The Trump administration has dismissed Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday.
Fagan, appointed by Joe Biden in 2021, made history as the first female uniformed leader of a U.S. Armed Forces branch. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman confirmed the decision in a statement on the Coast Guard’s website, citing her “long and illustrious career.”
A senior Department of Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed Fagan’s removal to “leadership deficiencies, operational failures, and inability to advance the strategic objectives of the U.S. Coast Guard.” The official also noted concerns about Fagan’s “excessive” focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
President Trump has pledged to eliminate DEI programs within federal agencies, a stance echoed by Trump adviser Elon Musk. In a post on X, Musk wrote, “Undermining the U.S. military and border security to spend money on racist/sexist DEI nonsense is no longer acceptable.”
The Coast Guard, an armed service under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Pentagon, has faced increased scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault. Reports have surfaced accusing the service of covering up decades of abuse, with a Senate subcommittee highlighting failures to address perpetrators and support victims.
