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Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan was removed by the Trump administration on Tuesday, President Trump's first full day in office. In 2022, Fagan became the first woman to lead a branch of the US military.
Fagan was relieved of his duties Monday night workforce-wide message By Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman.
“Under my statutory authority as Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I have relieved Admiral Linda L. Fagan of her duties as Commandant of the United States Coast Guard,” the brief message said in part. “He had a long and illustrious career and I thank him for his service to our country.”
Coast Guard commandants are appointed to serve a four-year term, and Fagan had served two years.
A senior DHS official said in a statement that Fagan was terminated “due to his leadership shortcomings, operational failures, and inability to advance the U.S. Coast Guard's strategic objectives.”
Specifically, the official said he was critical of the border, citing “inadequate coordination” with DHS on operations at maritime borders and “ineffective deployment of Coast Guard assets to support efforts to interdiction of fentanyl and other illicit substances.” Failed to address security threats.
The official also cited “significant shortcomings” in recruitment and mismanagement, including “[i]”Adequate accountability for the acquisition failures exposed during the Trump 45 administration.”
During his tenure as head of the service, Fagan worked to increase recruitment and retention of personnel amid declining numbers in the US armed forces. last year, As reported by CBS NewsFor the first time since 2007, the U.S. Coast Guard met its recruiting goals for its active-duty workforce, reserves and officers.
And Hagen was also criticized by the official “[e]Excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, including at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, diverts resources and attention from operational imperatives.”
Following previous revelations, Fagan worked to rebuild trust in the halls of Congress and within the agency's own ranks. the coast guard made a mistake Allegations of sexual harassment and assault. But the official said there has been a “failure to adequately address systemic issues” and blamed Fagan for a “leadership culture reluctant to ensure accountability and transparency in the safety of service members.”
Adm. Kevin Lunde, the service's No. 2 commanding officer, was named acting Coast Guard commandant, Huffman notes. Lunde became Vice Commandant last June.
The Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has faced budget shortfalls for many administrations. Several recent commandants, including Fagan, had urged lawmakers to fund the construction of new ships and the repair of older ships to assist in the service's growing global role in protecting national security. Last year, the Coast Guard officially welcomed its first polar icebreaker in more than 25 years.
Trump adviser Elon Musk, who leads the new administration's effort to cut costs in the federal government, did not explicitly confirm Fagan's termination but Wrote on X in response to the news That “undermining the US military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable.”
fox news was the first to report the news of Fagan's ouster.
Contributed to this report.