a lot I need to mention, and I only have a moment
or two. Let me mention Junior ROTC. You and I spoke about this,
Admiral Lunday. Thank you for whatever role you may have played
in directing that two new units be established in April of this
year, one in Oregon and one in Alaska. I think Junior ROTC is a
great citizenship builder and it helps our readiness, and I
just wish we could have twice as many because it has been
proven.
Second, Senator Schatz and I have legislation that would
require an annual plan and budget display for Coast Guard
operations in the Pacific. So, if you would speak to the
relationship that the Coast Guard and DOD have, and tell us
what you need extra of this top line that you mentioned to
increase our operation tempo in the Indo-Pacific?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your question
on the Indo-Pacific. You know, the Coast Guard--well, first of
all, the United States is not only a Pacific nation, we're also
a Pacific Island nation because of Hawaii and our three
territories there. And so, the Coast Guard's been present in
Hawaii--excuse me, in the Pacific for a very long time. And we
work very closely with the Department of War there.
And our presence has increased in the Pacific. Since I
served out there as the Commander of the Oceania District,
we've added nine additional cutters. Congress has funded in the
Fiscal Year 2024 appropriation, the addition of two more fast
response cutters to go to Guam.
We shifted a medium endurance cutter permanently to the
Pacific to increase our operations there. And the Fiscal Year
2026 appropriation, that is pending now, would add another $116
million in operating funds to improve training, engagement
teams throughout the Pacific Island nations, and to strengthen
U.S. national security and defense in the Indo-Pacific.
And so, it's a vital area of operations, and we continue to
expand our commitment and our footprint into the Indo-Pacific.
Because that's not just somewhere over there, the Indo-Pacific
for us is also the U.S. homeland because of Hawaii and our
three territories.
Senator Wicker. Do I take it from your testimony, and the
answer to the question is, we've made a good start? We've got a
lot more to do.
Admiral Lunday. Yes, sir, we do. We've made a good start,
but we have much more to do to strengthen our presence in the
Indo-Pacific.
Senator Wicker. And are you also suggesting that our plus
ups really should be part of the regular appropriations
process, ideally, rather than going through the reconciliation
process, or do you have a position on that, sir?
Admiral Lunday. Well, yes, sir. Certainly, the
reconciliation process infuses an investment that's needed, but
it really must be supported by sustained investment in the
capitalization money, and also our operating funds, because
these assets are badly needed, but it's the crews that operate
them that make the Coast Guard able to do what it does.
Senator Wicker. And the annual top line does matter,
doesn't it?
Admiral Lunday. It does, yes, sir.
Senator Wicker. Now, OK, tell us about where we are on
helicopters. We put some money in for the Jayhawks. Apparently,
we're phasing out the Dolphins, actually the MH-60 Jayhawks.
Are we moving then to a combination of that, just simply called
to the Jayhawk and not the MH-60? Where are we on that? You got
to clear us up.
Admiral Lunday. Yes, sir. Senator, the MH-60, we call our
variant the Jayhawk. And so, we are moving toward primarily,
and have been on a road to move to a 60 rotary wing fleet. We
are continuing to look at other options, and then
reconciliation investment has given that because the older 65
short-range helicopter is approaching obsolescence.
Senator Wiccker. The Dolphin.
Admiral Lunday. The Dolphin. Much harder to maintain. The
original equipment manufacturer doesn't supply parts. So, we're
phasing those out, and we're growing those.
Senator Wicker. At what time, sir?
Admiral Lunday. Well, the original was to phase them out by
2037, but we think the sunset's going to come much faster given
the obsolescence.
Senator Wicker. Because of the reality there. Well, keep us
posted on there. And again, I think we got two--Mr. Chairman,
if you'll just indulge me, we got $2 billion in last year's
reconciliation for the Jayhawks. So, keep telling us what you
need.
What are your plans for Coast Guard Station Pascagoula? I
know it's not in Alaska, but there are Coast Guard facilities
elsewhere in the country.
Admiral Lunday. I didn't know that. That's really good to
know.
Senator Wicker. Will we be returning to full response
operations according to your plans at Coast Guard Station
Pascagoula?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, sir, we will. I made a decision in
December to restore that to a full response station. We had
downgraded it in 2023 when I commanded Atlantic Area. I was
part of that because of our severe personnel shortages, and
now, we're in a position where we need to restore it to full
response operations, and we're going to do that in 2026.
Senator Wicker. Was that a mistake or just something you
had to do?
Admiral Lunday. Something we had to do, Senator, because we
were so short of personnel. But based on recruiting successes
over the last several years, we're now in a position to restore
it to full operations.
Senator Wicker. How important--and this is my last
question, Mr. Chairman, and you all have been very indulgent.
How important are autonomous systems going to be going forward?
Admiral Lunday. Well, they're critical, Senator. And we've
made investments in those systems, especially fueled by the
budget reconciliation investment. In fact, we've already, in
that $7.8 billion that we've already obligated, we've purchased
a number of short-range and medium-range autonomous systems,
both air and surface, and even subsurface. They're providing us
an ability and a capability we didn't have before to perform
our missions. And there's also funding for long-range UAS that
we haven't yet obligated, but we're on track to.
Senator Wicker. Thank you, sir, and thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator Blunt
Rochester.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think,
Admiral, I might have shared with you that in a former life, I
was head of state personnel for the state of Delaware. And so,
again, the focus on jobs. I was secretary of labor as well, and
the focus of making sure that the workforce is well-equipped,
well-trained, that you can recruit has always been sort of a
top mind of mind for me, because you can't do your mission if
you don't have the people, and you can't do the mission well if
the people aren't--you have a good culture and people feel that
they're in a good place.
And I know with Force Design 2028, it called for the
expansion of the Coast Guard by 15,000 active-duty personnel,
which is over one-third increase of the number of active
service members. Am I correct on that?
Admiral Lunday. That's correct, Ranking Member Blunt
Rochester.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Yes, and I know that it was a GAO
report last year that indicated that you were about 2,600
personnel short. Do you recall that report?
Admiral Lunday. I do, yes.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Was it accurate?
Admiral Lunday. It was close, but we're moving in the right
direction, so the numbers are changing in a positive way since
that report.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Which is a huge direction because
I saw in your testimony you indicated you hired 6,000 folks, is
that--did I read that correctly?
Admiral Lunday. Last year, we finished with over 5,200, so
near 6,000, and we're on track to reach 6,000 already this
year.
Senator Blunt Rochester. OK. So, would you say you're at
full strength for what you're trying to do now?
Admiral Lunday. Well, we're almost back to restoring that
deficit, that 10 percent shortage in our enlisted workforce. I
think by the end of the summer or early fall, we'll have been
out of that and well positioned to keep growing the force
toward that 15,000 number.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Can you talk a little bit about
what you did to be so successful in that recruitment? Were
there specific things that you did differently? Were there
things that you said we're not going to do that anymore? Can
you talk a little bit about how you have been able to so far
make this kind of progress in a year?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you for the question, because it
really highlights the importance of our recruiting effort. And
I think we're going to need a level of effort that we've put
into recruiting going forward.
We're never going to go back to a situation where we can
just expect people to know and want to join the Coast Guard.
We've got to tell our story better. And so, we invested in the
people, and the talent, and the expertise, and technology to be
able to recruit, to tell, reach all parts of the United States,
attract the best young men and women who have a propensity to
serve and want to serve their country, and then recruit them
into the country.
And that's involved opening more recruiting offices,
including in places we didn't have them, or haven't had them
for a long time, like the Midwest, and then using technology to
be able to reach young people where they operate, where they
live, where they consume information, rather than the
traditional methods that I was used to, that used to recruit me
a long time ago.
Senator Blunt Rochester. And when I saw the number 15,000,
that's significant. And I was thinking, how will you--do you
think you'll be able to sustain that pace of--you hired nearly
6,000. Do you think you will be able to sustain that pace, and
what do you think it will take to do that?
Admiral Lunday. Well, it's really important, Ranking
Member, because it's not only on the recruiting side. We need
to have that training capacity in our system. First, at
Training Center Cape May, where there's a significant
investment to improve and expand our capability there, but also
in our follow-on training for our force. And so, that's one of
the key parts, is expanding that training capacity and the
ability to develop our people. That becomes critical.
But it's driven by an increase in our operating funding.
Just to give one quick example, the 11 Arctic security cutters
that we're building at the President's direction, that will
require 1,300 new Coast Guard people that don't exist today to
be able to operate those.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Wow. And so, therefore, again, the
investment in training is so important because that doesn't
exist today. Can you also talk about--I know there are plans to
build over a dozen new vessels with this funding that you
received. How long does it take to build a ship like a polar
ice cutter?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Ranking Member, what we've done is
taken a new approach where that is enabling us to move at speed
and scale in a way we haven't before. First, the budget
reconciliation gave relief from Chapter 11 and Title 14 for the
pre-acquisition activities. Originally, thought it was a way to
reduce risk, it actually slowed us down by bogging us down with
a lot of work before we could move ahead with an acquisition.
We've also gotten rid of these long hundreds of pages of
boutique requirements, and we've leaned more on the commercial
industry with more basic requirements so they can move faster
with the funding in hand. And so, we are going to be delivering
these assets much faster than we have in the past.
Senator Blunt Rochester. I guess one question, and I know I
am now over my time, and I don't know if we're going to have a
second round----
Senator Sullivan. We will, yes.
Senator Blunt Rochester. OK. Well, then I will yield here
and come back for a second round. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Sullivan. Admiral, I just want you to re-emphasize
kind of what's at stake in the next couple days. If there's a
government shutdown, another one, which we don't need, it would
be unnecessary. By the way, I know some of my colleagues on the
other side of the aisle are talking about doing it because they
don't want to fund ICE. ICE is going to be funded no matter
what. They were funded in the budget reconciliation bill. So,
shutting down the government is not going to starve them of
funds, but it will starve our Coast Guard of funds, and the men
and women of the Coast Guard, and FEMA, and others.
Can you again just really emphasize that. I think in
previous government shutdowns, the Coast Guard has really, in
some ways, borne the brunt of some of these shutdowns. It's not
right. And I really would like you to kind of emphasize that a
little bit more just on what would happen. It would just be
completely unnecessary. We don't need to do this again.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is critically
important. The first thing is our people. When there's a lapse,
they worry about whether they're going to get paid and when
they're going to get paid. And it brings financial hardship. It
brings worry and concern for them and for their family members.
And when they're trying to be focused on being ready and
serving their country, both our military and our civilian
personnel, then that's a key factor to our ability to get the
mission done safely.
