Courtney Goes Off On Trump, Calls Coast Guard 'Firing' An 'Abuse'

VERNON, CT/WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) Tuesday issued a stern statement after President Trump "fired" Admiral Linda Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Courtney serves as Ranking Member of the influential Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces throughout the 119th Congress.

Fagan began her four-year post in June of 2022 and was first female uniformed leader of an armed forces branch.

Courtney referenced a Reuters report that said Fagan had been relieved.

"President Trump's unprecedented decision on Day One to fire a service chief ahead of her scheduled departure is an abuse of power that slanders the good name and record of Admiral Fagan, Courtney said.

He continued, "Under Admiral Fagan's leadership, the Coast Guard exceeded its 2024 recruitment goal for the first time since 2017; interdicted over $2.5 billion in illegal drugs from bad actors in 2024; and demonstrated an aggressive commitment to countering adversaries in the Arctic by championing the ICE Pact to speed up production of new icebreaker vessels, which the US has not built in nearly 50 years."

Courtney also hailed her role on a Coast Guard Academy sexual assault probe.

"Following her predecessor’s cover up of Operation Fouled Anchor, Admiral Fagan provided a fundamental change in Coast Guard leadership and has led the service with transparency and honesty to rebuild trust and correct the persistent sexual misconduct problems facing the service," Courtney said.

He concluded. "The Commandant’s outstanding record completely negates the President's demonstrably false claims and signals his enduring interest to put politics over the best interest of our service members and national security."