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119-s-5069119th Congress

Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Rick [R-FL]

Introduced

Summary

The bill would create a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard as a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate to lead the service. It would add a civilian Under Secretary, keep the Commandant as the senior military officer reporting to that Secretary, and impose a 7-year waiting rule after active duty for appointees.

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  • Coast Guard military leaders: The Commandant remains the service’s senior military officer, performs military duties the Secretary assigns, and may advise the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security after first informing the Secretary.
  • Appointments and leadership: The Secretary and Under Secretary must be civilians appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, and an individual may not be appointed within 7 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer.
  • Legal and interagency effects: The bill amends statutes across Titles 6, 10, and 14 to replace references to the Secretary of Homeland Security with the Secretary of the Coast Guard and to realign oversight and reporting language.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Civilian leadership for Coast Guard

This bill would create a civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard and an Under Secretary. The President would nominate them and the Senate would confirm them. The Secretary would be chosen from civilian life and, to the extent practicable, from people with management and leadership experience. The Secretary would report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security without an intervening official. The Commandant would remain the Coast Guard's military leader and could advise senior national security officials after first informing the Secretary. The bill would bar anyone from becoming Secretary within seven years after leaving active duty as a regular commissioned officer. It would also stop certain officers now holding specified appointments from serving as Secretary. The bill would update many laws to name the Secretary of the Coast Guard instead of the Secretary of Homeland Security in several places.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Rick [R-FL]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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