It also, they may want to, they're not sure they want to
keep serving sometimes if they're not sure they're going to get
paid on time. And then, beyond that, it interrupts our ability
to do the growth that we need to do in Force Design 2028,
transform the service. So, that keeping an appropriation in
place, not having a lapse, is critically important.
Senator Sullivan. Well, I hope all my colleagues hear that,
understand that. It's just, I don't know, it wouldn't be
constructive in any way, but particularly the Coast Guard being
hurt, and the members and the families and the stress, as you
mentioned. So, let's not go there.
I do want to talk about the Arctic. You and I talked about
an op-ed that was written by Alice Rogoff, who I know well,
just in the Washington Post a couple days ago on the importance
of the Arctic. This was similar to one that I wrote in the Wall
Street Journal about a year ago called, ``Greenland is Nice,
but Alaska is Better.'' I'd like to submit that for the record.
[The information referred to follows.]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Senator Sullivan. Everyone's talking about Greenland, which
is strategic to Alaska, has in way more than--we already own
Alaska. It's a great state. It's my state.
So, anyway, but let's talk about the Arctic. And the
icebreaker numbers are great. We have this icebreaker gap with
Russia, heck, with China. They're not even an Arctic nation,
and I think they have more icebreakers than we do. So, we're
going to close that gap, which everybody wants to see. That's a
very bipartisan issue here. It has been something I've been
focused on my entire career here.
We're starting on a really good front with the Storis.
being homeported and commissioned recently, but homeported in
Juneau. It was a great event that you and I had the opportunity
to attend back in Alaska and Juneau in August. At the
commissioning, the budget reconciliation bill has $300 million
for the shoreside infrastructure to home port the Storis in
Juneau.
How do you think that's going? And are we on time, on
schedule? As you know, in the previous Coast Guard
Reauthorization Act, we were able to get the land transferred
from NOAA to the Coast Guard to help that. But you think that's
going well, and how can we keep pedal to the metal on all these
issues?
Part of the hearing is that we want to accelerate the great
opportunities that exist in the Coast Guard across the country,
across the world, and certainly in my state.
Admiral Lunday. Well, Mr. Chairman, thank you. On Storis,
thank you for the support and the budget reconciliation for the
$300 million to support the pier and the waterfront facilities
to permanently home port Storis there.
And so, we're moving quickly to be able to execute that
funding, and have that pier and infrastructure there ready by
2029. What we still need to do, as we've talked, is to get the
funding for the housing. As you know, the housing in Juneau is
not adequate, and so we need funding to be able to be able to
have the adequate housing that will support the crew and the
families.
Senator Sullivan. And if you put that through your
requests? I'm very confident that this committee and the
Congress will be strongly supportive of that.
Let me go to the next issue you and I have spoken a lot
about. You know, as you mentioned, the next phase of all these
Coast Guard cutters, the heavies, the mediums, the smaller
ones, I'm sure Senator Baldwin's going to ask about the ones
for the Great Lakes.
But I know we're looking at some, especially for the
mediums, the decision around--or not decision, homeporting
around 2028. You and I have talked about, I've said publicly, I
can't imagine that you wouldn't have significant more Coast
Guard cutters where the ice is, where the action is, as I just
said, in Alaska. I know you're not there yet. I know your
team's looking at the homeporting decisionmaking.
But can you give me a sense of that, the direction you've
given your team? I certainly would anticipate as the Chairman
of this committee, a couple more icebreakers being homeported
in the Arctic where the ice is, and that means Alaska.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And we've talked
about this before, sir. The speed that we're moving to build
the Arctic security cutters means we're going to have to assign
the people very soon, and we're going to have to make decisions
in consultation with the department, and then, in communication
with Congress on what those homeporting decisions will be. And
that'll happen in 2026.
Part of the planning, I've guidance, I've given to my team
as they present options to me, and I discuss them with the
Secretary, is to start with an option that includes homeporting
Arctic security cutters in the state of Alaska.
Senator Sullivan. Great. I appreciate that very much. And
hopefully, we can, you know, when we're talking 2026, you know,
I'll keep pressing you guys. I think first quarter, second
quarter at the latest, we want to get moving on that. But I
appreciate your leadership on that. And with that, Senator
Baldwin.
STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY BALDWIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN
Senator Baldwin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Over the last
several years, the Coast Guard has received significant
increased funding, as was being discussed, nearly $25 billion
from the reconciliation bill passed last year. This committee,
however, has received shockingly little information about how,
when, and where the Coast Guard plans on spending those funds.
Admiral Lunday, it is my expectation that the Coast Guard
will promptly provide information to this committee on all the
programs allocated funding in last year's reconciliation bill.
And I want to particularly focus on the light and medium ice-
breaking cutters, which received about $800 million in that $25
billion package. These new cutters are meant to replace the
aging Bay-class and smaller ice-breaking tugs.
So, Admiral Lunday, can you provide additional information
on the Coast Guard's plan to acquire new light and medium
icebreakers, including how that $800 million will be split
between those programs?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you, because our domestic
icebreaking capability in our ports, waterways, and in the
Great Lakes is critically important. And the funding and
reconciliation to replace those medium and light icebreaking
capabilities is critically important.
We did a solicitation, asked for information from industry
because we're taking a commercial approach so we can, again,
move at speed and scale to deliver these much faster than we
otherwise would. And we've gotten that input back on both the
light and the medium variance, and we're analyzing that
information right now as we develop an acquisition plan to move
forward with acquiring the light and the medium ice-breaking
capability. So, we don't have a specific breakdown of which of
the numbers of each variant yet, but we're working toward that.
As to the plan you asked about, I've directed my staff this
morning, and I will be prepared to brief and update members of
the Committee, and also staffs, on the current status of our
overall reconciliation execution. And so, we look forward to
providing that briefing to you and to the staff as well.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you. I was very disappointed when
the President announced that many of the Coast Guard's new
icebreakers would be primarily constructed overseas. The United
States has a long and very proud tradition of constructing
effective icebreakers, including in my state of Wisconsin. So,
I believe that that money would be better spent at home.
So, Admiral Lunday, does the Coast Guard intend to build
the light and medium icebreakers domestically?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, yes. Our plan is to build those in
domestic U.S. shipyards with American workers.
Senator Baldwin. That's music to my ears. As you might be
aware, Admiral Lunday, last fall, the Navy cut the contract for
the Constellation-class frigates that were being constructed in
Wisconsin. Following the cuts to that contract, the Navy
suggested the possibility of helping the Coast Guard out with
speeding up the procurement of a second Great Lakes heavy
icebreaker, which I also hope will be built in Wisconsin.
So, Admiral, have you had any discussions with the Navy
regarding that possibility, the possible options to speed up
procurement of a 7-second heavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question. First,
acquiring a second Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as
capable as the Mackinaw remains one of my top priorities for
the Coast Guard.
We talk with the Navy regularly on their acquisitions and
ours because we are always coordinating about how we use and
leverage the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. I haven't spoken
with CNO Caudle directly on Fincantieri and the Great Lakes
icebreaker specifically, but Fincantieri and other yards in the
Great Lakes region are a critical part of the U.S. Defense
Industrial Base.
And so, we look to award contracts to U.S. shipbuilders. We
hope that those yards, shipyards that build great American
ships, including those in the Great Lakes, will be competing
for Coast Guard work.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you. And you testified before this
committee last fall and agreed that it was important to
construct a second heavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes.
Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues did not include any
funding for the icebreaker in the reconciliation package that
we've just discussed, a very hearty $25 billion, including a
very significant focus on icebreakers.
So, do you commit to continuing to seek funding to
construct the second heavy icebreaker in future budget
requests?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Senator, we do. I thank the Committee
for the support in the 2024 budget for initial $20 million. In
our 2026 unfunded priorities list, there's a request for an
additional $35 million to complete the analyze and select
phase.
I would say that the relief we got in Chapter 11, Title 14
requirements in reconciliation, if we had the Congress's
support to extend that relief to other major acquisitions like
the Great Lakes icebreaker, it would enable us to move much
faster to be able to procure and build that icebreaker.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you for that information.
Senator Sullivan. OK. Senator Sheehy.
STATEMENT OF HON. TIM SHEEHY,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA
Senator Sheehy. Morning, Admiral. How are you? I don't know
if we already covered icebreakers. Sorry, I just came in, but
have we already talked about icebreakers?
Senator Sullivan. We've started, we're continuing, and
we're not done yet.
Senator Sheehy. All right. Well, if you already
thoroughly----
Senator Sullivan. Join the party.
Senator Sheehy. No, if we've already beat that one to
death, then I don't need to. I don't need to hit it more.
So, I am curious about back when I was in service, we had a
pilot program with the Coast Guard that utilized the SEAL
training pipeline where we had some Coast Guard officers go
through SEAL training with the intent of enhancing your ability
to do VBSS and interdiction operations. That program was
subsequently shut down. And of course, in light of recent
events, I think we're seeing that the spirit of that program is
very much still in demand.
What is the current outlook on the Coast Guard as far as
enhancing that? Because Visit, Board, Search, And Seizure,
underway capture of vessels is probably the most high-risk
mission our armed forces do. We've lost many SEALs over the
years. FBI agents, actually a couple with that went through
SEAL training with me were killed a few years ago doing
training of that.
So, I'm curious what the Coast Guard's current plan is to
invest in that capability and enhance it. Because like I said,
I was there present when a decision was made to invest in it,
and then that decision was made to divest of that.
Admiral Lunday. Senator, thank you for the question. You
know, the Coast Guard has been investing and spending time
building out our advanced interdiction capability in our
maritime security response teams, including generating a second
team and capability on the West Coast.
The high-profile tanker, dark fleet tanker boardings that
you've seen us perform that the Coast Guard has been led by
those maritime security response teams, the direct action
sections, some of our highest and most proficient operators.
They work regularly with Naval Special Warfare and other
members of the SOCOM community.
And I've spoken with Admiral Bradley, the SOCOM Commander,
and also General Braga, Joint Special Operations Command
Commander, about how we can continue to deepen that cooperation
and interoperability going forward. I am familiar with the
original program where Coast Guard officers went through BUD/S,
the Naval Special Warfare Training. And in fact, some of those
officers continue to serve with distinction in the Navy, and we
remain close to them, and we consider them still part of our
family.
So, we haven't renewed that program, but I will take a look
at that program and whether or not that's something we should
look at. And I'll talk with Admiral Bradley about it as well.
