Members press Coast Guard on reorganization, overdue reports and statute vs. executive-order compliance
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Summary
Lawmakers pressed Admiral Lundy about a secretary-level reorganization, a 25% reduction in the flag corps under Force Design 2028, overdue statutorily required reports, and the Coast Guard's handling of a statute/executive order conflict over a recruitment/accession report.
Members of the House subcommittee questioned Admiral Kevin Lundy about personnel changes tied to Force Design 2028, the status of statutorily required reports, and the Coast Guard’s compliance with a statutory reporting requirement linked to diversity and inclusion matters.
The secretary’s Force Design 2028 directive calls for a reduction in the Coast Guard flag corps “by no less than 25%” to streamline decision-making. When asked whether the service had a detailed reorganization plan for the flag corps, Lundy said the Coast Guard was developing a detailed implementation plan and would brief the secretary and the committee once it was approved.
Why it matters: Ranking Member Salud Carbajal asked why the service would follow an executive order rather than a statute in producing a required recruitment/accession report, referencing Section 11249 of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022. Lundy said the Coast Guard is following executive-branch guidance and the Department of Homeland Security’s direction while understanding the committee’s frustration; he said the report submitted was the report that “stands for our submission.”
Supporting details: The chairman noted the Coast Guard owes the committee more than 50 legally mandated reports. Members also questioned personnel moves and timing: Lundy said he was consulted and took part in discussions before the secretary signed the memo directing flag reductions and that he will provide an implementation plan in writing.
What remained unresolved: Committee members requested written details on the reorganization’s accountability structure, the legal basis for following executive guidance in lieu of the committee’s understanding of statutory mandates, and a schedule for when overdue reports would be delivered.
Ending: The exchange underscored committee concerns about statutory compliance, transparency on senior-leader staffing decisions, and the need to reconcile executive-branch guidance with congressionally mandated reporting requirements.