▶ 0:09:12Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation will come to order. I ask unanimous consent that the chairman be authorized to declare a recess at any time during today's Without objection, so ordered. I also ask unanimous consent that members not on this subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at today's hearing and ask questions. Without objection, so ordered.
▶ 0:09:41As a reminder, if members insert a document into the record, please also email it to documents ti@mail.house.gov. I now recognize myself for the purpose of an opening statement for 5 minutes. Admiral Allen, thank you for joining us today to discuss the Coast Guard's plans for the future.
▶ 0:10:02You have been in your role in an acting capacity for a while now, but since the Senate has acted on your confirmation, I want to congrat- congratulate you on the formal assumption the assumption of the role of Vice Commandant. We look forward to working with you.
▶ 0:10:18Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to recognize Aviation Survival Technician Tyler Jagger's, who tragically passed away last week in the line of duty after sustaining injuries during a search and rescue mission off the coast of Washington. The committee expresses its deepest condolences to Tyler Jagger's family, loved ones, and shipmates.
▶ 0:10:43And we'll just have just a moment of It's so often that we hear accounts of successful rescue missions in the most hazardous and daunting conditions by Coast Guard helicopter and motor lifeboat crews that it can be easy to forget that each mission entails a great deal of risk and sacrifice to the men and women who unhesitatingly risk their lives so that others may
▶ 0:11:15This tragedy serves as a powerful reminder that the selfless service that our Coasties provide to our great nation can come at a high price. As Congress, we must ensure that the men and women of the Coast Guard equipped with the tools and resources they need to safely and effectively do their jobs. To that end, we will hear testimony today discussing the Coast Guard's plans to strengthen the service for future mission needs. Admiral Allen, thank you again for joining us today and your staff.
▶ 0:11:45For decades, the Coast Guard has suffered from chronic underinvestment and readiness challenges as it has struggled to maintain aging vessels and shoreside infrastructure and no substantial increase in funding. Last year, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which with nearly 25 billion to the Coast Guard to reverse the trend of underinvestment and put a down payment on service's future.
▶ 0:12:12The subcommittee is hopeful that this massive injection of funds, 15 years worth of annual procurement funding, will help right the ship. However, the Coast Guard's performance record of executing major acquisition projects leave much to be desired. Most service acquisition programs, including the Polar Security Cutter and the offshore uh patrol cutter, have been delayed by years and are significantly overbudget.
▶ 0:12:40In the past 12 months, the Coast Guard has canceled contracts for one national security cutter and two offshore patrol Simultaneously, efforts to modernize the service's aviation assets have been hampered by the MH-60s being forced into early retirement due to limits on the airframe hours and the early retirement of C-27s after never achieving full As the subcommittee has reiterated in past hearings, the failure to acquire
▶ 0:13:10new service and air assets and the source so shoreside infrastructure to support them is a crisis for the Coast Guard. Without them, the service will be unable to perform its mission. To ensure proper oversight, Congress requires yearly capital investment plans and major acquisition reports. These plans are not optional. They are required by law. Yet the Coast Guard has repeatedly failed to produce them.
▶ 0:13:38The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 required a report on service's mitigation plan to provide statutorily required reports to Congress, which was due on February 26th. To date, we have not received that Combined with the historic investment that were supported by President Trump's leadership, the service is undertaking a modernization effort known as Force Design 2028.
▶ 0:14:07When complete, the Coast Guard envisions a significantly larger service with greater capabilities that can leverage new technologies and all while streamlining bureaucracy and improving acquisition processes. I can only hope the service's vision is matched with a budget request to support Admiral Allen and I applaud the Coast Guard for taking the first steps toward ensuring the service's future.
▶ 0:14:30I am optimistic that you and Admiral Landry will get set the course straight for improved and strengthened service that will be well equipped to support the American public. I look forward to hearing your testimony. I now recognize Ranking Member Carbajal for an opening statement for 5 minutes.
▶ 0:14:50Before I begin, I'd like to request unanimous consent to submit Ranking Member Larsen's statement into the
▶ 0:14:56Without objection.
▶ 0:14:57Uh good morning and thank you uh Chair Ezell for calling today's hearing. The Coast Guard has reached an inflection point. Last year, it received $25 billion, and this administration is currently overhauling various aspects of the service with Force Design 2028.
▶ 0:15:15I am eager to discuss the status of these The Force Design 2028 overview provides a roadmap for readiness and personnel changes, but offers few specifics on how the Coast Guard plans to reach and sustain its goals. To be successful in its efforts, the service should develop comprehensive plans before making rash decisions.
▶ 0:15:35For instance, instead of blindly following the lead of Secretary of Defense or former Secretary Noem, should have considered the merits and consequences of firing 25% of the Coast Guard's flag officer corps. Ongoing readiness are also disrupted when personnel and resources are diverted to hyper-fixation on southern border missions.
▶ 0:15:58This pattern of disruption needs to be mitigated, and I fear that the Coast Guard is not appropriately considering the service-wide impacts. Readiness efforts are also hamstrung when the Coast Guard funding is commandeered for other purposes, like the purchase of two G7 luxury jets for former Secretary Noem.
▶ 0:16:20Former Assistant to the Secretary of the Coast Guard, Shawn Plankey, told Congress that President Trump personally approved the purchase of the luxury planes, and that the department was planning to reimburse the service. I'm anxious to hear whether the reimbursement has taken place. In any event, I am hopeful that new civilian leadership will help chart a better course at the Coast Guard. I care deeply about Coasties and ensuring that they have the equipment, facilities, and resources they deserve.
▶ 0:16:50The expenditure of reconciliation funding and the implementation of Force Design 2028 must prioritize service While reconciliation funding ensures a recapitalization of assets, a larger operations budget is also imperative to ensure personnel needs are sufficiently met. don't operate without Coasties.
▶ 0:17:15Shore-side infrastructure is strained by the existing needs of 45,000 personnel and a $7 billion infrastructure backlog recently reported by the GAO. Given the administration's goal of increasing the size of the service to I am anxious to understand what size operations and support budget will be required to support that growth. I am optimistic about the Coast Guard's readiness trajectory.
