§468 — Title 6 Domestic Security | U.S. Code

§468 Preserving Coast Guard mission performance

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - COORDINATION WITH NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES; INSPECTOR GENERAL; UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE; COAST GUARD; GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part Part H— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 468

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Coast Guard was moved into the Department, and its powers, workers, and property — including duties that used to be under the Secretary of Transportation — must be kept as a separate part of the Department. After the move, the Commandant must report straight to the Secretary and not through other Department officials. The Coast Guard’s missions and ability to carry them out must stay intact and not be significantly cut, unless a later law allows it. Its missions, functions, or assets (including ships, aircraft, and helicopters) cannot be given to other parts of the Department if that would weaken the Coast Guard. The Secretary cannot make large cuts, except as later laws allow, but may temporarily waive that limit for up to 90 days if the Secretary sends Congress a detailed written justification showing an immediate, compelling need. These rules do not apply when the Coast Guard is operating as part of the Navy.

Title 6, §468

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)

(b)There are transferred to the Department the authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, which shall be maintained as a distinct entity within the Department, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto.

(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the authorities, functions, and capabilities of the Coast Guard to perform its missions shall be maintained intact and without significant reduction after the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department, except as specified in subsequent Acts.

(d)No mission, function, or asset (including for purposes of this subsection any ship, aircraft, or helicopter) of the Coast Guard may be diverted to the principal and continuing use of any other organization, unit, or entity of the Department, except for details or assignments that do not reduce the Coast Guard’s capability to perform its missions.

(e)(1)The Secretary may not substantially or significantly reduce the missions of the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard’s capability to perform those missions, except as specified in subsequent Acts.

(2)The Secretary may waive the restrictions under paragraph (1) for a period of not to exceed 90 days upon a declaration and certification by the Secretary to Congress that a clear, compelling, and immediate need exists for such a waiver. A certification under this paragraph shall include a detailed justification for the declaration and certification, including the reasons and specific information that demonstrate that the Nation and the Coast Guard cannot respond effectively if the restrictions under paragraph (1) are not waived.

(f)Upon the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department, the Commandant shall report directly to the Secretary without being required to report through any other official of the Department.

(g)None of the conditions and restrictions in this section shall apply when the Coast Guard operates as a service in the Navy under section 3 11 See References in Text note below. of title 14.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables. Section 3 of title 14, referred to in subsec. (g), was redesignated section 103 of title 14 by Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 103(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4195, and references to section 3 of title 14 deemed to refer to such redesignated section, see section 123(b)(1) of Pub. L. 115–282, set out as a References to Sections of Title 14 as Redesignated by Pub. L. 115–282 note preceding section 101 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 transferred subsec. (a) of this section defining “non-homeland security missions” and “homeland security missions” to section 102 of Title 14, Coast Guard. 2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–282 struck out subsec. (h). Text read as follows: “Not later than 90 days after November 25, 2002, the Secretary, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives that— “(1) analyzes the feasibility of accelerating the rate of procurement in the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater System from 20 years to 10 years; “(2) includes an estimate of additional resources required; “(3) describes the resulting increased capabilities; “(4) outlines any increases in the Coast Guard’s homeland security readiness; “(5) describes any increases in operational efficiencies; and “(6) provides a revised asset phase-in time line.” 2014—Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 113–284 redesignated subsecs. (g) to (i) as (f) to (h), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (f) which related to annual review.