Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem publicly endorsed a letter delivered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth supporting the creation of a secretary of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard has duties as both a federal law enforcement agency and a branch of the U.S. military. The other five branches in the armed service are led by civilian service secretaries. Secretaries direct policy, set strategic goals, represent the service to Congress and other branches of government, and carry out the president’s agenda.
Noem and others believe having a Coast Guard secretary will better equip the service to conduct joint operations with other branches of the armed forces.
“The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland,” Noem said. “Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives. Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trump’s mandate to rebuild the Service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world. I emphatically endorse and support Secretary Hegseth’s recommendation and look forward to working with him, President (Donald) Trump, and Congress to make this a reality.”