Coast Guard funding, new Secretary role, tighter acquisitions, and misconduct reforms
Officially: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
Sets multi-year Coast Guard funding and grows authorized active-duty staffing through FY 2029. Creates a Senate-confirmed civilian Secretary, tightens acquisition and shipyard rules, and expands leave, behavioral health, and sexual-misconduct accountability measures.
Where it stands
Sitting in Commerce
No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.
- Authorizes specific Coast Guard funding levels for FY 2025–2029 for operations, procurement, research and development (R&D), and retired pay, by amending 14 U.S.C. § 4902.
- Raises the authorized active-duty end strength to 50,000 in FY 2025–2026, 55,000 in FY 2027, and 60,000 in FY 2028–2029 (14 U.S.C. § 4904).
- Requires a detailed plan for how the Coast Guard would grow and be funded if a future President’s budget does not request operations funding that matches (is proportional to) the higher end-strength levels.
↓ Why your message matters here
This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.
The debate
What people are saying about this bill
- Enhanced Security: The bill strengthens border security and drug interdiction efforts, making it harder for drug traffickers to operate.
- Modernization: It updates the Coast Guard's fleet and infrastructure, ensuring they are equipped to handle modern challenges.
- Personnel Welfare: By providing overdose medications and addressing sexual assault policies, it prioritizes the safety and well-being of Coast Guard members.
- Job Concerns: Some critics argue that the bill does not prioritize American jobs in the offshore wind and petroleum sectors as much as it should.
- Missing Provisions: There is concern that certain provisions that supported U.S. jobs were removed, which could impact the domestic workforce.
Where this bill is in the process
Legislative timeline
Introduced
Introduced in House
House Committee
Under House committee consideration
House Floor Vote
Voted on by House
Passed House
Approved by House
Senate Review
Sent to Senate for consideration
Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (7/23/2025)
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail