Cantwell Slams Trump Decision to Fire Coast Guard Commandant Who Took On Sexual Assault Culture: “It’s Appalling”

Admiral Linda Fagan earned wide bipartisan support during her confirmation hearing to serve as USCG Commandant in 2022, the first woman to lead any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces<_o3a_p>

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As leader, Fagan committed to fixing decadeslong culture of sexual assault within the USCG instead of sweeping it under the rug - and was punished for it by the new Administration<_o3a_p>

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Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, went live on CNN to criticize the Department of Homeland Security's middle-of-the-night decision to terminate Admiral Linda Fagan as U.S. Coast Guard Commandant. Commandant Admiral Fagan was the first woman to lead any branch of the Armed Forces. <_o3a_p>

"I think it's appalling," Sen. Cantwell said. "Issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment at the Coast Guard Academy and at sea, and people covered it up. The only reason we know about it is because CNN broke the news. Now, we get a new Commandant-the first woman Commandant in the history of an Armed Forces of our nation to serve-she stood up and said, 'this is a problem and we have to deal with it' … And today, she's being fired for [it]."<_o3a_p>

"I think it's the wrong decision. It's the wrong decision by Homeland Security. She did a good job," Sen. Cantwell continued.

Operation Fouled Anchor was revealed by CNN investigative reporters in 2023. The Committee learned of these reports that had previously been withheld from Congress and the public under previous Commandant leadership. The Operation ran from 2014-2018 to investigate certain reports of sexual assault and sexual violence from 1988 to 2006. In June 2023, Sens. Cantwell and Baldwin sent a letter to Commandant Fagan, seeking answers and accountability for the mishandling of a previously undisclosed, years-long investigation into sexual assault allegations in connection to the Coast Guard Academy.

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In addition to her remarks in the interview, Sen. Cantwell issued the following statement:

"Operation Fouled Anchor was exposed by CNN and covered up by Coast Guard leaders before Commandant Linda Fagan took over. It showed that the Coast Guard's bad handling of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases in training and at sea needed to stop."

"The Commandant who stood up to clean up this mess instead of burying it should be rewarded, not dismissed. Firing a Commandant at will by a new President also sets a bad precedent. The complexity of the Coast Guard's diverse missions require continuity to protect lives and American interests."

Sen. Cantwell was instrumental in shepherding Admiral Fagan's confirmation through the Senate Commerce Committee as chair in 2022.

In response to the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation, Admiral Fagan led efforts to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment through the Coast Guard, including leading a thorough Accountability and Transparency Review, implementing 33 specific directed actions, and driving cultural change throughout the Service.

Admiral Fagan also responded to the persistent recruiting shortages the Coast Guard has been suffering from since 2017, opening numerous new recruiting offices, aligning new policies with DOD services, instituting new education and loan repayment bonuses, creating a new Talent Acquisition rating, and implementing a new pay structure for recruiters - all of which allowed the Service to exceed its recruiting goal of 4,200 accessions in 2024.

Prior to her confirmation, Admiral Fagan served as the U.S. Coast Guard's Vice Commandant. Admiral Fagan has served 36 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and is the longest-serving active duty Marine Safety Officer. She received a Master of Science in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington and began her career as a deck watch officer on the Seattle-based heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star.

Nearly 40% of U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets are women, which is the highest percentage among all service academies. Washington state is currently home to 1,641 active duty Coast Guard service members deployed across 11 different stations. A total of 1,291 active duty, civilians, and reservists are based in Seattle.

In May 2022, Senator Cantwell authored an editorial in the Seattle Times lauding Admiral Fagan's career milestone titled: "Breaking the U.S. Military's Glass Ceiling."<_o3a_p>

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