Senator Sheehy. Yes. And I bring it up only because the
very history of Special Ops in the American military, although
it's all en vogue now with global war on terror, the history of
SOF is actually one of investment and then very quick
divestment when it's not convenient to keep the snake eaters
around. And they have long hair, and they get in trouble a lot,
and they usually drink too much.
So, the services quickly disband them, oftentimes after the
conflict's over, and then are forced to recreate that
capability again later when it's needed. And almost every
branch has made that mistake. And luckily, you know, after the
Eagle Claw mission in Iran, jointly as a military recognized,
let's institutionalize our special operations capability.
Let's build it into our doctrine, and let's ensure it's
resourced appropriately, because when we try to flex that need,
after it's already required, disaster strikes. And in
particular, the mission that your forces are specifically
tasked to do is such a high-risk mission, both from a combat
perspective, but also just from an operational perspective.
Even if you're training, it's a high-risk mission because
underways, especially if you're North Atlantic or elsewhere and
you have rotor wing assets involved, it's just a super, super
dangerous environment.
So, the only branch of our military, and I understand the
Coast Guard straddles, but the only branch of the military that
hasn't really institutionalized Special Ops as a command
capability. Understand you've always had the interdiction teams
and that, but is the Coast Guard.
So, I would recommend in light of the recent months of Op
tempo in this atmosphere to say, listen, maybe the Coast Guard
can lean into this again and institutionalize what is a
capability which you just outlined. We have the capability, but
let's make sure it's institutionalized and it's part of our
doctrine so that when you retire and someone else comes in,
they don't decide, ``Hey, we don't need this anymore. Let's
shut it down.'' Because we've done that so many times in the
military. And we don't need to beat a dead horse. But thank you
for taking a look at that. I appreciate it.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Senator. In fact, part of Force
Design is to establish a special missions command with a
dedicated flag officer focused fully on all of our deployable
specialized forces, to your point. But thank you, Senator.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Senator Sheehy. And we have a
good naval special warfare training facility in Kodiak, where
we also have the largest Coast Guard station in the country.
So, great joint ops there.
Admiral, I want to go back to just that decision, the
discussion on icebreakers. I think the world of the Coast
Guard, one of the criticisms I've heard over the years, though,
is it can sometimes be slow on the decisionmaking front, a
little bureaucratic. So, I'm hopeful that that kind of
timeline, as I just mentioned, on the Coast Guard,
decisionmaking on homeporting icebreakers can be made, sometime
first quarter, second quarter, at the very least.
Up to how many icebreakers would you potentially see in
terms of, given what we have in the budget reconciliation bill,
up to how many would you see potentially being homeported in
Alaska, and you've given your team guidance on?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, as I've told the team, in
December when I asked them to develop options, as they develop
options, one of the first ones that I want them to present
among a range of options for consideration decision, me in
consultation with Secretary Noem, is for homeporting of up to
four icebreakers in Alaska. So, although we are still pending a
decision, that's clear guidance I've given to the team.
Senator Sullivan. Great. Let me turn to your team. I was
back home over the recess. I had a great, great force lay down
briefing from your leadership team in Alaska, Captain
Culpepper, a bunch of others. He actually went to Seward with
me as well. So, I really appreciated your team's time and
effort. They took with me just last week, actually.
You know, we had--it's long history, but when I first got
here, the Coast Guard had this plan for a forced lay down. They
were looking all over the country and they were going to take
the cutters in Alaska and reduce them despite all these Arctic
challenges, which I thought was a big mistake.
So, I kind of worked very closely with the Commandant, and
during his confirmation process, got them to change that look
from seven. They wanted to go seven cutters to six, we actually
went seven to eight. And so, I got an update on that, both in
terms of the forced lay down what's happening in Seward with
the FRC.
That's coming in the Coast Guard infrastructure dollars,
both for housing, $16 million, and the shoreside
infrastructure, $50 million in Sitka, with another FRC coming
there with an additional--I think it's $66 million for the
shoreside infrastructure and the need for housing money. I
think they have $6 million there. The Kodiak plus up of MH-60s
from five to nine, and two additional OPCs that are projected
there. And I have a two-part question.
One is, how do you think those investments are going? The
money is already appropriated. It's part of the plan. There are
very strong community interests there. They love the Coast
Guard. And second, we've had this surge. It's really exciting.
It's kind of chicken and the egg of shipbuilding capacity in
Seward, in Ketchikan, even maybe in Wrangell. A lot of
companies are starting to do the shipbuilding and heavy
maintenance work. Jag is one that's an example.
As you are looking at homeporting, but also cost savings,
does it help to have someone very close that can do the heavy
maintenance overhauls, not just for Coast Guard vessels, but
some of these shipbuilding companies in Alaska are doing it for
Navy vessels?
It seems like a really good kind of symbiotic relationship.
You guys don't have to send your vessels, whether it's
icebreakers or FRCs down to Alameda and other places. You keep
the families home-ported, where their ships are doing the
overhaul.
It's exciting because it's driving the private sector as
well, but I think it's a cost efficiency for the Coast Guard as
you look at homeporting these additional assets. Can you speak
on the timelines on Sitka, Seward, but also this idea of a
stronger relationship with a real budding shipbuilding industry
that has taken off in Alaska that's quite exciting?
Admiral Lunday. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I think on our plans
for building out the infrastructure, including housing in place
in Seward, and Sitka, and other locations, much of that is
funded. We're moving forward on executing. And then, the areas
where we still need more funding, additional housing in some of
those locations, continued housing, build out in Kodiak,
continues to be important.
Senator Sullivan. By the way, the recent housing in Kodiak
that you guys have built is just exquisite. Whoever did that in
line with the Coast Guard, that is exactly what our men and
women of the Coast Guard deserve. The housing facility there,
I'm sure you've seen it in Kodiak, is really, really
impressive. So, I appreciate that very much.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Chairman. When we were there in
August, we were able to cut the ribbon on the latest
development.
Senator Sullivan. Beautiful.
Admiral Lunday. To your question about the ship repair. So,
the American maritime dominance and a strong industrial base is
not just about shipbuilding, it's about the repair that you
mentioned. And so, the more capacity in our repair and the
closer it is to where cutters are homeported, the more
competition and the better cost we're going to be able to get
for repairing our ships.
And so, I'm supportive of anything that increases the
availability of repair capacity, and capacity that's closer to
where our cutters are homeported.
Senator Sullivan. Good. And isn't that also good for the
crews? Because then, they don't have to--they're not leaving
their duty station as that ship is being repaired, say, more
locally.
Admiral Lunday. It is, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Sullivan. Great. I see the Chairman of the
Committee is coming, and I don't know if you want to--are you
ready to go, Mr. Chairman, or should we turn over to Senator
Blunt Rochester?
The Chairman. Go ahead.
Senator Sullivan. OK. Senator Blunt Rochester.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Well, thank you. I'm not sure if
this is round two or three, but it feels like a moving fleet.
I want to continue my questions, but I also want to start
off by acknowledging what the Chairman said, that we hope there
isn't a shutdown. And I think there have been positive signs,
even in the past 24 hours, with the engagement of the White
House, as well as a bipartisan group of Senators, which I think
is important for the country to see. And so, let's start there.
Second, I would be remiss if I let the opportunity to go by
without acknowledging Sector Delaware Bay, as well as our folks
at a station in Indian River in Delaware. Again, just doing
exemplary work and represented very well, represented the
organization as well as the country.
To follow up on my questions, I know we were talking about
the amount of folks you have to hire, the ability that you were
able to recruit so many. Did I understand there's still a
deficit, though, at this point, of what you'd like to see in
terms of a complete force?
Admiral Lunday. There is Ranking Member. The clear
direction of Force Design is not only to restore our--come out
of the deficit in our enlisted workforce, but to grow our
military workforce by 15,000. And we're going to need that
workforce to operate the assets, the growth in assets that
Congress has funded, American people have funded the Coast
Guard to do more operations and deliver more value to the
American people.
Senator Blunt Rochester. And I know we talked about the
buildup and how long all of that takes as well. When the
tankers were seized off the coast of Venezuela, did you have to
move your folks from, whether it was, you know, search and
rescue, or other core functions, or was it what you expected?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member, not from search and rescue
mission. So, the teams, the specialized elite teams, perform
this type of mission in other areas, or they're on ready status
to be able to perform. And so, this is within their normal
mission profile, just more visible than it's been in the past.
But we've used marine inspectors and our cyber protection
teams as well. And then we've used cutters that would maybe
otherwise be doing our maritime drug law enforcement mission.
We've reallocated them to this mission temporarily while we do
some of the tanker operations.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Right. We'll follow up with you as
the member who I've worked on supply chains a lot, both here in
the Senate, but also in the House, and also on cyber. And so,
I'd love to follow up with you afterwards on just the threats
that we see in that space. Or if you want to, I've got two
minutes now, if you want to talk a little bit about cyber
threats as well.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Ranking Member, because cyber
domain is an operational domain for the Coast Guard, and it's
of critical importance, not only in the day-to-day work, but in
protecting the supply chains that the United States, and our
economy, and our national security depend on in cyberspace.
And so, the Coast Guard has a cyber command that we use to
operate to protect not only our own networks, but maritime
critical infrastructure, our ports, and waterways, and the
facilities in cyberspace. And we've also benefited as a
regulatory agency from increased authority that we've put out a
new regulation that governs U.S. port facilities, and vessels,
and offshore facilities, ensuring that they meet required
cybersecurity standards.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you also for mentioning the
port. We have the Port of Wilmington in Delaware. I think,
again, these kinds of hearings are vital in terms of our role
of oversight and as well as just making sure that the resources
are going where they need to go.
Again, congratulations on being able to quickly recruit so
many individuals. I think your testimony said it was the
largest since 1991. And I think considering what you're facing,
we're going to need all of those resources.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Ranking Member.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you. And I will yield back.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you. Next, we have our Chairman of
the Full Committee, and I'm honored that Senator Cruz is here.
He and I really tag-teamed the effort in the budget
reconciliation bill on making this historic largest investment
in Coast Guard history.
So, I want to thank the Chairman for his great leadership
on this, this is something that he and I, as the full Chairman
and as the Chairman of this subcommittee, have a lot of pride
in because I think it was one of the more underreported
elements of the budget reconciliation bill, but so important to
our country and historic investments in the Coast Guard.
So, with that, Mr. Chairman, the floor is yours.
STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I fully agree with
those sentiments. Admiral, welcome. Good to see you. Patrol
Forces Southwest Asia's six fast response cutters in Bahrain
are doing difficult work in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian
Sea, escorting commercial traffic, countering piracy, and
interdicting smuggling networks that use small vessels and
dhows to move drugs, weapons, and other contraband.
As you know, seizures of these vessels at sea can be
extremely dangerous. In 2024, two Navy SEALs tragically drowned
during a nighttime seizure in this area when trying to board a
dhow moving Iranian weapons to Yemen. To my colleagues who
think our Coast Guard and Navy should be boarding every
Venezuelan drug runner, that's a risk you take, as our friend
Senator Sheehy has pointed out.
Congress just directed you to develop a policy to
disincentivize maritime drug trafficking, including seizing or
otherwise disposing of trafficking vessels. Right now, these
sea pirates are just turned on their way with no consequence.
What specific changes do you intend to make in the next year to
turn these interdictions into real deterrents, resulting in
fewer repeat offenders and fewer dhows going back to sea to
move drugs and guns?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your question
and your attention on this issue. We're very proud of our crews
and patrol forces Southwest Asia that do this dangerous but
very important work under the command of U.S. Central Command.
And so, I've directed--I've communicated when I commanded
Atlantic area with the Central Command Commander and the
Commander of Fifth Fleet out there. And I've asked Admiral
Moore to do the same. I'm going to re-engage in the Department
of War, the Central Command Commander, Admiral Cooper, and talk
to him about the way forward on this so that we can make sure
we're being more effective as we do these important boarding
operations.
The Chairman. I want to return to the topic that the
Chairman mentioned just a minute ago, which is 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.
In the Working Families Tax Cut Act that we passed last
summer. It included the largest recapitalization of the Coast
Guard in American history, over $24 billion. We also cut
through layers of red tape and gave the Coast Guard flexibility
to buy new ships and aircraft quickly. Let's talk about
outcomes. What are three concrete capabilities you will deliver
this year with this funding?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, we are moving
at speed and obligating the funds, and then delivering the
outcomes is of paramount importance. And so, the first outcome
we're going to deliver is, and we've already obligated this
funding, and that's the autonomous systems. So, we've already
invested in, obligated, and we're delivering the autonomous
systems that we're using for air, short and medium range.
We're also using for surface, And we've got a contract, for
example, with Sail Drone, and we're using that for border
control. And then we're using it for underwater, remotely
operated vehicle operations as well. We're using those right
now off the Polar Star in Antarctica. So, that's one example of
a suite of capabilities that we're bringing to bear in terms of
delivering outcomes.
The other outcomes is we just awarded in early January, I
think around the 6th of January, a contract for the rebuild of
Station South Padre Island which is along the border there in
Southern Texas with Mexico. And it guards the Gulf of America,
and it is the eastern end of Operation River Wall in the Rio
Grande River.
And that $200 million award and investment will deliver a
much more capable and enduring station there at South Padre
Island that incorporates the Customs and Border Protection
capability and other teammates, such, for example, from the
State of Texas, has a secure communications facility and gives
us the preeminent facility we need to be able to control,
secure, and defend the southern border.
The Chairman. Very good. And I will say the investment in
South Padre Island, I'm certainly grateful for, as are Texans
across the board. Let's focus where you ended that.
In October 2025, the Coast Guard surged additional response
boats and tactical teams to the Rio Grande under Operation
River Wall to help establish operational control along roughly
260 miles of Border River in South Texas. What are your clear,
measurable outcomes for this operation as you surge forces to
the river, and how will you prevent this mission from draining
cutters, aircraft, and boarding teams from offshore counter-
drug and other critical tasks vital to Texas?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, as the senior
operational commander for the Coast Guard, as Commandant, I
directed that operation began River Wall in October. And we had
a presence there before, a longstanding presence, but it was
fairly small; boat teams and boat crews working with Border
Patrol.
We needed to infuse a much greater capability. And now,
we're looking at what is that enduring long-range force posture
to do Operation River Wall in a way that balances our
commitment of forces there with operational demands in other
areas. It's principally a boat force and tactical law
enforcement supported by UAS and other surveillance capability.
But we've learned a lot of lessons since October as we've
done that. Our primary metrics are the number of interdictions
of border crossings, working with Border Patrol, and then also
deterred attempted crossings across the Rio Grande.
The Chairman. Very good. I'll say finally, I appreciated
your remarks earlier today about making sure that Coast Guard
leadership is in place. And this committee will be meeting this
coming Tuesday to advance those Coast Guard promotions,
including the Vice Commandant.
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Sullivan. Senator Duckworth.
STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS
Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Admiral Lunday,
welcome. I don't know if you know this, but I am a proud
Coastie family member. My brother served under Rush, where he
was also part of some of the boarding patrols, because he spoke
Indonesian.
I've been troubled, Admiral, that under the Trump
administration, the DOD continues to aggressively encroach on
one of the Coast Guard's core missions; maritime law
enforcement. And as often happens when experienced experts are
replaced with interlopers, Secretary Hegseth has arrogantly
tossed aside proven tactics that the Coast Guard has employed
for years to thwart drug runners, bring them to justice, and
facilitate vital intelligence collection.
Instead, he has been playing judge, jury, and executioner,
ordering military strikes to summarily kill suspected drug
runners without regard for the laws of armed conflict, or any
evidence that these small vessels pose immediate imminent
threat to the United States.
Admiral Lunday, can you explain why the Coast Guard's
trained boarding teams shoot at the engines instead of the
operator when pursuing a suspected drug smuggling vessel?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, when we conduct our maritime law
enforcement operations at sea, under our DHS and Coast Guard
authority, we are interdicting those vessels as a law
enforcement operation to seek to not only stop the drugs, but
potentially prosecute those that are aboard.
And so, part of stopping those vessels that are smuggling
drugs is our very specialized capability to disable them from a
helicopter, our helicopter interdiction squadron, that works
with a cutter and small boat, and our highly specialized teams
to do those operations under our law enforcement authority.
Senator Duckworth. Would you agree that the intelligence
gathering component of it is also an important part of what you
do when you stop these vessels?
Admiral Lunday. When we conduct our law enforcement
operations, it is, Senator.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you. I agree that the use of
lethal force against individuals and vessels suspected to be
trafficking drugs, an action that by itself does not constitute
armed conflict or terrorist activity, is illegal under the
United States and international law. The Trump administration
has heavily implied that fentanyl overdose deaths justify the
unauthorized use of military force against small vessels
departing Venezuela.
Admiral Lunday, the U.S. Coast Guard has significant
experience combating drug trafficking organizations. Does the
U.S. Coast Guard have any reason to suspect that Venezuela is a
major manufacturing hub for fentanyl?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, our principal interdictions that
involve Venezuela or Venezuelan gangs and we've seen that
principally in the Caribbean, that's principally we see the
movement of cocaine at sea. But our criminal investigations
that have been conducted in courts, along with Department of
Justice, show strong ties between some of these groups that
move the cocaine and other groups that are producing fentanyl.
So, we see the interdiction of cocaine, that's a cash crop
for many of these cartels that funds their ability to produce
and move fentanyl.
Senator Duckworth. But you're not seizing massive amounts
of fentanyl when you're doing these interdictions. with
vehicles that are leaving Venezuela?
Admiral Lunday. Well, in my experience, Senator, the
fentanyl we see, given its size and how it's moved, is
traditionally moved by other means, not in bulk amounts like
cocaine at sea.
Senator Duckworth. I think that's a clear point, that most
of the cocaine that passes through Venezuela to the United
States arrives by air, and that sea routes departing Venezuela
are mostly headed to Europe. Is that correct?
Admiral Lunday. I'm sorry, Senator, your question was about
cocaine to Europe?
Senator Duckworth. Well, yes. So, my understanding is that
cocaine is a major illegal narcotic that's--we agree that
cocaine is the major narcotic that is transiting through
Venezuela, and that most of it that's coming through Venezuela
arrives in Venezuela by air. Is that correct?
Admiral Lunday. I'd have to go back and look at how it gets
into Venezuela, Senator. But when we see it move out of
Venezuela through the Caribbean toward Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and other parts of the U.S., we see that move
by sea, cocaine move by sea.
Senator Duckworth. OK. And just to be precise, last year,
roughly how many pounds of fentanyl did the U.S. Coast Guard
interdict that was arriving from Venezuela to the United States
by sea?
Admiral Lunday. I'm not aware of interdictions of any
fentanyl. I see that cocaine is the principal commodity or drug
that's moved by sea.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you. Aware of any in the last 5
years?
Admiral Lunday. I'm not aware of any from Venezuela that we
have seized as the Coast Guard in the last 5 years, Senator.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you. Are a majority of individuals
that the Coast Guard apprehends when it interdicts a vessel
running drugs into the United States, senior cartel leaders, or
important DTO members, or often do you find cartels hire
individuals who know how to operate a vessel and are desperate
for a job to operate those vessels?
Admiral Lunday. Well, Senator, in our experience, the
people that operate the drug smuggling vessels that we
interdict in our maritime law enforcement role are connected
with the cartels. They're part of the broader network.
Senator Duckworth. But they're not the leaders of the
cartel?
Admiral Lunday. Not in my experience. They're not the
leaders of the cartels.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you. That's what I thought. The
intelligence community and drug enforcement agencies in this
country have known that the PRC is the true source of fentanyl
precursor chemicals, which are bought by customers in Mexico
and then smuggled into the United States.
Bottom line, beyond alarm over the legality of these boat
strikes, I fear that our country has grown distracted from the
true threat vectors, whether it's fentanyl arriving from Mexico
or countering the PRC in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly
Southeast Asia.
Indo-Pacific Theater poses a unique challenge and
effectively countering the PRC and building robust and stable
relationships with partners and allies requires a stable
presence and predictable investments, especially in the Indo-
Pacific. The last thing the Coast Guard should be forced to do
is reroute resources and assets away from the Indo-Pacific to
support President Trump's reckless foreign campaign to run
Venezuela and enrich big oil corporations.
Admiral, how has the pivot to SOUTHCOM operations impacted
the Coast Guard's ability to reassure partner nations that the
Coast Guard is committed to countering the PRC's role in
maritime disputes, especially in the South China Sea?
Admiral Lunday. Senator, we continue to maintain a
trajectory of growth of Coast Guard posture in the Indo-Pacific
with the addition of more cutters and more personnel, including
in the pending 2026 budget that will place additional personnel
and capability in the Indo-Pacific.
So, the Coast Guard is not diminishing our footprint and
presence in the Indo-Pacific, because for us that's part of the
U.S. homeland too, with Hawaii and the three territories there.
