Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Lee Fagan was abruptly fired Monday by the new acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, only hours after the Trump inauguration.

In a message to the Coast Guard workforce Monday night, acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman — who was appointed to the temporary post about five hours after Trump took office — said he relieved Fagan from the top Coast Guard post and appointed Adm. Kevin Lunday to serve as acting commandant. No reason was given for the move.
A DHS official told Fox News that Fagan was terminated because of a failure to address border security threats and excessive focus on diversity programs. They also cited a poor response to reports of sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.
At the time she took over, Fagan adopted a force that for years had struggled to meet its recruiting goals — including under President Trump during his first term. But the Coast Guard was able to meet its goal just last year after it brought on more recruiters.
Fagan, 61, the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral, had served as the Coast Guard leader since June 2022 and was the first uniformed woman to lead a military branch.
She was approved by the Senate in May 2022 without any opposition. Lawmakers praised her qualifications and the historic nature of her appointment.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chairwoman of the Senate Commerce Committee, spoke at the time of sending a strong message to women cadets, and said, “we are sending a strong message to young girls who dream of someday serving in the Coast Guard. We are saying now that the leader of this organization that your service matters, your contribution to the Coast Guard and to the country matters. And yes, you too can be commandant someday.”