▶ 0:17:43I stand ready to work with new leadership at the department to ensure that we uphold the Coast Guard's model of semper paratus. Finally, I would like to conclude my remarks by honoring the life and character of aviation survival technician second class Tyler Jaggers, who tragically passed away from injuries sustained while rescuing a distressed mariner at sea. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family.
▶ 0:18:10His selflessness is a reminder of the heroism that he and other service members tirelessly embody every day and of the steadfast support that they and their loved ones deserve deserve. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
▶ 0:18:26Gentlemen, yield. Briefly, I'd like to take a moment to explain the lighting There are three lights in front of you. Green means go, yellow means running out of time, and red means wind it up. I ask unanimous consent that the witness' full statement be included in the record. Without objection, so ordered. I ask unanimous consent that the record of today's hearing remain open until such time as our witness has provided answers to any questions that may be submitted to them in writing.
▶ 0:18:56Without objection, so ordered. I also ask unanimous consent that the record remain open for 15 days for any additional comments and information submitted by members or the witness to be included in the record of today's Without objection, so ordered. As your written testimony has been made part of the record, the committee asks that you limit your oral remarks to 5 minutes. With that, Admiral Allen, you are recognized for 5 minutes for your
▶ 0:19:26Chairman Azell, ranking member Carbajal, distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and your support and advocacy of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is a vital instrument in national power in great demand now than ever before. Our people who volunteer to serve are greatest strength.
▶ 0:19:49At home and abroad, our brave men and women conduct operations often in harm's to safeguard the American people and our way of life. Service readiness starts with our crews and their families. And supporting them is our highest The Coast Guard delivers value to the nation every day by performing our We control, secure, and defend the US border and maritime approaches.
▶ 0:20:19We ensure the flow of commerce that is vital to America's economic prosperity and strategic mobility. And we successfully respond to crisis at a moment's notice. The American people depend on us and we provide a remarkable return on investment but only with consistent and predictable appropriations.
▶ 0:20:42With the strong leadership and support of President Trump, the department and this Congress, the Coast Guard is implementing bold new actions to address severe readiness challenges caused by decades of We thank this subcommittee for your advocacy and support in delivering the historic $25 billion capital investment in the Coast Guard and for the legislative relief provided to wave certain pre-acquisition requirements.
▶ 0:21:11Reconciliation funding is fueling force design 2028 to renew the Coast Guard to become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force. The Coast Guard is undergoing the most significant modernization and recapitalization in at least a century. We are rapidly converting budget reconciliation funding into new capabilities to rebuild readiness today and into the future.
▶ 0:21:37In the first 9 months, we use legislative relief provided by this subcommittee to rapidly obligate nearly $9 billion to buy new cutters, aircraft, technology, and shore Moreover, our acquisition professionals provided stewardship over these funds, generating contracts that will deliver vital assets at speed.
▶ 0:22:03Building on this momentum, we will obligate more than $18 billion reconciliation funding by the end of this fiscal year. However, this investment is only a down payment, not the finish line. Coast Guard operations depend on more than steel to operate.
▶ 0:22:20We must have consistent funding, predictable depot level maintenance, and spare parts to keep our assets They must include well-built piers, aircraft hangars, home ports, and facilities. Most importantly, they require Coast Guard men and women who are well-trained and equipped to execute our missions.
▶ 0:22:43And finally, we need support systems for our crews and their families, including quality housing, medical services, and child care. We must grow our military workforce by 15,000 members to restore readiness, operate the expanded fleet Congress provided through reconciliation and deploy the new capabilities required to meet growing demands and evolving We need your support for significant, sustained, and reliable
▶ 0:23:13higher annual top-line growth in operating funds and capital investments starting with fiscal year 26 appropriations. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention we are now in the fifth week of the DHS shutdown, which is placing increased strain on the Coast Guard as uncertainty and disrupted support affect the workforce and our mission execution. Civilian employees remain furloughed or working without pay.
▶ 0:23:42Although our people continue to execute critical missions, the Coast Guard depends on timely congressional action to restore funding, ensure the continued readiness of the service, and the stability of our workforce and their With your continued support, we will ensure the Coast Guard will remain Semper Paratus, always ready. Thank you for the opportunity to appear here before you today and for your unwavering support of our Coast Guard men and women. I look forward to your
▶ 0:24:11Thank you, Admiral. Admiral, the the Coast Guard owes the committee approximately 100 reports and briefings that are required by law, many of which are years overdue. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 required the Coast Guard to provide the committee an accounting of overdue reports and a strategy to address the backlog. Can you give us a status report?
▶ 0:24:37Sir, thank you for that question. Yeah, that by September we owe you 108 reports, almost one every other day to be able to provide what you're asking us in the authorization. We are also going to continue and we want to get better at providing individual briefings to keep you up to date on the status of major acquisitions and where we're going. And we also want to answer those day-to-day questions that come up that are so vital for you and able to be able to quickly respond to appropriations or authorizations that are coming.
▶ 0:25:08We are working on that, sir. I will tell you that is a a lot of work to do. There's a lot to be answered and I think in some of the cases we know that some of the deadlines that we got put on us as that appropriation got passed were not executable in that time. But we are, myself and Admiral Waite, committed to getting those things to you because we think you are important partner in helping us move forward.
▶ 0:25:31We are definitely your partner. I just want to make sure you can get a sum by the end of the month. You reckon? Thank you.
▶ 0:25:38Yes, sir.
▶ 0:25:38Force Design 2028 calls for the establishment of a service secretary similar to those of other military As you know, I introduced legislation to establish such a position. How will such dedicated civilian leadership benefit the service?
▶ 0:25:56Sir, I think as we've seen in the other services, civilian control of merit military is a very important part of how we operate and what we can do to deliver for the American people. This last year, as we saw some increased civilian control of the military for the Coast Guard, we ended up with a $25 billion historic appropriation that we've never seen before. We were able to work with you closely in getting a number of things in in our authorization that are going to help us continue to move forward.
