Anchors Away, Trump Wave Washes Away Coast Guard Commandant

Fagan’s shortcomings included failing to properly address border security threats, lagging recruitment and retention figures, and mismanaged funding that prevented the acquisition of necessary equipment such as icebreakers and helicopters.

These priorities were slighted because of Fagan’s excessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, plus an atmosphere of an “erosion of trust” that was created when Fagan mishandled and covered up aspects of “Operation Failed Anchor” the Coast Guard’s internal investigation into sexual assault cases which took place at the Coast Guard Academy.

Specifically on border security, Fagan is accused of failing to adequately deploy Coast Guard assets to intercept incoming fentanyl and other substances. She also failed to prioritize coordination with DHS on operations along coastal borders.

Fagan’s obsession with DEI policies, including at the Coast Guard Academy, ultimately diverted resources and focus from operational essentials. The DHS official stated that Fagan suffered significant failures in recruiting personnel, exacerbating issues related to operational readiness. Additionally, the official noted that the absence of innovative strategies to tackle retention challenges in critical specialties undermined workforce sustainability.

Under her failed leadership, there were ongoing delays and budget overruns in obtaining essential assets, such as icebreakers and helicopters. An official stated that these issues weakened the Coast Guard's capabilities in the Arctic and other strategic areas. The official also pointed out the lack of accountability for acquisition failures, were emphasized during President Trump's first administration.

Operation Fouled Anchor involved a cover-up of sexual assaults at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which significantly eroded public trust in the Coast Guard among the American public, Congress, and the military. Despite being active from 2014 to 2019, the Coast Guard did not reveal the existence of Operation Fouled Anchor until 2023.

Fagan faced intense questioning from senators over the summer during her testimony at a Capitol Hill hearing. Lawmakers pressed her about her failure to hold anyone accountable for the cover-up and for not providing additional documents they had requested regarding the mishandling of issues at the service’s academy.

An official stated that the failure to adequately address the systemic issues uncovered by the investigation has exposed a "leadership culture" that is unwilling to ensure accountability and transparency in protecting service members.

The Trump administration's decision to fire Fagan is a clear indication that more removals may follow. Trump has previously pledged to remove all “woke” generals and military officials who he believes are not effectively carrying out their duties, particularly those prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over skills, intellect, and achievements.

Last year Trump had this take on the military:

“I got to know the real fighting generals. There’s not ‘woke’ in the military. There’s ‘woke’ at the top. They want there to be woke, but these guys aren’t meant for woke. I would fire them. You can’t have a woke military.”

Pete Hegseth, who has been nominated to be Trump's defense secretary, agreed with Trump.

“I talked to dozens and dozens of actively serving men and women, junior enlisted high-ranking officers, and they all said the same thing. We’re walking on eggshells. There’s no accountability. The standards are being lowered, slowly eroded to conform to woke Marxist ideologies the Democrat politicians have pushed into the Pentagon. The Pentagon should be the biggest meritocracy in the world. Instead, it’s a social experiment.”

“We all wore green together. We all bleed red together. Who we slept with is not the issue. The issue is how good are you at your job? And are you being promoted because you’re the best rifleman, or you’re the best pilot, or you’re the best tank commander? Not are you the first to this, or are you the first that? And that’s the story I tell time and time again.”

Merit-based hiring and promotions are important in any industry, but it is absolutely critical in the military. Life and death decisions can’t be left to those not qualified to make them. DEI is nothing more than a quota system, it creates both division and inefficiency and is openly racist.

Trump’s weeding out of those who promote this failed leftist delusion restores common sense and enhances productivity.