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Chair warns Coast Guard is "falling behind" on acquisitions, presses for restoration of search-and-rescue stations
Summary
In opening remarks at Carver Hall, the chair cited a GAO report saying the Coast Guard is behind on acquisition and procurement targets and criticized station closures that reduced SAR coverage; the chair pressed witnesses on timelines to reconstitute 42 SAR-focused stations.
The chair opened a congressional oversight hearing at Carver Hall, saying Congress must scrutinize ‘‘transformational change’’ at the Coast Guard driven by recent authorizations, reconciliation funding and Force Design 2028.
The chair pointed to a 2025 Government Accountability Office report, saying, "GAO reports the Coast Guard is not only falling behind its acquisition and procurement targets," and warned that operational decisions "have actively harmed" the service's ability to carry out essential duties.
Citing specific findings, the chair said personnel shortages have led the Coast Guard to close 23 seasonal boat stations and reduce search-and-rescue coverage associated with 19 other stations, a change that "has put a strain on local first responders." The chair called it "unacceptable" that dozens of stations closed or were downgraded since 2024 and stressed that reduced coverage can have "life or death consequences."
The chair invoked the Commandant's framing of the SAR mission as a "sacred trust with the American people" and asked when the service will "reconstitute 42 search and rescue focused stations," signaling that witnesses will be pressed for specific restoration timelines during questioning.
The hearing will continue with testimony from the Coast Guard's witnesses, including Vice Admiral Douglas Schofield and Ms. Triana McNeal, who were invited to address implementation of recent authorizations and reconciliation funding.