▶ 0:26:26So we think having a Secretary of the Coast Guard allowing us to have the same footing as the other services is great. Report to that service secretary and then we'll have the added responsibility, the commandant, of being an operational commander and reporting to that service secretary on the operations we're conducting.
▶ 0:26:43Thank you. $75 million of funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was provided for autonomous maritime I understand the Coast Guard's intention is to use the funding to procure unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned aircraft system sensors, and unmanned surface vessel services. That seems to be a pretty wide range of uses.
▶ 0:27:10What's the Coast Guard's definition of autonomous maritime system and the source of that
▶ 0:27:17Sir, we are happy to say and I will tell you I testified before you guys 2 years ago as DC Mass, and you said, "When are we going to get to automated?" And we said, "We need some funding." You got us that funding, and we are going after automated. In the maritime environment, we've actually stood up a PEO that is actually looking at that. So, everything from acquisitions to lifetime support to how we will maintain it. We are defining that.
▶ 0:27:42I got to tell you we're doing a lot of RFIs to figure out what those best systems are and to take the best use of systems that already exist and put them into operations. Now, that includes Sail Drone, that includes small UASs, medium UASs, and and long-range UASs. We're doing a lot of studying to make sure we get the right mix because it is a big future investment in where we're going.
▶ 0:28:08Very good. Can you explain how the Coast Guard's proposal to spend the this funding on ground vehicles and aircraft comply with the requirement to contract the services of, acquire, or procure autonomous maritime systems?
▶ 0:28:25Yes, sir. So, as as we talk about autonomous systems in the maritime environment, as you know, we have specialized teams like the Gulf Strike Team, like the Pacific Strike Team, and Atlantic Strike Team that that respond in a bunch of different incidents to to handle hazardous materials. They've had old UASs that move on ground, move on wheels to be able to to some of those dangerous missions in areas where we don't want humans in and around.
▶ 0:28:50So, we're taking this time to update some of those and make sure that our crews have the most uh technology technologically advanced uh vehicles.
▶ 0:28:58Very good. Will you commit to get back to us with a detailed breakout of the proposal allocation for the $75 million appropriated for autonomous maritime systems, including how much the department plans to allocate for the contract for unmanned surface vessel
▶ 0:29:18Yes, sir. I will get that back to you. We can do that quickly. Yes, sir.
▶ 0:29:21Thank you. I yield back. Uh now recognize Mr. Carbajal for his 5 minutes.
▶ 0:29:26Thank you, Chairman Ezell. Admiral Allen, would you say a reduction in the flag officer quarter 25% has impacted the Coast Guard's ability provide those lagging over 100 reports to Congress?
▶ 0:29:44Sir, I uh I would tell you that our crews at the lower levels are the ones that actually making a lot of those reports. I think we we need to continue to drive and we need to uh make sure that we are increasing our flag core.
▶ 0:29:56Admiral Allen, could you give me a yes or no answer?
▶ 0:29:59Uh uh Ye- yes, sir.
▶ 0:30:02Thank you. Admiral Allen, while I'm thrilled that Congress provided the Coast Guard with a significant infusion of funding, I'm concerned with how you're spending it. Reconciliation provided funding for C-130s and a maritime domain awareness Instead, parts of the funding were used to purchase G7 luxury jets and counter UAV technology to support homeland security missions.
▶ 0:30:26Former S- special assistant to the secretary, Shawn Plankly, told us that former Secretary Nom promised to repay the service for those Has the Coast Guard been repaid yet?
▶ 0:30:39Sir, the uh money we used was fix wing money uh to purchase six C-130s. We are on track to purchase those six C-130s along with depot level maintenance, along with a simulator. And we've been in close connection with the department. We haven't been refunded at this point, but they are looking at how they would do that to make sure we get our six
▶ 0:30:59Thank you. Did the Coast Guard execute an MOU with the department before the
▶ 0:31:05Sir, could you repeat that? I'm sorry.
▶ 0:31:06Did the Coast Guard execute an MOU with the department before the purchases of those jets?
▶ 0:31:12Uh we've continuously had an MOU with the department for use of our our Lurkers, sir.
▶ 0:31:19Admiral while I would prefer not to know about the former secretary's blanket preferences, unfortunately, we all do. This is because a pilot was reportedly fired, [clears throat] rehired, and then reassigned after former Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowski forgot her blanket. Since the former secretary asked Congress to authorize a service secretary, what role do you believe political appointees should have in personnel matters?
▶ 0:31:51Sir, I think oversight of civilian oversight of military is always going to be important, and we look forward to that oversight to make sure that we are delivering what the department and nation needs.
▶ 0:32:03Admiral Allen, I'm concerned with the Coast Guard's ability to secure an appropriate level of operations and support funding required to operate new cutters entering the fleet. Including in that account, and among the most important, are the homes, health care, and child facilities child care facilities that Coasties use on a daily Please explain Operation Restore Habit Habitability and how it will help address acute issues affecting daily life of Coasties like
▶ 0:32:33water and mold remediation at Coast Guard housing like the one in Santa Barbara.
▶ 0:32:40Sir, thank you for that question. I think when you look at what OB3 provided reconciliation funding $25 billion, that was an investment in the Coast Guard. But But to your point, over the last few years, we are a $20 billion Coast Guard operating on a $13 billion budget. There are a number of items that we need to fund with especially with our O&S, our operation support funds, to be able to do what I talked about in my opening statement, support our families.
▶ 0:33:09With Force Design 2028 and increasing by 15,000 people with the support of the administration and the Congress, I think we can get there. We need 500 more medical people to be able to service not only our families, but our members. We need better access to housing and not only new housing, but the repair of existing housing like you said in Santa Barbara. We We need to do a better job there. When you go across all of our support programs, our support programs are lacking for our families.
▶ 0:33:38We need that increase, but I will tell you as you operate at at a $20 billion kind of level on $13 billion, it leaves a lot of unmet needs.
▶ 0:33:48Thank you. Admiral, as you know, my district includes Santa Barbara Harbor, which hosts a Marine Safety Detachment excuse me. And recently, the harbor was excluded from receiving federal operations and maintenance funding. The city of Santa Barbara has informed me that the lack of funding has now impacted US Coast Guard operations.
