Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025

This bill funds the Coast Guard and updates many rules to improve safety, protect waterways, and better support service members and families. It also establishes a Secretary of the Coast Guard.

Key changes for people and communities:

• Coast Guard members and families: expands family leave (including for adoption and long-term foster care and the reserve component), adds a cash allowance for maternity uniform items, and starts a test program that can double tuition assistance and shorten service obligations after a sea tour.
• Safer reporting and support for victims: lets members facing involuntary separation ask for a medical exam, updates protective order policies, creates a clear process for retaliation complaints, allows faster transfers for victims, and offers temporary separation options in some cases.
• Accountability: requires the Coast Guard to join the Defense Department’s CATCH a Serial Offender program, adds notations of proven misconduct in personnel files, and tightens oversight of allegations against senior leaders, including the ability to revisit a retired officer’s rank if new evidence of serious misconduct emerges.
• Fishing and maritime safety: increases funding for fishing safety training (including help on substance use and fatigue) to $6 million per year for 2025–2029, pauses enforcement of AIS gear‑marking rules until December 31, 2029, and orders a safety study for amphibious tour boats.
• Waterways and environmental protection: clearly defines the Straits of Mackinac as pilotage waters to improve navigation safety, and requires an online system so people can report oil and hazardous releases to the National Response Center.
• Disaster readiness: requires tailored tsunami evacuation and readiness plans for Coast Guard sites in tsunami zones.