The United States Coast Guard is one of the six branches of our armed services, the Service responsible for enforcing the nation’s laws on waters under U.S. jurisdiction and on the high seas. The Coast Guard’s many missions include operating as a specialized service of the Navy in times of war or when directed by the President, search and rescue, illegal drug and migrant interdiction, oil spill prevention and response, maritime safety and security, maintaining aids to navigation, icebreaking activities and support of increasing levels of maritime transportation in the Arctic, and enforcement of U.S. fisheries and marine pollution laws.
On July 2, 2025, leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee introduced the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding for the Coast Guard to carry out the various missions noted above.
Introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA), the bill enables the Service to continue to recapitalize its historically underfunded cutter fleet, shoreside facilities, and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard’s acquisition process, increases transparency and accountability in the Service’s recapitalization efforts, and opens a pathway to the adoption of next-generation autonomous technologies.
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2029.
The bill also creates greater parity with the other armed services, including the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard and stronger protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment, based on legislation the T&I Committee introduced last Congress following the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor.
During the 119th Congress, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held several hearings that helped shape the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025:
June 5, 2025: The Future of the Coast Guard: Review of Coast Guard Programs and Structure
March 5. 2025: America Builds: Coast Guard Acquisitions and Infrastructure
February 5, 2025: America Builds: Maritime Infrastructure
Additional Resources:
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 | Bill Text (As Introduced)
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 | Section by Section (As Introduced)
July 2, 2025: T&I Leaders Introduce Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