▶ 0:34:09With the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach beginning to experience operational impacts from shoaling in the harbor and recently canceled a patrol due to unsafe transit conditions. Can you provide me with an update on how the US Coast Guard coordinates with the US Army Corps of Engineers to ensure these types of issues are prevented and are there any specific updates in regards to Santa Barbara Harbor that you can share with me today?
▶ 0:34:37Sir, thank thank you for that question. I got to tell you in ports across the country we rely on the work of state, local, and federal partners to ensure that harbors are dredged and cleared. When they don't happen, those those costs end up trickling down to the Coast Guard to to fund. That is not one that we've had budgeted, that's not one we're doing, but we will work with the Army Corps of Engineers, we work will work with our state and local partners because if we're going to operate in that harbor, we've got to be able to get out to sea to rescue the people that are there.
▶ 0:35:07Thank you. I yield back.
▶ 0:35:08Gentlemen, you yield. Chair recognize Mr. McDow for his 5 minutes of question.
▶ 0:35:13Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Admiral Allen, for being here to testify before us today. I want to take you back to January 19th, 2025. Do you know the historical significance of that day?
▶ 0:35:30Sir, I'd say the day before the inauguration, but uh
▶ 0:35:33So, that was Joe Biden's last day in office, last full day. Do you know the significance of January the 20th?
▶ 0:35:41The first day of the President Trump in
▶ 0:35:43Do you know the historical significance of January 21st, 2025? I'm sure you don't, it was my birthday. Do you know the historical significance of July 4th, 2025?
▶ 0:35:59Uh 2025?
▶ 0:36:00Besides it being our country's 249th
▶ 0:36:03Yes, sir.
▶ 0:36:03That was the day that President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. Um Can you tell me what was the size of the investment that was made to the Coast Guard in that bill?
▶ 0:36:15Sir, it was $25 billion.
▶ 0:36:18And are you aware how many Democrats on the subcommittee voted in favor of that bill when it came to the floor of the
▶ 0:36:26I am not, sir.
▶ 0:36:27Zero. Uh are you aware of how many Democrats in this full committee voted to give you that $25 billion when it made it to the floor of the
▶ 0:36:38I am not, sir.
▶ 0:36:39It is zero. How about of all the Democrats in the house, do you know how many voted to give you that $25 billion investment? It's going to come as a no surprise, but it was also zero. I want to talk a little bit about the shutdown that we're in right now.
▶ 0:36:56Um and I have really it's just one simple question because uh I voted in favor of not shutting down uh the Department of Homeland Security for a a litany of reasons, but do you think that our country is more or less safe with the Department of Homeland Security shut down?
▶ 0:37:16Sir, we are providing vital national security um uh missions during the shutdown, but we are there's a lot of uh missions that are Coast Guard uh that the nation expects that we are not
▶ 0:37:29The Coast Guard you all do a lot of very incredible and important things uh for the safety of our country uh and and it kind of has a trickle effect to every district in in this country uh because you're the front line on our east and our west to stop uh drugs, criminals, all kinds of things from coming into our country.
▶ 0:37:54You do a great job of that, but it it sometimes get gets lost uh amid all of the other things that that the Coast Guard does um your role in cybersecurity. Uh and it it falls to you to protect our ports, our ships, uh and our terminals from cyberattacks. Can you talk for just a moment about the importance of the Coast Guard's cyber mission and how Force Design 2028 tackles that
▶ 0:38:25Yes, sir. So, when you talk about our marine transportation system, it's a $4.4 trillion system that provides economic benefit to the whole nation and is associated with 30 million jobs. We all are aware of the physical security aspects that we got to be aware of to to keep that flowing, but cyber is becoming an increasingly important one where we're at.
▶ 0:38:47We currently have three cyber teams that respond to incidents at the port level to be able to help and we think we need six to be able to continue to do that as we move forward.
▶ 0:38:59So, you kind of answered this, but you would agree that the Coast Guard today does not have the resources that you actually need or the capabilities that are necessary to protect marine transportation systems from cyber
▶ 0:39:16Sir, we think we have a bare minimum that can address issues. Yes, sir.
▶ 0:39:21So, I agree with your assessment that the Coast Guard's the men and women of the Coast Guard is your greatest strength and force design 2028 calls for increasing the the Coast Guard's workforce by at least 15,000 members and and given how members of our Coast Guard are at implementing the the operational and capital improvements that are planned in force design 2028,
▶ 0:39:52how do you intend to improve their quality of life and set up the newest members of the Coast Guard for success?
▶ 0:40:00Sir, thank you for that question because I think that's a very important question for us and one that our our teams and families are paying attention to. I think it has to start with medical, it has to be housing, it has to have child care and it has to be benefits that are on par with with Department of War uh partners. And all that takes additional people within the Coast Guard, it takes additional funding to be able to provide some of those benefits, and it takes more re- recapitalization of the housing and buying new that we have.
▶ 0:40:29Mr. Chairman, we can't do any of that while the government's shut down, but I'll yield back.
▶ 0:40:33Gentleman yields. The chair recognizes Ms. Strickland for her 5 minutes of
▶ 0:40:37Thank you very much, Chairman Ezell and Ranking Member Carbajal. Admiral Allen, thank you very much for being here today. I represent the South Puget Sound of Washington State, which is within the operational area of Sector Puget Sound. I first want to extend my deep condolences to the family and shipmates of Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Tyler Jaggers, who was stationed at Air Station Astoria in Oregon.
▶ 0:41:02AST2 Jaggers passed away from injuries sustained during a rescue mission about 120 nautical miles off the Oregon coast. My thoughts are with his family and crew of Air Station Astoria. I'm going to move over to workforce growth. Personnel are the foundation of Coast Guard operations. Force Design 2028 lays out an ambitious plan to address persistent workforce shortages and grow the enlisted workforce to meet escalating mission demands.
▶ 0:41:29I'm encouraged that the fiscal year 2025 data shows that the service exceeded its recruitment goals by more than 900 service members through the accession of 5,200 active duty enlisted service members that fiscal year. I want to talk about too that you know, the incident that happened with Secretary Noem, her blanket firing someone, finding out that the aviator was the only one who was actually going to be able to fly her back.
▶ 0:41:56Can you talk about the culture that is needed with civilian personnel when it comes to how they deal with our enlisted members?
▶ 0:42:03Ma'am, I think uh civilian control of military is uh built on top of the Constitution and and one that we welcome. Uh we will continue to make sure that uh our crews are ready and able to respond and meet the missions of the nation.
▶ 0:42:15Thank you. Now, I want to switch over to Coast Guard stations that were closed or downgraded as part of force alignment annual year 2024. As many of you know, workforce shortages forced the closure of more than 25 Coast Guard stations, many of which serve rescue missions, search and rescue missions, and they're very important for our maritime communities. As we strive to increase the size of the service by 33%, what are your plans to reconstitute the stations that were closed or downgraded during force
▶ 0:42:44Ma'am, thank you first for recognizing how well we're doing our sessions to bring in 5,200 new members. We're starting to close that gap of people that we we lost and we'll be able to kind of return them to the places that they need to be. We are not intending to close any of the FAI stations, the the stations that we degraded, and we're looking at how best to increase our staffing at those and get them back on a regular footing.
▶ 0:43:11Right, thank you very much. And for some of my colleagues, the Department of Homeland Security not being funded could be solved if we're able to take ICE and CPB out of the DHS funding. The good news is that there's a discharge petition coming soon to separate ICE from DHS funding, so I encourage all my colleagues to vote yes for the discharge petition and we can fund DHS. I yield back, Mr. Chair.
▶ 0:43:35General lady yields. Chair recognize Mr. Babin for 5 minutes of questions.
▶ 0:43:40Thank you, Mr. Chair. Admiral, Democrats in Congress have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security, including the Coast How is this impacting morale among Coast Guard members and their families?
▶ 0:43:56Sir, thank you for the question. I would say that when you look at readiness, one of the things we like to talk about is uncertainty is the biggest degraders of readiness. For our men and women, uh knowing whether we're going to get paid or not, uh is is a severe degrader of that readiness. Um we uh we know that many of them are out there trying to figure out if they're going to be able to pay rent this week. Uh are they going to be able to to buy groceries? Uh we've been able to find a couple ways to to keep them funded, but that is not guaranteed payback check to paycheck.
▶ 0:44:26And then our civilian people are not getting paid at all, and we know that especially with common GS series within Coast Guard within the DC area, they're probably going to start hopping to other agencies that are getting paid.
▶ 0:44:38Thank you. Can Can you provide some information on drug interdiction operations of the Coast Guard over the past year?
▶ 0:44:47Yes, sir. So, uh past year was a record year for us. So, we uh I'm just looking at my thing. We we uh interdicted lb. And I think that's uh of cocaine, and I think that's uh interesting number, but if you start to put that into uh kind of what that means, that's was $3.9 billion drugs we kept out of our uh US economy. And and more importantly, that was 206 million lethal doses that did not enter our streets.
▶ 0:45:14That is incredible. That That is American lives saved because of the Coast Guard's operations protecting our waterways, our borders. You know, important operations like these are placed in jeopardy when government funding for Homeland Security is held And Democrats in Congress are actually holding our law enforcement hostage by not passing uh this important funding Shifting gears a little bit
▶ 0:45:44uh to my home state of Alaska, does the Coast Guard currently have the shoreside infrastructure necessary to support sustained Arctic operations today, or are there capability gaps that you feel still need to be addressed?
▶ 0:45:58Sir, uh thank you for that question. The The we need to be closer in Alaska to be able to get to the Arctic especially as we look to buying Arctic security cutters and we're we're looking to announce some of that movement soon. But we do not have the infrastructure in there. We are going to need additional investments. We brought on the Coast Guard stories this summer. Our plans are to put her in Juno, but we are embarking on a $300 investment there to get her in the next two to three years.
▶ 0:46:24And we are very excited about that investment. As I've said before, it's important that the icebreakers be located near the ice and certainly that is in Alaska. What benchmarks or performance performance metrics is the service using to measure progress in reducing infrastructure backlog and how will Congress be kept informed of that
▶ 0:46:48So sir, thank you for that question. I think when you start looking at our shoreside infrastructure, we have an incredible backlog of of that. We know that it's at least $707 million plus another almost $8 million as we talked about before in the GAO estimate for our backlog. There's there's a lot of things that we need to do for our shoreside.
▶ 0:47:10We've certainly been focused on those assets that can get after the missions that the American public think, but every one of those starts and ends at a shore facility that needs some
▶ 0:47:21Absolutely and and as was mentioned previously, the budget reconciliation bill of last year provides shoreside infrastructure support. We recognize that housing, child care are also important components of of the entire package for families and those serving in our Coast Guard and we are working to make sure that those those assets are made available in regions where the Coast Guard is operating or will where they may operate
▶ 0:47:51in the future. We certainly appreciate the service of our men and women in the United States Coast Guard. We're doing everything we can to make sure that Department of Homeland Security is fully funded and we look forward to welcoming our Coast Guard members and families to Alaska as we execute on this next phase of the Coast Guard's mission. Thank you, Admiral, for your testimony today and I yield back.
▶ 0:48:17Gentleman yields. Chair recognizes Ms. McDonald Rivet for her 5 minutes of
▶ 0:48:22Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. And Admiral, I wanted to say thank you for being here. Thank you for the your service to our country and thank you for your patience through the continuous partisan finger pointing. Um I'm going to go a little bit in a in a different track. I am the very proud aunt of two Coasties. Uh and like all Michiganders, we got a ton of coastline, grateful for the service and the security of the Coast Guard. You are American heroes and should be celebrated as such.
▶ 0:48:50But I want to zoom in on the impact of the Coast Guard operations have in the district I represent. Um which is right here. Okay. So, within my district is Coast Guard station in the Saginaw River, which is responsible for the activity throughout Michigan's Saginaw Bay and over 20 miles of the Saginaw It's an invaluable resource to our region responding to water emergencies and generally patrolling the river.
▶ 0:49:17But like a lot of places in 2024, we saw a huge slash in the cuts to the hours and the services provided out of this Coast Guard station. particularly in the search and rescue operations down to 40 hours a week as Now, we love our we love our ice That's [laughter] That's the other thing about my district. So, with this change, what we've seen was Coast Guard response time drastically increasing.
▶ 0:49:47It's moments when we need instant support, it can take hours hours for the Coast Guard to provide it. And I wanted I know this is on your radar, but I wanted to give you a very um a couple of examples. A US Coast Guard helicopter takes an hour and 45 minutes to get to Saginaw Bay once it's dispatched. 1 hour to get crew assembled, 45 minute travel from Selfridge Air Base to Saginaw Bay.
▶ 0:50:12The Coast Guard Tawas search and rescue team, the closest fully operational facility, takes over an hour to respond if their airboats are available. So, what we've done is to fill the service gap, we've had to rely on local law enforcement and first responders and and frankly good Samaritans to assist in water rescues. One of them actually works on my team. Industrious Midwesterners, our residents, even we created a Facebook page to try to fill in the gaps in emergency coverage, but obviously we shouldn't have to do this.
▶ 0:50:42Um I don't need to tell you that if I fall through the ice, you don't have 2 hours for the Coast Guard to get there. So, in this winter alone, we have seen an an increase in in ice rescue incidences. Our local sheriff's office has had to lead in nearly 20 ice rescue calls this season due to the support lapse. Heroically, these first responders saved dozens of lives, but we know for a fact that local law enforcement needs more funding, not less.
▶ 0:51:07So, when our sheriff stepped up to act a capacity to respond to those life and death situations, it used to be covered by the federal but now it means less money for other operations we need to fund on the ground at home, and it's just it's not Moreover, the Saginaw River Coast Guard station serves as a border station on Lake Huron Huron, our country's northern border.
▶ 0:51:30As a Forest designed 2028 strategy directs calls for the US Coast Guard to defend the border and maritime approaches from dangerous drugs, our station is just exceedingly important to our national security. So, my question, Admiral, given the historic investment in the US Coast Guard and the increase in recruitment. Um, which is really important. It's also critically important that we restore full operations and staffing.
▶ 0:51:54Um, what's the timeline to restore full search and rescue operations at the Coast Guard station in the Saginaw
▶ 0:52:02So, ma'am, thank you for that and thank you for recognizing all the Coast Guard does up there. We we do enjoy and have a lot of crews up in Michigan. Two things, the the shortage of personnel we had was basically 1,500 people when it started a couple years ago. We were in dire needs to be able to reprioritize our our people and our We are we are coming out of that and while we have a lot of assessments, we're bringing on at a non-rates, you don't want our most junior people up there. You want skilled operators.
▶ 0:52:30So, we are looking at all the needs across Coast Guard. We are not planning to close any of those stations permanently and we will be working to fill them. I would say that right now our current track is within the next 18 months, but we can get you more detailed information on how we are doing it as we move along with our assessment.
▶ 0:52:49Yeah, thank you for that. I know that keep me apprised of the timeline on the Saginaw River station. My local sheriffs, my local folks are really asking almost daily about this. I also want to proudly say as one of the nephews in the Coast Guard that I have is actually a recruiter. So, he's he's doing his thing. Thank you very much, Admiral, and I yield back my time.
▶ 0:53:11General lady yields. We're going to have a second round here of questioning since we seem to have a little time. I recognize myself for 5 minutes. Admiral, the Coast Guard announced its intention to open an additional training center in Alabama. Did you prepare a business case for the additional training center? If so, will it will you share it with the committee?
▶ 0:53:35Yes, sir. So, I got to tell you I this Congress has been asking us to move faster and figure out how to solve some of our facility problems. I think this Burnham State College is going to do that. We we put out an RFI, we received 32 responses.
▶ 0:53:51I will tell you that the Burnham State College met 90% of our requirements and the cost is about $2 billion less than what we thought it would cost to build from a clear field and it certainly delivers. We'll be operating out of there this fall whereas anything that we would have built from the ground up would probably 5 to 8 years out.
▶ 0:54:16What's the Coast Guard's future plan for Cape May and do you still intend to invest the full 425 million made available for Cape May under the one big beautiful bill act?
▶ 0:54:28Sir, the training center Cape May will always be the birthplace of the Coast Guard enlisted workforce. We intend to keep them there and keep all of our sessions. I will tell you right now today in the Coast Guard, we have a gap of 280,000 square feet of training space that we need right now and if we are able to bring on the 15,000 people that we've talked about that we need so so vitally over the next couple years, that training deficit will raise to 1.2 million square feet.
▶ 0:54:58We are going to make a big investment within Training Center Cape May, but it's a small area and we may have to shift some people around and some things around, but you have our commitment that Training Center Cape May will continue to be the birthplace of the sole birthplace of the enlisted workforce in the long run.
▶ 0:55:16Okay, given your that your stated goal is to reach an additional 15,000 personnel by 2028, should we expect the FY27 budget request will reflect those resources needed?
▶ 0:55:31Yes, sir. We are working with the administration and while the president's budget hasn't been released yet, I think you'll be very happy with the number of personnel that it shows for an investment for the Coast Guard.
▶ 0:55:43I yield back.
▶ 0:55:45Mr. Carbajal, do you recognize?
▶ 0:55:47Thank you, Mr. Chair. uh are you aware of my colleagues, uh Representative McDonald and Representative Baggage, supported the big, ugly bill?
▶ 0:56:04Sir, no. I'm not.
▶ 0:56:05Well, that's the bill that took health care and supplemental nutrition food away from veterans, seniors, families across our nation, from millions of them. I want to give my two colleagues who spoke out today finger-pointing uh regarding Democrats an opportunity to show their fidelity to funding the Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA.
▶ 0:56:33There is actually a bill that has already been introduced, HR 7841, which would provide funding for Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA. Of course, it would separate ICE and CBP funding, and we can all agree to on that funding issue.
▶ 0:56:52But, they have an opportunity not be hypocrites and support funding the Coast Guard today by supporting HR Uh I urge my colleagues, uh Representative McDonald and Representative Baggage, to sign on to that bill, so we can can open up that part of our government and fund the Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA.
