President Donald Trump has fired the female leader of the U.S. Coast Guard over concerns about the border and her obsession with DEI policies.
Adm. Linda Fagan, commander of the Coast Guard, was relieved of her duties by acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman, Fox News reported.
The 61-year-old was dismissed from her position after officials in the new government raised concerns about the border and her recruitment, a source told the newspaper.
The source said these concerns also include a failure to address key threats, and an excessive focus on diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives.
Fagan's diversity, equity and inclusion recruitment had exacerbated operational readiness issues, the source said.
They said making DEI policies a priority, including at the Coast Guard Academy, diverted attention from resources and operational essentials.
Fagan also expressed relief at the mishandling of Operation Fouled Anchor, an investigation into the Coast Guard's review of sexual assault cases at their academy.
The report revealed years of sexual violence and misconduct at the academy, from the late 1980s through 2006.
Admiral Linda Fagan, commander of the Coast Guard, was relieved of her duties by acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman
The 61-year-old was dismissed from her position after officials in the new government raised concerns about the border and her recruitment
Dozens of allegations of sexual assault at the Connecticut academy were swept under the rug without being reported to police or Coast Guard investigators.
The report was completed in January 2020 but was not released or made public until June 2023, angering members of Congress.
She was questioned by senators when she testified at a hearing on Capitol Hill, where she was questioned for not holding anyone accountable for the cover-up.
Senators also questioned her about withholding documents they requested about the mishandling of the issue.
In a memorandum released by Fagan, she said plans had been developed by 2025 around the prevention and response to sexual violence.
She also ordered enhanced physical security in the cadets' dormitory at the academy.
After her resignation was announced, clips of her discussing her recruitment policies appeared on social media.
In one, she says, “Currently, almost 40 percent women are enrolled in the Coast Guard Academy.
“I'm very excited about the talent and diversity I see coming through the academy, I'm very excited about the future as we look ahead.”
Dozens of allegations of sexual assault at the Connecticut Academy were swept under the rug without being reported to police or Coast Guard investigators
Fagan was nominated to her position by President Biden in 2022 after serving as vice commander since 2021.
In her previous position, she was named the first female four-star admiral in Coast Guard history.
Both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee had supported her nomination at the time.
Fagan graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and earned a master's degree from the University of Washington in maritime affairs and in national security strategy from the National Defense University.
She had served aboard the USCGC Polar Star and as deputy director of operations at the US Northern Command.
She was the first recipient of the Coast Guard's Gold Ancient Trident, an award established in 2016 for the soldier with the longest record of maritime security.