Senator Duckworth. Absolutely. I hope that continues to be
true, but it is imperative that if the Coast Guard is forced to
maneuver assets in a manner that jeopardizes its ability to
fulfill statutory obligations, that you as Commandant report
that deficiency to Congress immediately.
So, will you report back to Congress should your ability to
maintain the commitments in the Indo-Pacific start to degrade?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Senator, we will.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you so much. Thank you for being
here.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Senator Duckworth. We're going
to go into a couple more questions. I think Senator Cantwell is
on her way and she wants to--and I also have the opportunity to
engage. So, I'm going to broaden the aperture here a little
bit, Admiral, beyond Alaska.
I want to get a sense of how Force Design 2028 is
progressing. I want to compliment you, and Secretary Noem, and
the Coast Guard leadership for laying out a vision. It's a
really good document. I've read it. It has got a lot of big,
ambitious goals. I think you're on the right path.
But can you give just a quick update in how you are seeing
the work of Force Design 2028, and what's the next phase of
Force Design 2028 that you're focused on?
Admiral Lunday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have been
moving at speed to implement the Secretary's direction to
transform the Coast Guard through Force Design 2028. In fact,
the Secretary just released on the 15th of January, the interim
update, progress update, which is now posted on our website and
is publicly available, and gives an outstanding summary and
some detail on where we're going.
Senator Sullivan. And I'm assuming the budget
reconciliation $25 billion investment will help supercharge and
have you guys be able to achieve the goals, the ambitious
goals, that you put out in 2028 Force Design?
Admiral Lunday. Budget reconciliation does exactly that.
And supercharge is exactly the right word, Mr. Chairman. It is
what is fueling the success of Force Design 2028.
And so, we've been able to do the four primary campaigns,
enabling campaigns, which is streamlining our decisionmaking,
streamlining our organization to remove consensus-based
decisionmaking from the headquarters to move faster, delegate
authority lower in the organization, closer to the front lines,
and move people closer to the front lines, to be able to
streamline and create an acquisition and contracting
superhighway. And then bring, technology to bear to make the
Coast Guard a leader, not a follower, in the Federal Government
on adopting and applying technology.
That supports our three enabling or outcome tables;
control, secure, and defend the border, facilitate commerce,
and respond to crisis. Those outcome tables, our mission
delivery, is part of Force Design. That's also what makes this
unique. We have found that for the investment the American
people make in the Coast Guard, we provide a six times return.
So, for about a $12 billion 2025 investment in the Coast
Guard, it's an over $70 billion return on investment in lives
saved, property protected, border protected. And so, that's all
part of the Force Design effort. But what we require to be
successful is that continued top-line growth in our annual
appropriations.
Mr. Chairman, we're a $20 billion organization that is
still only funded at about the $13 billion, $14 billion level.
And so, that will be an important part of our success in Force
Design 2028.
Senator Sullivan. And how about on the recruiting side? My
ranking member here mentioned that, but you know, there's a big
goal of growing the force. And how do you see that going?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, it's going very well. And
we're going to need to build on that success to keep moving
forward and grow the workforce to meet the intent of growing it
by 15,000 by the end of 2028, which was the Secretary's goal
and direction in Force Design 2028.
But we've also hit it from the retention side. We've seen
improved retention in our military workforce. We need to do
more work to improve our civilian retention because they are a
critical part of our workforce as well. But that's all part of
building a strong workforce, and getting and keeping the best
talent because our people are our greatest treasure.
Senator Sullivan. Great. Let me switch gears to another
topic you and I have talked about. Senator Cantwell's here now.
I know she cares about this topic as well. And that's the
enforcement as it relates to IUU fishing. That's Illegal,
Unreported, Unregulated Fishing.
I was proud to work with all my colleagues, but Senator
Whitehouse in particular. We had my FISH Act legislation, which
passed this committee, then passed the whole Senate. We
attached it to the NDAA at the end of the year. Unfortunately,
it got stripped out in the conference, which was a bit of a
disappointment.
But how is the Coast Guard using its assets, authorities,
technology, to combat IUU fishing? There was a big, I think,
New York Times article just a couple weeks ago about these
Chinese gray fleets in the hundreds and hundreds that fish in
the high seas. They ravage the ocean. You know, countries in
Africa and Latin America can't stop them. They are really
aggressive.
They're everything from a national security threat to a
humanitarian crisis because they use slave labor. I mean, it's
the worst of the worst, let alone destroying sustainable oceans
and fisheries. My FISH Act is an aggressive response that would
include the Coast Guard and even the U.S. Navy to go after
these big gray fleets that are conducting IUU fishing.
But you're already doing a lot of that. This bill would
give you more authorities. But can you talk about some of the
good work the Coast Guard's doing that, and what a threat this
is, not just to sustainable fisheries and human rights, but
it's a national security threat.
The AFRICOM Commander, two years in a row when I was at the
Munich Security Conference, talked about IUU fishing as one of
the top threats to AFRICOM and countries in Africa because of
the Chinese just taken over the fishing capabilities of small
African countries and kind of treating them in a way that China
does with most small countries like bullies.
So, how are you doing on that? What more authority do you
need from us to combat IUU fishing, especially against the
Chinese and Russians?
Admiral Lunday. Thanks for the question, Mr. Chairman,
because countering IUU fishing is a top priority mission for
the Coast Guard. It is about national security. First, it's
about controlling and securing our border and maritime
approaches through our Exclusive Economic Zone to protect our
sovereign fisheries in those areas.
But even beyond that, in the international space,
reinforcing the international frameworks that prevent IUU
fishing because those impact our ability and our partner
nation's ability to protect their own fish stocks and
livelihood and this key protein source. So, it is about
national security.
It's important for us in terms of authority and capability
in two ways going forward. We need more ability to have
maritime domain awareness, actually maritime domain dominance,
so we can see what these illegal, these IUU fishing fleets,
these distant water fleets are up to, what they're doing, we
can share that information with partners so we can be better at
enforcement.
And then, we also need the at-sea cutter, and air
capability, and other technology to be able to be effective in
patrolling, deterring, and then enforcing not only U.S. law,
but the international frameworks that prevent IUU fishing.
Senator Sullivan. Good, that's great. Thank you for that.
We'll continue to work on that, and hopefully, I can get my
bill passed and signed into law, which again, had widespread
bipartisan support on this committee, in the Senate, and now we
just got to get it over the goal line and it'll give you more
authorities on a really important issue. Senator Cantwell.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with you
and definitely want to work with you and also agree with what
Admiral Lunday just said that we need to have this domain
expertise.
What I really worry about the Arctic, writ large, is that
without the capacity and without the resources that people
think that we're missing, and as fish move further north,
people think that those are their fish. And I definitely think
that we have to have the capacity to address the issue, and
certainly want to work with Senator Sullivan on this important
issue as we share a fishing fleet that is challenged every day
over this problem.
So, Admiral, again, good to see you. I wanted to ask you
about Slip 36 at Seattle. You guys have updated the aging
facility plan and the workforce there. The reconciliation bill,
I think, had some resources. Is Seattle part of your
prioritization plan for the infrastructure plan for the future?
Admiral Lunday. It is, Ranking Member Cantwell. The
critical part of the work there is to rebuild and build out the
capability for our polar security cutters that will be
homeported there, as well as Healy, which continues to be
homeported there.
Senator Cantwell. And so, that's like part of an ongoing
commitment, that the resources are there, right, committed?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Ranking Member, we had resources
through annual appropriations before for some of that work, and
reconciliation adds additional resources to advance and
complete that work.
Senator Cantwell. OK. Yes, I think $323 million. Is that
right?
Admiral Lunday. I believe that's correct, Ranking Member.
Senator Cantwell. And then what about, when would we expect
to see the Polar Security Cutter construction? When would we
expect to see ships arriving in Puget Sound?
Admiral Lunday. The first Polar Security Cutter, number
one, being built in Mississippi, is currently on track for
completion and delivery to the Coast Guard in 2030. And so, I
can get back to you with a specific projected date on when it
will arrive at its home port, but it'll be delivered to the
Coast Guard right now on track in 2030.
Senator Cantwell. OK, thank you. Appreciate that. And then,
we've talked about Cape Disappointment, and the repair to
damages for home port and new surf boats being built. I think
it's in our state. We want you to come and visit, and--sorry,
I'm missing actually a page here somehow.
Cape D obviously is a very important part of our plan. And
so, we're trying to help dedicate, you know, the maritime
sector with the incredible exports that come out of the
Columbia River. You agreed to work with us on a long-term plan
to help fix the problems there at Cape D, so particularly
accommodating new surf boats. So, will you come visit, and will
you help us continue to get this plan for Cape D?
Admiral Lunday. We will, Ranking Member Cantwell, not only
the improvements at Cape Disappointment, but also the long-term
dredging challenge there at Cape Disappointment. And actually,
if the government is funded, my current plan is to travel out
to the Pacific Northwest in mid-February, including a visit to
Station Cape Disappointment and the Motor Lifeboat School.
Senator Cantwell. Good. I'm happy to join you at that.
Might be better to come later in the year, but that's OK. We
will take the early visit.
Admiral Lunday. I'll look forward to returning when you can
join.
Senator Cantwell. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much. You
know, this issue of, you know, our fishermen and the Coast
Guard and the C-130s. Earlier this month, when a vessel ran
aground, it was a C-130 that was first on the scene. We
understand the C-130s, including at times one from Kodiak, that
our fishermen rely on, have been routinely transporting
migrants to detention centers.
Is that correct? Have the Coast Guard aircraft or personnel
been used for transporting detained individuals on behalf of
CBP or ICE?
Admiral Lunday. Yes, Ranking Member, the Coast Guard has a
unique capability within the department of heavy lift that
enables us to move people and equipment. Mostly, that's our C-
27 medium range aircraft, although we have used C-130s in some
cases to do that support to ICE or CBP, at their request.
Senator Cantwell. So, how is that helping us meet our other
mission of dealing with our fishermen that desperately need it
in these treacherous waters?
Admiral Lunday. Ranking Member Cantwell, I've given
direction to our operational commanders that those type of
support operations to other agencies are not to interfere with
our primary national security or search and rescue missions.
And we do that kind of balancing against mission priorities
frequently. That's part of the nature of what we do and
operational commanders do. And so, that has not impeded our
ability to conduct our other primary statutory missions.
