Hegseth, Noem Back Coast Guard Secretary Proposal
Senior administration officials Pete Hegseth (Secretary of War) and Kristi Noem (Homeland Security) publicly endorse creating a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard — a change included as a provision in the House‑passed Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — arguing it would strengthen civilian oversight, streamline bureaucracy and better integrate the service into national security operations such as Operation Pacific Viper. Rep. Mike Ezell sponsored the provision in the bill; Noem pledged to work with President Trump and lawmakers to enact the change.
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Hegseth, Noem on board with ‘vital step’ to create Coast Guard secretary amid Trump’s drug smuggling crackdown
New information:
- Pete Hegseth wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calling creation of a Secretary of the Coast Guard a 'vital step' to improve strategic integration.
- The idea is embedded as a provision in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which the House passed in July 2025; Rep. Mike Ezell spearheaded the measure.
- Kristi Noem said the new secretary would aid joint operations (cited example: Operation Pacific Viper) and pledged to work with President Trump and Congress to create the position.