▶ 0:57:18And more so, today they even have another opportunity to sign the discharge petition that would bring that bill to the floor for a vote. So, I I just wanted to make that comment in light of the the finger-pointing that was done. And also thank you for answering the question if you knew if they supported taking health care away from the American people and food assistance from so many individuals, veterans, seniors, children, and families. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
▶ 0:57:48Gentlemen yields. Mr. Garamendi, go
▶ 0:57:53I thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh before I go to my questions, I want to uh bring to the committee's attention a group of students from Vallejo, uh in my district. Uh they are here to learn how we make good policy and good laws. And so we'll welcome those students. Uh thank you for a small diversion here.
▶ 0:58:17I think we're I want to go to several different places, but I'm compelled to go back to what we've worked on now for good 15 years. Uh yes, Admiral, you know I'm going to bring up the Uh in the uh what the uh ranking member calls the big ugly bill, there was $4.3 billion for the icebreaker program. I want to go into this in some depth.
▶ 0:58:46And I'd like you to explain to the committee uh where we are with the icebreaker program. I know that we're working on a collaborative effort with Finland and Canada. So please explain where we are and tell us that soon we will have a new heavy And you might describe what soon is in terms of years. So, Admiral, let's go into the icebreakers.
▶ 0:59:14Yes, sir. Sir, first I'll I'll I'll hit the polar security cutters, the the big heavy icebreakers that uh are the ones that that do the biggest work. Uh they're being built in Bollinger um uh Mississippi, and uh they Mississippi has really upped their game. We are at almost 99% on design, and we are phases of that cutters continuing to roll off. They they are making incredible progress.
▶ 0:59:43They're learning as they go, and we're going to be ready to obligate money for a second polar security cutter. We are expecting that first one in 2030. So, those still take a long time to to build. On the the step down, the Arctic security cutters, over the last 6 months, we've been very busy with those. We've been working some deals because we don't think we have right now the industrial base within the US to build them.
▶ 1:00:08So, we've been working with our Finland's Icepack Alliance. And what we're looking to do is really start the offshoring of those cutters and then bring them on. two two things we're doing. We've got two designs, the multi-purpose icebreaker that we're working with Rama and Bollinger to build, and we are going to build those, and they're going to be starting to come quickly. We're going to have two of the MPIs, the multi-purpose icebreaker, in 2028.
▶ 1:00:38So, we're already looking at crews and training and how we're going to do them. The other one we have is the multi-purpose polar going to be brought on. It's being built by Davies. They're going to start in Finland, and then they're going to bring that onshore into Texas. And we're going to be having one of those in '28, '29, '32, '33, and '34. So, our capacity with our Arctic security cutters to get to 11 quickly is is coming very rapidly.
▶ 1:01:10So, the current icebreaker, heavy icebreaker, there is significant design issues starting from zero by a company that never built an icebreaker before. Somebody made a mistake on that, but nonetheless, so the design is complete for the one heavy icebreaker. Will the second heavy icebreaker be similar design?
▶ 1:01:40So sir, the the two Yeah, the second heavy icebreaker will be the the same exact design and they'll be using what they learned in the first one to continue that and we're looking to get three of those. Yes, sir. And then the smaller icebreakers will be rolling out and [clears throat] they're going to be built in a consortium with Finland. I guess that's the Davies company.
▶ 1:02:04So sir, there's two. So Vigor Rama is working with Bollinger to bring six to to United States and then Davies is is working a sister ship very similar, but they'll bring five. So they'll start with two in Finland and then they'll onshore for three in Texas and and uh Bollinger working with Vigor Rama will build two in Finland and then bring back the four into the states.
▶ 1:02:32You did lay out the schedule three years out for the first of these smaller icebreakers.
▶ 1:02:39Yes, sir. It's a very aggressive timeline. It was really built upon the legislation that this committee provided us within reconciliation that allowed us to get over some of the hurdles that we've had before. Consistent building specific requirements allowed us to work with people that were building commercial like icebreakers and had designs that were close to mature and were able to use that to really speed up by almost two to four years the
▶ 1:03:10the delivery of these.
▶ 1:03:11Mr. Chairman, I think it would be helpful for the committee to have a written report from the uh Coast Guard laying out the schedules, the specific uh the specific issues that are out there, the money associated with each of these the heavy icebreakers and the medium Uh could you develop a uh signi- a complete report so that we can have that written information
▶ 1:03:41available to us?
▶ 1:03:43Yes, sir. In fact, uh what I'd like to do is commit to you that we had been uh and and we've let a lot go. We we really have uh quarterly updates on our all of our acquisitions and I'd like to get back to where we're providing those quarterly acquisitions to you uh with all those specifics.
▶ 1:03:58Well, it'll be up to the chairman if he wants that quarterly, but it would certainly be helpful that we have a periodic uh start with where we are today, the plans going forward for the next 6 years, I think, as I calculate this. Uh and year by year, what is expected, and then a periodic report on progress being made. Uh this thing has been totally screwed up in the previous decade.
▶ 1:04:23Uh so, the money is there and uh new management in place, meaning you, Admiral Allen. Uh and uh this has got to get this has to be done.
▶ 1:04:37Sir, you were right and I I would like to take some credit, but I I won't. I would say it's more the uh processes and things that you guys have allowed us to change within our acquisition process and truthfully having the money behind us, not just an idea that money's coming, uh is allowing us to accelerate that program.
▶ 1:04:54Mr. Chairman, if I might take one additional question. Uh the uh current Polar Star, the contract for the annual repair of that ship as it returns from Antarctic, has that contract been publicized? Has Has it been made? What's the status of the contract?
▶ 1:05:18Sir, that's a very important contract for us because it is our only heavy polar security cutter and we need it. I will tell you we are we have not announced the award of that but but I will tell you it is clear to us that we need more industrial base for ship repair and building on the West Coast because we need those guys to be strong to be able to support us.