Senator Cantwell. I see my time has expired, but I'm going
to ask some follow-up questions to that and also on the Jones
Act. But thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate it.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. And Admiral,
you've done a great job here. Very full hour and a half
hearing. A lot of good questions. I'm going to end with one
final question, and I'm sure Senator Cantwell will be
interested in it as well.
You know, Alaska's waters are some of the harshest in the
world. Yet, only 19 percent of our coastline is currently
covered by the Coast Guard's Rescue 21 System. The Marine
Exchange of Alaska has proven critical in closing these
coverage gaps, extending VHF, DSC, and AIS capabilities to
areas Rescue 21 cannot reach, and has already saved lives
during incidences of vessels that are in distress and the
Wrangle landslide that we had.
So, the question is, the budget reconciliation bill with
the historic investment in the Coast Guard has $170 million
dedicated to maritime domain awareness. How is the Coast Guard
planning to utilize that and leverage, continue to leverage,
partnerships like the Marine Exchange that I mentioned, to
rapidly expand coverage for communications and the Coast
Guard's rescue system to ensure real-time safety communications
across Alaska and high-risk maritime environments?
Admiral Lunday. Mr. Chairman, so the Coastal Sentinel,
which is a framework that is part of Force Design 2028, the
concept there is to use sensors, not only Coast Guard and other
Federal Government centers, but those from partners, including
the private sector, to bring that together to have a full
picture. And have not just maritime domain awareness, but give
us maritime domain dominance for all of our border, including
in Alaska.
And so, partnerships with groups or entities, organizations
like the Alaska Marine Exchange, are vital to our ability to
gather and use their sensor data, and then be able to share
appropriately data back with them and then have a common data
architecture. That partnership or those partnerships are vital
to our ability to be successful with achieving maritime domain
dominance through Coastal Sentinel.
Senator Sullivan. Great. Well, listen, I want to thank you.
I want to thank your team. I want to thank all the members of
the Coast Guard and their families. Please send them our
regards, as the Chairman and Ranking Member of this
subcommittee, on the great job that they're doing for our
country. And hopefully, we're going to get through this budget
funding event in the next 24 hours and fund the Coast Guard. I
can't think anything more damaging to have a shutdown that
would hurt our Coast Guard members and their families.
I also want to have the Ranking Member Cantwell's request
for her statement to be included for the record. To happen
without objection.
[The information referred to follows.]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator from Washington
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Admiral Lunday, thank you for testifying today.
Yesterday, you issued an Action Order to strengthen oversight and
accountability of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Coast
Guard.
I appreciate that you are prioritizing these issues, and acting on
the commitment you made to this Committee.
As you move forward with implementation, I ask that you keep the
Committee fully informed, including with respect to the reforms we
authored in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025.
The Coast Guard plays a unique and indispensable role in national
security, economic security, environmental protection, and maritime
safety.
The Pacific Northwest is a strategic hub for so1ne of the Coast
Guard's most important missions. Washington is home to a $45.9 billion
dollar maritime economy that connects American farmers, fishermen, and
manufactures to global markets.
It is also central to our Nation's Arctic strategy. Seattle is the
homeport for the Coast Guard's current icebreaking fleet and the future
heavy icebreakers, called the Polar Security Cutters.
These ships are essential to American leadership and security in
the Arctic, as well as opportunities for tourism and sustainable
economic development.
As sea ice recedes, shipping lanes are opening, co1nmercial
activity is increasing, and strategic competition in the region is
intensifying.
That is why Congress has already appropriated $100 million dollars,
with the Coast Guard proposing additional funds for the icebreaker
homeporting project in Seattle.
This investment strengthens U.S. sovereignty, supports scientific
research, enables emergency response, and ensures the Coast Guard can
operate in some of the most challenging environments on Earth.
Arctic security is not a future concern-it is a present reality. I
look forward to hearing from you today about how we can finish the Base
Seattle homeporting project.
The Coast Guard's importance to Washington extends well beyond the
Arctic and Antarctic.
Station Cape Disappoint1nent and its surfmen ensure the Columbia
River is safe, and open for business. The Columbia River is one of the
most economically vital waterways in the country, supporting $21 to $35
billion dollars in annual commerce, including 56 percent of all U.S.
grain exports.
When the Coast Guard keeps that river . safe and navigable, it
protects American farmers, global supply chains, and international
trade.
More broadly, Washington's maritime sector supports more than
174,000 direct and indirect jobs. Those jobs-from shipbuilding and
fishing to port operations and logistics-depend on safe navigation,
environmental protection, and a reliable Coast Guard presence.
This Committee has long worked in a bipartisan 1nanner to support
the Coast Guard. In December, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
That bill reflected a shared com1nitment to strengthening the
Service, improving accountability, and investing in its workforce.
The legislation addressed serious failures identified in Operation
Fouled Anchor by strengthening reporting requirements, oversight, and
accountability for senior leaders.
The law strengthened environmental protections such as extending
the Cetacean Desk in Puget Sound that protects orcas and other whales.
And, it authorized the Coast Guard to collaborate with Tribes on
conservation and mitigation activities near Coast Guard installations,
so we can grow our icebreaking fleet while protecting salmon habitat
and fishing grounds.
The bill also invested in the Coast Guard workforce. For the first
time, it established a Vice Admiral focused exclusively on personnel-
creating senior-level accountability for housing, medical care, and
childcare for the 40,000 Coast Guard members and their families.
We also took steps to protect U.S. shipbuilding by strengthening
safeguards around overseas construction of Coast Guard vessels-ensuring
transparency and giving A1nerican shipyards a fair opportunity to build
these ships here at home.
Overall, Admiral, this legislation sent a clear signal: the Coast
Guard needs more resources to meet its expanding missions. That is why
Congress increased authorized funding by 30 percent.
But clearly, the service faces serious challenges. I am concerned
that the Coast Guard temporarily closed 29 search and rescue stations
due to staffing shortages, with no plan to reopen them. These closures
have real consequences for response times and public safety.
At the same time, Coast Guard personnel and assets are being
redirected to support Customs and Border Protection and ICE missions.
The Committee has repeatedly requested information about how Coast
Guard assets and personnel are being used-both within the Coast Guard
and in support of other agencies. Those requests have not been
adequately answered, and that lack of transparency is frankly,
unacceptable.
I am particularly troubled by reports that Coast Guard C-130
aircraft, among your most critical search-and-rescue long range assets,
are being used to transport ICE and CBP detainees-while missions like
search and rescue and illegal fishing patrols in the Bering Sea are
being deliberately deprioritized.
Admiral, the Coast Guard must chart a better path forward. Today, I
want to hear how you plan to grow the service to 1naintain vital Coast
Guard missions, including reopening search and rescue stations.
Clearly, new ships and aircraft, including icebreakers, are
essential. But those assets are meaningless without the people to
operate them.
You cannot build ships without also building a system of housing,
healthcare, and childcare that takes care of the people who serve on
those ships.
We agree the Coast Guard needs resources. But those resources must
come with transparency, mission discipline, and accountability.
I look forward to your testimony and to discussing how we ensure
the Coast Guard can continue its life-saving missions.
Thank you.
Senator Sullivan. And Admiral, thank you for your important
testimony today. You did an outstanding job. I'm amazed that
you answer all these questions with such detail without any
notes. That's like great work, great staff work, by the way,
behind you.
Admiral Lunday. I have a great staff.
Senator Sullivan. Senators will have until the close of
business on Thursday, February 5, to submit questions for the
record for this hearing. And we respectfully ask you, Admiral,
to try to respond to those QFRs by Thursday, February 19.
And with that, this concludes today's hearing. Thank you
again. The Committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:30 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Eric Schmitt to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
REFORMING COAST GUARD ACQUISITIONS PROCESS
Background: A key element of the U.S. Coast Guard's ``Force Design
2028 Initiative'' is reforming the acquisition process to deliver
critical capabilities faster and create clearer accountability across
programs.
Question Part-1. Where in the Coast Guard's acquisition lifecycle
is the most significant bottlenecks today that slow the delivery of
operational capability: requirements, contracting, testing and
certification, or sustainment?
Answer. Bottlenecks that slow the delivery of operational
capability include industrial base limitations (such as labor for
shipbuilding) and the increasing quantity of reports, briefs and
audits, which come at a cost to our program management workforce. Most
notably, relief from pre-acquisition requirements, such as those waived
for acquisition of a commercially available polar icebreaker (i.e., CGC
Storis), have been shown to eliminate two years of schedule.
Question Part-2. Do current procurement rules adequately value the
strategic importance of maintaining a trusted, U.S.-based maritime
manufacturing industrial base, or are reforms needed to better reflect
that priority?
Answer. Yes. However, seeking to broker what is best for industry,
what is best for the Service, and what is best for the taxpayer has
made these rules overly burdensome at a cost to all three entities. The
Coast Guard supports reforms to eliminate redundant, obsolete, and
burdensome regulations, as well as the streamlining of compliance
processes, as laid out in America's Maritime Action Plan.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
ARCTIC SECURITY CUTTERS
Background: The Administration announced last year that Arctic
Security Cutters (``ASCs'') would be acquired under a dual-construction
model, with cutters built in Finland and U.S. shipyards. I understand
that the Coast Guard may be using a foreign classification society for
the first cutters that are being built in Finland.
Congress created a preference for the American Bureau of Shipping
to class government vessels in 46 U.S.C. Sec. 3316 by establishing
agency authority for this function. Classing these complex vessels with
a U.S.-headquartered classification society ensures that the U.S.
maintains and sustains these essential classification functions, as
well as safeguards sensitive ship design data, limits exposure to
foreign influence, and ensures that mission critical platforms remain
reliable key element of the U.S. Coast Guard's ``Force Design 2028
Initiative'' is reforming the acquisition process to deliver critical
capabilities faster and create clearer accountability across programs.
Question Part-1. Does the Coast Guard intend to use American-owned
classification society services during construction and before delivery
of ASCs?
Answer. Yes.
Question Part-2. Does the Coast Guard support scientific capability
on ASCs, such as cranes, laboratory facilities, berthing for
researchers, and other scientific support needs?
Answer. The Coast Guard is working with the Administration to
refine the plan for Arctic Security Cutters.
JONES ACT AND DOMESTIC SHIPBUILDING
Background: There is bipartisan agreement we must build more ships
in the United States to support our economy, increase international
trade, and strengthen our national security. Despite this, the Coast
Guard is planning to build two Arctic Security Cutters in Finland, as
my previous question on Arctic Security Cutters (``ASCs'') discussed.
Question Part-1. Does the Coast Guard 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 complies with all U.S.
law.
