Rep. McDonald Rivet, Mid-Michigan Secures Return of Full Service to Saginaw River Coast Guard Station

FLINT— Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and the mid-Michigan community have secured a commitment from the United States Coast Guard that the Saginaw River station will be returning to full staffing and capacity in 2027. The announcement follows more than a year of Congresswoman McDonald Rivet’s advocacy for a return to full operations .
“The Saginaw Coast Guard station getting its full funding is a big deal for mid-Michigan. It means stronger search-and-rescue operations, significantly shorter response times on the Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River, and less strain on local law enforcement so they can fully focus their efforts on the ground,” said Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet . “This is what happens when everyday people use their voices, and I am deeply grateful to the hundreds of Michiganders and community leaders who joined together to make this happen.”
For over a year, Congresswoman McDonald Rivet has pushed the U.S. Coast Guard to restore full coverage at the station:
In July 2025, Congresswoman McDonald Rivet authored a provision requiring the Coast Guard to study the impact of reduced search-and-rescue operations at the Saginaw River station following the elimination of 24/7 operations in 2024.
In December 2025, the Congresswoman got that provision signed into law .
Also in July 2025, the Congresswoman advocated for restoring 24/7 coverage in a Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 .
In March 2026, at a Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing with USCG Vice Commandant Admiral Thomas Allan Jr., Congresswoman McDonald Rivet emphasized how local first responders have had to make up for the Coast Guard’s cuts to search-and-rescue coverage.
In June 2026, Congresswoman McDonald Rivet again urged the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard to immediately restore a fully operational and fully staffed Saginaw River Station.
Later in June 2026, at a Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing, the Congresswoman highlighted the consequences of short staffing to USCG Vice Admiral Douglas M. Schofield.