▶ 1:05:39Uh Admiral, you and I know where you know where I'm going with this so I may as well say behind you are students from Vallejo, California. For the previous 5 the Polar Star has been um repaired on its return from Antarctic in Vallejo. Uh I assume well, I know that the company is going to bid again for that next 5-year contract.
▶ 1:06:06I'm not going to put my finger on the Well, I will put my finger on the scale It would be very beneficial to Vallejo and for the um if they had a reasonable chance at that
▶ 1:06:23Yes, sir.
▶ 1:06:24And we're in the process of looking to improve the repair facilities on the West Coast of Vallejo, the um the four dry docks that are available in that area. I Mr. Chairman, I got a lot of questions but I'm taking a lot of time so please excuse me. Thank you for the time.
▶ 1:06:48You You sure?
▶ 1:06:52Gentleman, yields.
▶ 1:06:54Uh I do have one more question.
▶ 1:06:56Well, go ahead.
▶ 1:06:58I I I think you may have may have caught the tail end of your discussion. It has to do with the um the training for the Coast Guard personnel that are being hired. I think you were talking about Cape May as I came in. I there's also a to purchase a closed uh university in I believe it's Alabama.
▶ 1:07:29Uh could you describe that? Uh is that moving forward? Is that an idea that's out there? Or is that a hard and fast? And if so, uh the details on the uh the contract or the purchase of that
▶ 1:07:44Sir, thank you for that question. So, um Coast Guard has a training deficit of uh space that we need right now. Uh that's 280,000 square feet of uh deficit that we have. As we project uh the oncoming of 15,000 people, that deficit goes up to 1.2 million square feet of of space that is needed. Uh in the fall, we did an RFI to look at what was available.
▶ 1:08:09We got 32 uh answers to that RFI, and we had a business case analysis to look at 90 elements on where we could do it. Uh Birmingham State College was the one that met 90% of them. It was the only one that is ready to move in this this uh summer. Uh and uh when we look at the cost associated with building from the ground up, it saves us about $2 billion.
▶ 1:08:32So, we uh we have provided notification to Congress of our intent to uh buy Birmingham State College and begin uh filling the gaps that we have for training, uh but we won't action that until the beginning of April.
▶ 1:08:46So, that contract that the purchase of that uh university is going to go forward, and that's going to be the second training site?
▶ 1:08:55So, sir, uh it will actually be our ninth training site that we have in the Coast Guard. So, we have, you know, out at Petaluma, we have uh sites. We have some in Alabama already, Uh the Coast Guard Academy, Cape May, What this will do is provide some capacity for kind of our mid-level, our what we like to call A school and C school. So, think of journey and master within their rates.
▶ 1:09:19It may provide some swing space for some of our other schools as we try and figure out how we increase capacity there and it may end up with some things going and changing. I will tell you that training center Cape May will always be the enlisted home of the workforce. The workforce is enlisted home.
▶ 1:09:37Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:09:38You're very welcome. when's the quarterly acquisition briefing going to
▶ 1:09:45Sir, I will make sure we get one to you in April. And can you tell us a little bit about this 280 square foot deficit?
▶ 1:09:54Yes, sir. So, when you look at where we are at and what we're doing, everything from uh just even Cape May, right? Cape May is really set up to be able to accommodate about 4,600 students, 42 to uh students a year. We are pushing 5,200 through there. If you go to one of our classes right now, you will go into a classroom that's built for about 80 and to to get through the aisles, it's 120 desks that I am squeezing through to get to the front to be able to talk to them. We have a deficit in our training
▶ 1:10:26I understand the Coast Guard intends to spend up to 227 million in utility improvements at the Coast Guard Yard. Uh can you provide background on why this project is needed and how will it be paid for? Uh does it come from reconciliation funds? Uh does the Coast Guard expect to have uh sufficient funds to purchase a uh dry dock?
▶ 1:10:49Yes, sir. Thank you for that. As we as we just talked about with Mare Island, we need to have more industrial base for our cutters and uh boats to to be able to go to. Uh Coast Guard Yard has always been a gem within the Coast Guard and and it's one we need to invest in. Uh through the help of this committee, you guys have been at the fore, you know, at at at times probably pulling us along, uh but we need to get there. We are looking to have a dry dock in there in 2030.
▶ 1:11:14We have to do some dredging, we have to do some shoreside work, and uh we're using a couple of the instruments that uh this committee has recommended to be able to do that quickly, uh so that we have things so that as OPC start to roll off line, they can go in those dry docks and get
▶ 1:11:30Very good. I understand the Coast Guard has completed its infrastructure development plan for the Coast Guard Beyond the funding included in the reconciliation bill, what's the Coast Guard's plan to execute on other projects envisioned under the approved
▶ 1:11:48Sir, so what I would say is the Coast Guard Academy uh through the work of the previous superintendent, uh Admiral Michael Johnson, and the current superintendent, have developed a plan that's a 25-year plan to replace well, replace or upgrade 41 of the buildings that are on there. Uh the five phases uh uh we don't even have a total cost on it. We know phase one is about $1.3 billion to get after in the next 5 years.
▶ 1:12:15Uh through the reconciliation, we were able to take $280 million and put it at that. So, we're going to have a survival rescue station, uh basically think uh pool and uh uh the ability to do rescue survival stuff in there, and we're building a brand new STEM building. So, that'll be $280 million. That gives us a good start. Uh I don't, you know, we we we've talked uh with uh this committee.
▶ 1:12:39We want to be able to to monetize that all, but I got to tell you, it's a 25-year plan, uh and and we are working in 5-year chunks.
▶ 1:12:48One more, maybe two. will the uh 473 million provided by the reconciliation bill for Cape May be spent at Cape May?
▶ 1:13:00Yes, sir. We we have a lot more costs at at Cape May than 473 million dollars. That just gets us started. Yes, sir.
▶ 1:13:07Thank you, Admiral. Does anybody else have anything? Where'd Rear Admiral go? Uh, we thank you. And uh, you know, if there are no further questions to ask by any members of the subcommittee we've not recognized anybody. Uh, seeing none, I can close the hearing for today. I would like to thank each and every one of our witnesses here today. The subcommittee stands
▶ 1:13:31Thank you.