Sullivan, Scott, Tuberville Introduce Bill to Create Secretary of the Coast Guard Position

07.31.26 Sullivan, Scott, Tuberville Introduce Bill to Create Secretary of the Coast Guard Position WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) have introduced the Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act , legislation that would create a Secretary of the U.S. Coast Guard, mirroring a position across all other branches of the U.S Armed Forces. Currently, the Coast Guard lacks a dedicated civilian leadership position, and it defaults to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to provide even greater support and advocacy to our Coast Guard with a dedicated civilian Secretary who can represent the needs and perspective of the Coast Guard at the highest levels of our federal government,” said Sen. Sullivan. “We rely on our brave Coast Guardsmen to monitor and defend vast maritime borders, execute life-saving search-and-rescue operations, respond to international crises, and support Department of War missions. No state is more aware of the important service of the Coast Guard than Alaska—home to more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined—which is why I spearheaded the largest investment in the Coast Guard in history in last year’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act .” “The Coast Guard has a unique and highly specialized mission to protect our country from threats posed by smugglers, drug traffickers, terrorists, and other lawbreakers, and it deserves a service secretary to oversee and coordinate its operations, just like every other branch of the military,” said Sen. Scott. “This bill creates a Secretary of the Coast Guard in federal law to ensure the Service has the leadership it needs to take on the challenges of the 21 st century and beyond. This is a matter of readiness and national security; Congress should pass this immediately so President Trump can make his nomination, and the Senate can get to work on confirmation.” “The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard are critical to our national defense and security, which is why they deserve the same strategic organization as other branches of our military,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Having a permanent Coast Guard Secretary will make the organization even more effective and enhance our national security. I’m proud to join this legislation with Sen. Rick Scott to give President Trump full authority to nominate a Secretary of the Coast Guard and further his mission of Peace Through Strength.” Currently, all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have a dedicated Secretary overseeing operations and representing the branch. However, the Coast Guard lacks a civilian executive leader, in an organization responsible for protecting 95,000 miles of coastline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of the U.S. exclusive economic zone. This legislation creates, in statute, a Secretary of the Coast Guard to run as the leader of the branch. Upon this bill becoming law, the President would have the authority to nominate a Secretary of the Coast Guard subject to Senate confirmation. Full text of the bill can be found HERE. BACKGROUND: Sen. Sullivan has consistently championed support for and robust investments in the Coast Guard to include the homeporting of four icebreakers in Alaska – specifically, three Arctic Security Cutters and the Cutter Storis. Sen. Sullivan worked to pass the budget reconciliation bill that was signed into law in 2025. Because of Sen. Sullivan’s strong advocacy in the negotiations, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act made the largest investment in the U.S. Coast Guard in history—$25 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, including: 16 new icebreakers—three Polar Security Cutters (heavy icebreakers), three Arctic Security Cutters (medium polar icebreakers), and 10 light and medium icebreaking cutters; 22 new cutters—nine Offshore Patrol Cutters, 10 Fast Response Cutters, and three Waterways Commerce Cutters; More than 40 new helicopters, six new C-130J aircraft, three new river cutters, and new maritime surveillance equipment (Many of these new Coast Guard aviation and ship assets will be coming to Alaska); $300 million for the homeporting of the Juneau icebreaker , the Storis ; and $4.379 billion to repair docks, hangars, and shore facilities and replace aging infrastructure, funds that will help address the Coast Guard’s nationwide infrastructure backlog, as found in communities like Sitka, Seward, Kodiak and St. Paul. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article