Question Part-2. Does the Coast Guard support the construction of
any additional Coast Guard cutters or any other boats overseas beyond
the two ASCs already under contract with Rauma Marine Construction in
Finland?
Answer. Yes. President Trump's October 8, 2025 Memorandum on the
Construction of Arctic Security Cutters directed the construction of up
to four Arctic Security Cutters abroad. On February 10, 2026, the Coast
Guard awarded an additional contract to Davie Defense, which allows for
up to two additional Arctic Security Cutters to be built in Finland.
COAST GUARD MIGRANT FLIGHTS & FULL ACCOUNTABILITY OF ASSETS
Background: As we briefly discussed in the hearing, Coast Guard
aircraft have been used to transport individuals who have been detained
by CBP and ICE to detention centers.
Question Part-1. Please provide a full account of aircraft hours
and tail numbers used to conduct flights on behalf of ICE, CBP, or any
another DHS component by month over the past year.
Answer. The Coast Guard flew 2,467.23 flight hours supporting other
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components, detailed below.
This is 2.9 percent of all aircraft flight hours flown in 2025.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CY 2025 Aircraft Hours Tail Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 25.0 2010, 2017
February 207.35 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2713,
2714
March 133.98 2010, 2013, 2017, 2714
April 94.78 2010, 2013, 2017
May 52.87 2016, 2017
June 160.27 2010, 2015, 2016, 2702, 2706,
2711, 2714
July 352.48 2015, 2702, 2705, 2706, 2709,
2711, 2713, 2714
August 349.7 2702, 2705, 2706, 2709, 2713,
2714
September 263.4 2013, 2705, 2706, 2709, 2711,
2713, 2714
October 306.9 2016, 2701, 2705, 2706, 2709,
2713, 2714
November 323.6 2701, 2702, 2705, 2706, 2711,
2714
December 196.9 2013, 2017, 2701, 2702, 2705,
2706, 2709, 2711
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question Part-2. Please also provide a full list of operations
since January 1, 2025, that Coast Guard cutters or aircraft were
initially requested for or scheduled to support, such as NORTH PACIFIC
GUARD, where Coast Guard cutter or aircraft participation was either
reduced or cancelled due to providing increased presence and
operational focus on border control.
Answer.
USCGC Midgett re-directed from IUUF patrol including from
Operation NORTH PACIFIC GUARD
USCGC James cancelled planned U.S. Navy exercise
USCGC Calhoun cancelled support to the Arctic Coast Guard
Forum
USCGC Tampa re-directed from United States Africa Command
USCGC Seneca re-directed from Operations NANOOK and FRONTIER
SENTINEL
USCGC Harriet Lane re-directed from Operation BLUE PACIFIC
HC-130J re-directed from International Ice Patrol
COAST GUARD ASSETS SUPPORTING DHS AND ICE MISSIONS
Background: On December 30, then CBP Commander Bovino posted a
video on his official CBP social media showing a Coast Guard C-130
moving CBP personnel, vehicles and other supplies to Chicago as part of
Operation Midway Blitz. The caption said, ``[i]f you think we're done
with Chicago, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself.''
Question Part-1. Please provide a full account of where Coast Guard
facilities, such as stations and bases, have been used by ICE, CBP, or
another DHS component since January 2025. Please include numbers of
personnel, duration, location, and purpose of the support.
Answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location Personnel Duration Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oceania District Varies Ongoing Office Space
Base Los Angeles- Varies Ongoing Incident Command Post,
Long Beach pier space
Base Ketchikan Varies Ongoing Facilities
Base Kodiak Varies Ongoing Facilities
Sector San Diego 0 Ongoing Boat mooring
Sector Puget Sound 1 Ongoing Office space
Sector Mobile 2-3 Ongoing Boat storage/launch
Sector Corpus 4 Ongoing Intelligence support
Christi
Sector Eastern Great 0 Ongoing Autonomous Surveillance
Lakes Tower
Sector Northern 0 Ongoing Autonomous Surveillance
Great Lakes Tower
Station Dauphin 3 1 day Boat mooring
Island
Station Destin 2-3 2 days Boat launch
Station Gulfport 4-6 Ongoing Boat storage/launch
Station Chicago 45 27 days Immigration processing
Station Sault St. 0 1 day Boat mooring
Marie
Station Marblehead 6 1 day Immigration processing
Station St. Clair 0 Ongoing Autonomous Surveillance
Shores Tower
Station Port Huron 0 Ongoing Autonomous Surveillance
Tower
Station Belle Isle 0 Ongoing Autonomous Surveillance
Tower
Station Bellingham 0 Ongoing Boat staging
Station Port Angeles Varies Ongoing Office Space
Air Station Varies Ongoing National Transport of
Sacramento Illegal Aliens
missions
Air Station Barbers Varies Ongoing National Transport of
Point Illegal Aliens
missions, logistics
Air Station Detroit Varies Ongoing Border Control
Territorial Integrity
missions
Maritime Security Varies Ongoing Joint training/
Response Team-West Operations
Marines Safety & Varies Ongoing Office Space
Security Team-
Seattle
Port Security Unit Varies Ongoing Hosts training
(PSU) 307
PSU 308 Varies Ongoing Operation River Wall
PSU 312 Varies Ongoing Host canine units
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Many of the ``ongoing'' activities represent long standing and
enduring partnerships with other DHS components not specifically
related to new operations since January 2025.
Question Part-2. Please provide statistics on how many Coast Guard
flights have been used to transport ICE or CBP personnel to U.S. cities
for immigration enforcement.
Answer. The Coast Guard has conducted 32 flights to transport U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) personnel to U.S. cities for immigration enforcement.
Question Part-3. How is the service managing the necessary
maintenance and flight hours of Coast Guard airframes with aircraft
deployed in support of ICE, CBP and other DHS missions? Please provide
a graph comparing total aircraft maintenance hours by air frame
organized by year from 2023 through 2025.
Answer. The Coast Guard allocates flight hours to each operational
aircraft to support all missions as determined by operational
commanders. Unit-level and depot-level maintenance of all aircraft is
managed in accordance with Coast Guard policy to ensure aircraft
availability to perform Coast Guard missions. The requested graph is
below.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Question Part-4. Is the Coast Guard getting reimbursed by DHS, CBP,
or ICE for the immigration related support activity outlined in the
previous questions? If so, how much and for what missions? Please
provide an account of all Coast Guard funding that has been spent in
support of ICE, CBP, and other DHS missions by support type (i.e.,
flight hours, personnel support, use of Coast Guard facilities, etc.)
Answer. Since January 2025, the Coast Guard has provided fixed-wing
aviation transportation in support of CBP and ICE. The estimated
reimbursable rate for this support is $47,983,071.
COAST GUARD SPEND PLAN INFORMATION
Background: I appreciate the Coast Guard's commitment to invest an
additional $323 million in infrastructure upgrades at Coast Guard Base
Seattle to support homeporting the first three Polar Security Cutters.
Question Part-1. Please provide a spend plan for the entirety of
the Coast Guard OBBB funding.
Answer. The Spend Plan was delivered and briefed to Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation staff on February
18, 2026.
Question Part-2. Please provide a detailed list and project
breakdown of how the Coast Guard intends to spend the $4.4 billion for
shore infrastructure, training facilities, and homeports, as well as
the current status of each listed project.
Answer. Initial Shore Facility Project Plan: The proposed initial
allocations, which are subject to change, for shore facility funding in
the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Reconciliation includes:
Enlisted Boot Camp ($425 million)
Funds projects at Coast Guard Training Center Cape
May, NJ, including multiple barracks, a multi-purpose
facility, and other projects.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: March 2028
Coast Guard Yard ($500 million)
Funds projects at the Coast Guard Yard, in Baltimore,
MD, including a floating drydock, dredging, and other
infrastructure/industrial investments.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: December 2028.
CGC Storis Homeport ($300 million)
Funds land acquisition and Phase 1 waterfront
improvements in Juneau, AK.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: May 2028
Hangars and Homeports for New Assets ($1.871 billion)
Kodiak, AK ($120 million)
Funds the replacement/repair of Base Kodiak's
potable water system
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: August 2028
Charleston, SC ($368 million)
Funds facility and pier construction necessary for
the Base Charleston buildout.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: August 2028
Newport, RI ($230 million)
Funds improvements required to homeport major
cutters.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: April 2029
Guam ($300 million)
Funds infrastructure project and shore ties to
homeport Fast Response Cutters.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: TBD
Seattle, WA ($323 million)
Funds waterfront improvements required to homeport
Polar Security Cutters.
Status: Phase 1A Contract Awarded: August 2025
Projected Construction Complete: February 2029
Other Hangars and Homeports ($530 million)
TBD
Other Shore Projects: ($1.283 billion)
Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT ($280 million)
Funds projects from IDP Phase 1, to include the
STEM building and Chase Hall Annex A, and other projects.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: May 2029
Station South Padre Island, TX ($250 million)
Funds recapitalization of Station South Padre
Island, meeting infrastructure requirements sufficient to
enable joint operations and support interagency partners.
Status: Design Development In Progress; Contract
Awarded December 2025
Projected Construction Complete: April 2027
Station Cape Disappointment, WA ($115 million)
Funds station recapitalization and waterfront
construction.
Status: Design--Pending Contract Award
Projected Construction Complete: March 2028
National Coast Guard Museum, New London, CT ($70
million)
Minor Shore Construction projects ($50 million)
Funds facility procurement, construction, and
improvement projects less than $2 million.
Other Projects ($518 million)
TBD
COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SUPPORT INVESTMENT
Background: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided nearly $25
billion for cutters, aircraft, infrastructure, and technology. The bill
does not, however, invest in the workforce, despite it being a top
concern I hear directly from Coast Guard service members. Ships are
critical, but do not mean anything without the crews to operate them.
To recruit and retain a world class workforce, you will need housing,
medical clinics, childcare, and other support services.
Question Part-1. In the past, the Coast Guard has taken an
uncoordinated approach to investment in housing projects. What are your
top priority regions in need of new or recapitalized housing?
Answer. Coast Guard men and women and their families deserve
quality, affordable housing. The Coast Guard's top priority regions for
new family housing include: Alameda, CA; Astoria, OR; Grassy Key, FL;
Guam; Islamorada, FL; Juneau, AK; Ketchikan, AK; Kodiak, AK; Martha's
Vineyard, MA; North Bend, OR; La Push, WA; Sault Ste. Marie, MI; Staten
Island, NY; and Valdez, AK. Additionally, the Service's top priority
housing areas to recapitalize include: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Cape
Cod, MA; Cape May, NJ; Humboldt Bay, CA; Petersburg, AK; Santa Barbara,
CA; Sault Ste. Marie, MI; and Sitka, AK.
