Sponsors (3)
The bill moves the Coast Guard toward clearer civilian leadership and defined civilian–military roles to improve governance and oversight, while narrowing candidate eligibility and adding Senate-confirmed positions that could delay appointments and impose transition costs.
Federal civilian leadership and Coast Guard workforce: establishes a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard reporting directly to DHS, clarifying civilian leadership and chains of command.
Federal civilian managers and Coast Guard operations: creates an Under Secretary position to provide civilian managerial capacity and continuity in Coast Guard leadership.
Military personnel and Department leaders: clarifies the Commandant's military advisory role while preserving military duties, reducing ambiguity between military and civilian responsibilities.
Federal appointments and DHS/DoD continuity: creates two new Senate‑confirmed civilian posts (Secretary and Under Secretary) that could lengthen nomination and confirmation timelines and leave leadership vacancies if confirmations stall.
Recently separated military officers and potential candidates: bars officers separated within the last seven years from serving as Secretary, narrowing the candidate pool and possibly excluding experienced leaders familiar with current military practice.
Senior DHS staffing flexibility: limits appointment of currently serving officers holding other DHS roles to the new positions, which could restrict flexible use of senior talent across DHS components.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates civilian Secretary and Under Secretary of the Coast Guard in DHS, adjusts reporting lines, appointment limits, and updates statutory cross‑references in Titles 6, 10, and 14.
Creates a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard and an Under Secretary position inside the Department of Homeland Security, both appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The bill changes statutory cross‑references so the new Secretary performs specified duties, directly reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and clarifies the Commandant’s military advisory and reporting role under the new structure. Sets eligibility limits for appointment (including a 7‑year bar after relief from active commissioned service), prohibits appointing someone currently serving in a separate specified appointment, and transfers or updates multiple code cross‑references in Titles 6, 10, and 14 to reflect the new civilian leadership roles.
Official title: Establish a Secretary of the Coast Guard.
Introduced July 22, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress July 22, 2026