Coast Guard commander fired over border blunder, DEI Focus: Source

Exclusive: The commander of the U.S. Coast Guard has been fired over concerns about the border, recruiting and “erosion of trust,” a senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed to Fox News.

Adm. Linda Lee Fagan, 61, has been fired by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman, the official said.

Fagan demonstrated leadership flaws, operational failures, and an inability to advance the Coast Guard's strategic goals.

These include a failure to address border security threats, inadequate leadership on recruitment and retention, mismanagement of key procurements such as icebreakers and helicopters, an over-focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and mishandling and cover-ups that resulted in ” Erosion of trust”. Operation Dirty Anchor was the Coast Guard's internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.

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Admiral Linda Fagan. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Fagan is accused of failing to effectively deploy Coast Guard assets to support national border security, including interdicting fentanyl and other illicit substances. She also has insufficient coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize operations along the coastal border.

Homeland Security officials said Fagan made significant recruiting errors that exacerbated problems related to operational readiness. The official added that the lack of innovative strategies to address retention issues in key professions undermines workforce sustainability.

Under her leadership, procurement of critical platforms such as icebreakers and helicopters has also continued to experience delays and cost overruns, which the official said has undermined the Coast Guard's capabilities in the Arctic and other strategic areas. The official further cited the lack of accountability for failed acquisitions that was highlighted during President Trump's first administration.

Fagan also made DEI policy a priority, including at the Coast Guard Academy, which diverted resources and focus away from operational points.

The Coast Guard says six suspects were involved in deadly human smuggling incidents over the past week.

Adm. Linda Fagan attends the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Change of Command Ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., June 1, 2022. (Getty Images)

The cover-up of sexual assaults at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy during Operation Dirty Anchor “deeply eroded the trust of the American public, the U.S. Congress, and the military in the Coast Guard.” Although Operation Foul Anchor existed from 2014 to 2019, the Coast Guard did not disclose its existence until 2023.

Fagan was grilled by senators this summer when she testified at a hearing on Capitol Hill that she was questioned about not holding anyone accountable for the cover-up and withholding information requested by members of Congress about the Army Academy's handling of the matter. Inappropriate extra files.

The official said the failure to adequately address the systemic issues revealed by the investigation highlights a “culture of leadership” unwilling to ensure accountability and transparency that protects service members.

Adm. Linda Fagan speaks during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., June 11, 2024 (Getty Images)

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Fagan will serve as the 27th Commander of the Coast Guard on June 1, 2022. She is tasked with overseeing all Coast Guard operations worldwide as well as 42,000 active duty personnel, 7,000 reservists and 8,700 civilian personnel, as well as providing support to the 21,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers.

She was the first woman to lead the Coast Guard or any branch of the U.S. military.