Trump administration terminates Coast Guard commandant over her management and DEI policies
Linda Fagan, who had served as the corps' leader until now, was responsible for several failures in maritime border management and for implementing recruiting and inclusion policies that were criticized as overly "woke."
Admiral Linda Fagan speaks at the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
Admiral Linda Fagan was removed from her post as commandant of the Coast Guard on Tuesday by order of the White House. Fagan is the first high-ranking military officer to be removed from her post since Trump took office.
During the Biden administration, Fagan became the first woman to be the top official of one of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Her dismissal is based on practical reasons. According to sources within the Department of Homeland Security, as reported by Fox, her DEI policies and failure to maintain security at the maritime borders contributed to her removal from the Coast Guard.
According to these sources, she is accused of poor leadership in recruitment and retention, mismanagement in acquiring critical systems like icebreakers and helicopters, and an excessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
"You have served a long and illustrious career, and I thank you for your service to our nation," said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman in a message to the Coast Guard.
In addition to the reasons cited by FOX's DHS sources, there is also an "erosion of trust" due to her mismanagement and attempted cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, the Coast Guard’s internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.
DEI policies and lack of rigor in Fouled Anchor
The operation ran from 2014 to 2019 but was not made public until 2023. At a summer hearing before Congress, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan faced tough questions from senators. Lawmakers criticized her for failing to hold anyone accountable for the cover-up and for withholding requested documents about the academy's mishandling of the matter.
Senators pressed Fagan on the lack of transparency and demanded reforms to address systemic failures. One official said the Coast Guard's response highlights a "culture of leadership" that avoids accountability and transparency in protecting its members.
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