First Female Coast Guard Commandant Fired Over Leadership Failures, Border Lapses, and DEI Focus

Jan 21, 2025, 03:24 PM

Admiral Linda Fagan, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the first woman to lead a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, has been relieved of her duties by the Trump administration. A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official confirmed that Fagan was terminated due to leadership deficiencies, operational failures, an erosion of trust, and an excessive focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. She was also accused of failing to address border security threats, including ineffective deployment of Coast Guard assets to intercept fentanyl, and insufficient coordination with DHS to prioritize operations along maritime borders. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman announced that Vice Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday will serve as the Acting Commandant.