Providing appropriate accommodations for our unaccompanied Coast
Guard men and women is also critical to meet this end. Our top priority
locations for unaccompanied housing or barracks projects include:
Astoria, OR; Alameda, CA; Cold Bay, AK; Islamorada, FL; Juneau, AK;
Ketchikan, AK; Kodiak, AK; North Bend, OR; Portsmouth, VA; Sault Ste.
Marie, MI; and Staten Island, NY.
Question Part-2. What are your plans over the next two years to
address the significant gap in personnel investment required to operate
the new assets funded by the OBBB?
Answer. The personnel required to operate and maintain these new
platforms must be funded through significant and sustained growth in
our annual Operations and Support appropriation.
Over the next two years, we will build on our recent, historic
recruiting successes. In 2025, we recruited more than 5,200 enlisted
members--the highest number since 1991--and we will continue this
momentum by expanding our recruiting infrastructure with new offices
and more recruiters to attract the Nation's best talent.
Question Part-3. What is the Coast Guard doing in the next two
years to grow its medical infrastructure and capacity to provide care
to the increased workforce contemplated under FD28?
Answer. Service readiness starts with our Coast Guard men and women
and their families. Through Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard will
grow the Service's medical corps by at least 500 medical professionals
to address critical staffing gaps at our training centers and mission
support units.
The FY 2026 President's Budget includes 31 positions and over $3.7
million for medical care. Additionally, the FY 2026 Unfunded Priority
List includes 332 additional medical personnel and $6 million for eight
mobile medical clinics.
COAST GUARD STATION PASCAGOULA REOPENING
Background: On December 23, 2025, the Coast Guard announced that it
will return Station Pascagoula, Mississippi, to full response
operations after temporarily reducing capabilities in 2023 as part of
the Force Alignment Initiative (``FAI''). In November of 2025, the
Coast Guard submitted a written response to Senate Commerce Committee
questions about the current status of the FAI and indicated that there
was currently no plan to reopen stations impacted by the FAI, but that
Coast Guard would communicate any decisions to Congress.
Question Part-1. What is the current status of each of the stations
that were temporarily closed or had reduced capacity or missions under
the FAI?
Answer. The following unit has been reconstituted for full response
operations:
Station Pascagoula (Pascagoula, MS)
The following units are being used as forward operating locations:
Station-small Scituate (Scituate, MA)
Station-small East Moriches (East Moriches, NY)
Station-small Beach Haven (Beach Haven, NJ)
Station-small Great Egg (Ocean City, NJ)
Station-small Townsends Inlet (Sea Isle City, NJ)
Station-small Fortescue (Fortescue, NJ)
Station-small Stillpond (Worton, MD)
Station-small Sodus (Sodus Point, NY)
Station-small Ashtabula (Ashtabula, OH)
Station-small Lorain (Lorain, OH)
Station-small Harbor Beach (Harbor Beach, MI)
Station-small Frankfort (Frankfort, MI)
Station-small Ludington (Ludington, MI)
Station-small Muskegon (Muskegon, MI)
Station-small DuSable Harbor (Chicago, IL)
Station-small Wilmette Harbor (Wilmette, IL)
Station-small Two Rivers (Two Rivers, WI)
Station-small Washington Island (Sturgeon Bay, WI)
Station-small Green Bay (Green Bay, WI)
Station-small Alpena (Alpena, MI)
Station-small Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA)
Station-small Rogue River (Rogue River, OR)
Station-small Coquille River (Coquille River, OR)
The following units are operating as scheduled mission stations:
Station Eatons Neck (Northport, NY)
Station Lake Charles (Lake Charles, LA)
Station Vallejo (Vallejo, CA)
Station Fairport (Grand River, OH)
Station Kenosha (Kenosha, WI)
Station Cape Cod Canal (Sandwich, MA)
Station Jones Beach (Freeport, NY)
Station Wachapreague (Wachapreague, VA)
Station Oxford (Oxford, MD)
Station Crisfield (Crisfield, MD)
Station Milford Haven (Hudgins, VA)
Station Toledo (Toledo, OH)
Station St. Clair Shores (St. Clair Shores, MI)
Station Saginaw River (Essexville, MI)
Station Michigan City (Michigan City, IN)
Station Boston (Boston, MA)
Station Castle Hill (Newport, RI)
Station Kings Point (Kings Point, NY)
The following units are not currently operating:
Station Pittsburgh (Pittsburg, PA)
Station St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
Station Louisville (Louisville, KY)
Station Paducah (Paducah, KY)
Station Memphis (Memphis, TN)
MSU Huntington--Boat Operations (Huntington, WV)
Question Part-2. Will you commit to updating Congress in writing of
any changes to the status of any of the stations impacted by the FAI,
as those changes in status are determined?
Answer. Yes.
Question Part-3. Are any of the other stations which were operating
as scheduled mission stations (such as Station Pascagoula) scheduled to
return to full response operations? If so, which stations, and what is
the timeline?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made final decisions on any
additional stations.
Question Part-4. Are there any stations that the Coast Guard does
not plan to return to pre-FAI levels or that the Coast Guard plans to
close? If stations are planned to be closed, which ones and when?
Answer. There are currently no plans to permanently close any Coast
Guard stations.
Question Part-5. Was the return of Station Pascagoula to full
response operations a singular decision, or were the capabilities of
other stations also modified around the time of the Station Pascagoula
announcement?
Answer. The reconstitution of Station Pascagoula to full response
operations was a singular decision.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Duckworth to
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday
RESTORING COAST GUARD SAR STATIONS
Background: The Coast Guard has reported it has exceeded recruiting
goals for the first time since the 1990s. During the hearing, you told
Senator Wicker that the Coast Guard will be restoring Station
Pascagoula from scheduled missions only to fully operational in 2026
(and confirmed in a Coast Guard Press Release published on December 23,
2025).
Question Part-1. What criteria was used to determine to restore
Station Pascagoula?
Answer. The decision to restore Station Pascagoula to full response
operations was based on the local application of the national strategy
in achieving full operational control of the border and facilitating
commerce. The recent recruiting success provided the necessary
personnel to allow the Coast Guard to realign resources with these
standing mission priorities.
Question Part-2. What other stations that had previously been
downgraded due to personnel shortages will be restored in 2026?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made final decisions on any
additional stations.
Backgound: Every summer, thousands flock to the Chicago waterfront,
yet the Coast Guard inexplicably shifted Station DuSable to a seasonal
station. This station is only manned on weekends in the summer, yet
there were two fatalities on the waterfront during the summer of 2025.
Question Part-3. Will Station DuSable be restored to fully
operational?
Answer. The Coast Guard has not made a final decision on Seasonal
Station DuSable Harbor.
Question Part-4. If not, can the Coast Guard commit to manning
Station DuSable every day--including weekdays--from Memorial Day to
Labor Day weekend?
Answer. Seasonal Station DuSable Harbor's area of responsibility
will continue to be fully covered by its parent station, Station
Chicago
Background: During our meeting before your nomination hearing, you
stated that decisions would be made based on the data and wouldn't be
political.
Question Part-5. Will you provide the metrics used in determining
which FAI impacted stations are restored or not restored?
Answer. Yes.
Question Part-6. Will you provide the metrics used when determining
if a station will be restored from scheduled missions only to fully
operational?
Answer. Yes.
Question Part-7. Were all stations closed under FAI completed in
accordance with 14 USC 910?
Answer. The Coast Guard did not permanently close any stations
under the operational adjustments made in 2024 and there are currently
no plans to do so.
VESSEL ACQUISITIONS
Background: President Trump signed an agreement with the government
of Finland to deliver icebreakers to the Coast Guard, waiving the
domestic-built requirements for U.S. military vessels. Part of the
agreement includes onshoring expertise in the United States.
Question Part-1. What steps will be taken to onshore expertise?
Workforce exchange program? Technology transfers?
Answer. The Coast Guard developed a plan, as directed by the
President's memorandum, to phase ASC construction and build domestic
expertise. This plan remains under review with the Administration.
Background: Industry needs a consistent demand signal to keep
shipyards operational.
Question Part-3. What actions is the Coast Guard taking to ensure
U.S. shipyards and component manufacturers remain competitive and open
to meet the demands of future vessel acquisitions?
Answer. The Coast Guard regularly conducts industry days, outreach
events, and meetings in addition to Requests for Information, Sources
Sought Notifications, and Requests for Proposal to maintain open
communication with industry, shipyards and suppliers, and provide
industry with early descriptions of the Government's needs. The Service
often awards multiple year contracts, contract options for additional
vessels, and offers other contractual incentives for performance and
innovation. Additionally, the Coast Guard adheres to Federal
requirements such as the Buy American Act, which prioritizes U.S.-based
manufacturing and shipbuilding for government vessels, and provides
technical guidance and shares best practices with industry to develop
and update standards for vessel construction and component
manufacturing
Background: In 2023, the inaugural Government Shipbuilders Council
(GSC) was convened by then-Secretary of the Navy Del Toro at the Coast
Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland.
Question Part-4. How active has the Coast Guard been in the
Government Shipbuilders Council (GSC) since its inception?
Answer. The Coast Guard remains active in the GSC. Coast Guard
representatives participate in GSC meetings, workshops, and working
groups. The Coast Guard has also participated in joint initiatives,
including efforts to improve shipyard productivity, workforce
development, and supply chain resilience
Question Part-5. What efficiencies or process improvements, if any,
have been realized by the GSC?
Answer. The Coast Guard shares lessons learned, technical
standards, and acquisition approaches with other GSC members.
Question Part-6. What other organizations is the Coast Guard
working with to address its delayed vessel delivery schedule in order
to provide much needed assets to the fleet?
Answer. The Coast Guard works with: the Department of Homeland
Security for program oversight, acquisition support, and funding
prioritization for Coast Guard vessel acquisition programs; the U.S.
Navy on major acquisition programs (e.g., Polar Security Cutter)
through integrated program offices to leverage Navy expertise,
contracting mechanisms, and technical support, and to coordinate on
shipyard capacity, technology transfer, and lessons learned from Navy
shipbuilding programs; the Government Accountability Office to review
acquisition challenges and implement recommendations; shipbuilders and
component manufacturers to monitor progress, resolve technical issues,
and improve production schedules; and with industry associations like
the Shipbuilders Council of America to help understand and address
industry-wide challenges affecting delivery timelines.
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