In a coalition with two other Republican colleagues, Sen. Rick Scott has introduced a bill to establish posts for a Secretary of the Coast Guard and an Undersecretary to lead the 43,000-member maritime service.
The “Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act,” cosponsored by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), will reportedly assign the Secretary of the Coast Guard to serve under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and will oversee “many of the interactions the service had with the Pentagon,” according to the legislation’s text.
“Every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces has a dedicated Secretary overseeing operations and representing the branch EXCEPT our U.S. Coast Guard,” Sen. Scott wrote on X. “Our Coasties do incredible work keeping our nation safe from threats, and they deserve the same leadership that every other branch has to ensure readiness.”
Previous Support For U.S. Coast Guard Leadership
The bill comes as heads in both the Department of Defense and DHS have advocated for a head of the service to help facilitate seamless cooperation between the law enforcement division of the Coast Guard and the Pentagon.
In September 2025, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the possibility of a Coast Guard Secretary amid a U.S. military buildup of American forces in the U.S. Southern Command.
“We recognize and deeply value the Department of Homeland Security’s stewardship of the Coast Guard’s multi-mission character and its unique homeland security capabilities,” Secretary Hegseth wrote in a letter of support to former Secretary Noem.
“The Department of War believes that the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard can complement and reinforce these strengths while ensuring that, in times of peace or war, the service is postured to support the full spectrum of national security operations,” Secretary Hegseth added.
