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Opening remarks, as prepared, of Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) from today’s hearing, entitled “Force Design or Force in Decline: Reviewing Readiness”:

Admiral Allan, thank you for joining us today to discuss the Coast Guard’s plans for its future. You have been in your role in an acting capacity for a while now, but since the Senate has acted on your confirmation, I want to congratulate you on the formal assumption of the role of Vice Commandant. We look forward to working with you.

Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to recognize Aviation Survival Technician Tyler Jaggers, who tragically passed away last week in the line of duty after sustaining injuries during a search and rescue mission off the coast of Washington. The Committee expresses its deepest condolences to Tyler Jaggers’ family, loved ones, and shipmates.

It is so often that we hear accounts of successful rescue missions in the most hazardous and daunting conditions by Coast Guard helicopter and motor lifeboat crews that it can be easy to forget that each mission entails a great deal of risk and sacrifice to the men and women who unhesitatingly risk their own lives so that others may live. 

This tragedy serves as a powerful reminder that the selfless service that our Coasties provide to our great nation can come at a high price. As Congress, we must ensure that the men and women of the Coast Guard are equipped with the tools and resources they need to safely and effectively do their jobs.

To that end, we will hear testimony today discussing the Coast Guard’s plans to strengthen the Service for future mission needs.

For decades, the Coast Guard has suffered from chronic underinvestment and readiness challenges as it has struggled to maintain aging vessels and shoreside infrastructure with no substantial increases in funding. Last year, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included nearly $25 billion for the Coast Guard to reverse the trend of underinvestment and put a down payment on the Service’s future. The Subcommittee is hopeful that this massive injection of funds – 15 years’ worth of annual procurement funding – will help right the ship.

However, the Coast Guard’s performance record of executing major acquisition projects leaves much to be desired. Most surface acquisition programs, including the Polar Security Cutter and Offshore Patrol Cutter, have been delayed by years and are significantly over budget. In the past 12 months, the Coast Guard has cancelled contracts for one National Security Cutter and two Offshore Patrol Cutters.

Simultaneously, efforts to modernize the Service’s aviation assets have been hampered by MH-60s being forced into early retirement due to limits on airframe hours and the early retirement of C-27s after never achieving full missionization.

As the Subcommittee has reiterated in past hearings, the failure to acquire new surface and air assets, and the shoreside infrastructure to support them, is a crisis for the Coast Guard – without them, the Service will be unable to perform its mission.

To ensure proper oversight, Congress requires yearly Capital Investment Plans and Major Acquisition Reports. These plans are not optional. They are required by law. Yet the Coast Guard has repeatedly failed to produce them. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 required a report on the Service’s mitigation plan to provide statutorily required reports to Congress, which was due on February 26th. To date, we have not received that report.

Combined with the historic investments that were supported by President Trump’s leadership, the Service is undertaking a modernization effort, known as Force Design 2028. When complete, the Coast Guard envisions a significantly larger Service with greater capabilities that can leverage new technologies — all while streamlining bureaucracy and improving acquisition processes.   

I can only hope the Service’s vision is matched with a budget request to support it.

Admiral Allan, I applaud the Coast Guard for taking the first steps towards ensuring the Service’s future. I am optimistic that you and Admiral Lunday will set a course for an improved and strengthened Service that will be well-equipped to support the American public. I look forward to hearing your testimony.

Click here for more information from today’s hearing, including video and witness testimony.