Senator Peters Applauds United States Coast Guard Decision to Restore Full Operations & Staffing at USCG Station Saginaw River

ESSEXVILLE, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) applauded the United States Coast Guard's (USGC) decision to fully restore staffing and operations at USCG Station Saginaw River in Essexville:

"United States Coast Guard search and rescue units play a vital role in ensuring the safety of Michigan's Great Lakes communities, and I'm thrilled that full operations are returning to Station Saginaw River in Essexville," said Senator Peters. "Since operational changes were announced at Coast Guard stations across Michigan, I've raised the importance of these resources to communities and called on the Department of Homeland Security to address staffing shortages and restore operations. Thanks in part to this advocacy, Coast Guard recruitment is at record levels, leading to the return of full operations in Saginaw Bay. This announcement will improve the Coast Guard's ability to respond to crises on the water, keeping Michiganders safe and secure. While this is a positive step forward, the job is not finished until full operations are restored at every impacted Coast Guard station in Michigan, and I'll keep pushing until that happens."

"We are very thankful that Senator Peters pushed for the return of staffing at the Saginaw River Station," said Bay City Fire Chief Kurt Corradi. "The Coast Guard's operational changes have put a strain on local emergency response teams, so the return to full staffing is welcome news for our partners across the Bay Region."

Peters led the effort to reverse the previously announced staffing changes at USCG Stations throughout Michigan. In November 2025, he raised these concerns with Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, then-nominee to be Commandant of the USCG. In May of 2025, he called on the Trump Administration to prioritize funding for U.S. Coast Guard recruitment and retention. In a letter to Admiral Lunday, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Peters also outlined how critical Coast Guard operations have been disrupted as a result of personnel shortages and underscored that further investment is needed to support ongoing recruitment and retention efforts for the Great Lakes region to address these shortages.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet