Trump dismisses 4-star Coast Guard leader
Adm. Linda Fagan has become the first senior military officer to be dismissed under the new administration.
TroibNews 
Homeland Security officials have dismissed Adm. Linda Fagan from her position as the Coast Guard’s commandant, as indicated in a message sent to service members — marking the first time a top military officer has been fired under the Trump administration.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman announced in his message that Fagan had been relieved of her duties, with Adm. Kevin E. Lunday stepping in as the acting commandant.
While the note did not specify the reasons for her removal, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Fagan was let go for her failure to address border threats and for overseeing delays and cost overruns in key Coast Guard programs, including icebreakers and helicopters. The official also noted concerns about Fagan's "excessive focus" on diversity and inclusion initiatives, which allegedly diverted attention and resources from operational priorities.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official pointed to a 2020 Coast Guard report detailing years of sexual harassment and assault within the ranks, a document that Fagan’s predecessor had withheld from Congress. This report “underscored a leadership culture unwilling to ensure accountability and transparency in protecting service members,” according to the official.
Fox News was the first outlet to report on Fagan's departure, which took place just hours after President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting diversity and inclusion programs.
Trump has consistently vowed to eliminate so-called woke generals and military leaders who advocate for diversity, a sentiment echoed by Pete Hegseth, the administration’s nominee for Pentagon chief.
Inquiries directed to the Defense Department, Coast Guard, and National Security Council were referred to the Department of Homeland Security for comments.
Adm. Fagan was notable for being the first female service chief in a branch of the U.S. military. During her tenure, she faced bipartisan criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill related to long-standing issues with how the Coast Guard handled allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
The decision to fire Fagan prompted immediate backlash from some senior Democratic lawmakers. “President Trump’s unprecedented decision on day one to fire a service chief ahead of her scheduled departure is an abuse of power that slanders the good name and record of Admiral Fagan,” stated Rep. Joe Courtney, who serves as the ranking member on the House Armed Services’ seapower subcommittee.
Challenging the claims made by government officials, Courtney noted that the Coast Guard had surpassed recruitment goals, intercepted $2.5 billion in illegal drugs during 2024, accelerated icebreaker production, and initiated efforts to address the cover-ups of sexual misconduct.
Other Democratic representatives expressed similar sentiments. In a statement, Sen. Maria Cantwell remarked, “The Commandant who stood up to clean up this mess instead of burying it should be rewarded, not dismissed.” She added that dismissing a commandant at the discretion of a new President sets a troubling precedent.
The Coast Guard has faced significant budgetary challenges for years, with successive commandants advocating for increased funding to acquire new vessels and maintain older ones as the service’s global mission demands have grown.
Connor O’Brien contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman announced in his message that Fagan had been relieved of her duties, with Adm. Kevin E. Lunday stepping in as the acting commandant.
While the note did not specify the reasons for her removal, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Fagan was let go for her failure to address border threats and for overseeing delays and cost overruns in key Coast Guard programs, including icebreakers and helicopters. The official also noted concerns about Fagan's "excessive focus" on diversity and inclusion initiatives, which allegedly diverted attention and resources from operational priorities.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official pointed to a 2020 Coast Guard report detailing years of sexual harassment and assault within the ranks, a document that Fagan’s predecessor had withheld from Congress. This report “underscored a leadership culture unwilling to ensure accountability and transparency in protecting service members,” according to the official.
Fox News was the first outlet to report on Fagan's departure, which took place just hours after President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting diversity and inclusion programs.
Trump has consistently vowed to eliminate so-called woke generals and military leaders who advocate for diversity, a sentiment echoed by Pete Hegseth, the administration’s nominee for Pentagon chief.
Inquiries directed to the Defense Department, Coast Guard, and National Security Council were referred to the Department of Homeland Security for comments.
Adm. Fagan was notable for being the first female service chief in a branch of the U.S. military. During her tenure, she faced bipartisan criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill related to long-standing issues with how the Coast Guard handled allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
The decision to fire Fagan prompted immediate backlash from some senior Democratic lawmakers. “President Trump’s unprecedented decision on day one to fire a service chief ahead of her scheduled departure is an abuse of power that slanders the good name and record of Admiral Fagan,” stated Rep. Joe Courtney, who serves as the ranking member on the House Armed Services’ seapower subcommittee.
Challenging the claims made by government officials, Courtney noted that the Coast Guard had surpassed recruitment goals, intercepted $2.5 billion in illegal drugs during 2024, accelerated icebreaker production, and initiated efforts to address the cover-ups of sexual misconduct.
Other Democratic representatives expressed similar sentiments. In a statement, Sen. Maria Cantwell remarked, “The Commandant who stood up to clean up this mess instead of burying it should be rewarded, not dismissed.” She added that dismissing a commandant at the discretion of a new President sets a troubling precedent.
The Coast Guard has faced significant budgetary challenges for years, with successive commandants advocating for increased funding to acquire new vessels and maintain older ones as the service’s global mission demands have grown.
Connor O’Brien contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
