Admiral Linda Fagan ousted as Coast Guard commander over border, recruiting concerns: Report

Image source: US Coast Guard

Admiral Linda Lee Faganhas been terminated as commandant of the US Coast Guard by acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, Fox News reports.
According to the report, Fagan’s removal comes amid concerns about her leadership on issues such as border security, recruitment, resource management and transparency. Her tenure was marred by allegations of failing to effectively deploy Coast Guard assets to intercept illegal drugs like fentanyl and inadequate coordination with DHS on maritime border security operations. Recruiting and retention under her leadership also suffered, and the Coast Guard struggled to fill critical roles.
Persistent delays and cost overruns in the acquisition of essential platforms, such as icebreakers and helicopters, undermined the Coast Guard’s strategic capabilities, particularly in the Arctic region. Critics also accused Fagan of prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over operational needs and diverting resources from core tasks, writes Fox News.
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According to Fox News, a key issue in Fagan’s removal was the handling of Operation Foaled Anchoran internal investigation into cases of sexual abuse at the Coast Guard Academy. The investigation, conducted from 2014 to 2019, was not published until 2023. Fagan was criticized for not holding individuals accountable for the cover-up.
Fagan, appointed on June 1, 2022, made history as the first woman to lead the Coast Guard or any branch of the US military.