The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan has been relieved of her duties, marking an abrupt end to her historic tenure as the first woman to lead any U.S. military service branch.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman made the announcement, appointing Admiral Kevin E. Lunday as acting commandant. The decision comes amid multiple challenges facing the Coast Guard under Fagan's leadership.
According to senior DHS officials, several factors contributed to the decision, including recruitment struggles, budget management issues, and handling of sexual assault investigations at the Coast Guard Academy. The service faced recruitment shortfalls of up to 20% during parts of her tenure, though numbers improved in fiscal year 2024.
A major point of controversy centered on Operation Fouled Anchor, an internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy between 2014 and 2019. Senators criticized Fagan's testimony last summer, claiming she withheld critical information during their investigation.
Congressional Republicans had previously expressed concerns about training priorities under Fagan's leadership. Representatives Eli Crane and Matt Gaetz specifically questioned certain training programs' impact on recruitment and retention in an August 2024 letter.
The change in leadership occurs as the Coast Guard, which oversees 42,000 active-duty, 7,000 reserve, and 8,700 civilian personnel, faces ongoing challenges in maritime security and recruitment.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Maria Cantwell, defended Fagan's record, particularly noting her efforts to address long-standing cultural issues within the service. Representative Joe Courtney highlighted achievements under her leadership, including improved recruitment numbers in 2024 and successful drug interdiction operations.
The Coast Guard, while a military service branch, operates under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense.