Eli Crane U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 2nd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Eli Crane U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 2nd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Congressmen Eli Crane (AZ-02) and Matt Gaetz (FL-01) have issued a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, seeking clarification on the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over operational readiness. The letter follows the USCG's decision to temporarily decommission several ships due to staffing shortages.
The USCG has reported being approximately 4,800 members short and missing its recruiting targets for the past four fiscal years. This shortfall has led to the decommissioning of ships, reducing their lifecycle and increasing the burden on remaining personnel. Concurrently, the USCG is conducting indoctrination training, including Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) inclusivity training, which some service members view as unrelated to mission-critical tasks.
In their letter, Reps. Crane and Gaetz request detailed information by October 1st, 2024, on how SOGI training aids in addressing manning issues and plans for meeting recruiting goals and recommissioning ships.
"We are writing to raise concerns voiced by service members that affect operational readiness of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) amidst its decision to temporarily decommission ships due to staffing shortages," states the letter.
The Congressmen also highlight that the recruiting shortfall has led to the closure of USCG satellite boat stations in various districts, limiting the agency’s ability to monitor illicit maritime activities. They argue that SOGI inclusivity programs do not contribute to resolving recruitment and retention challenges.
"We understand the USCG often loses service members due to higher-paying jobs in the private sector or due to limited opportunities for promotion and long work hours. However, we are unaware of how SOGI inclusivity training and events assist in resolving recruitment and retention challenges that threaten our operational readiness and national security needs," they wrote.
Crane and Gaetz urge an end to SOGI inclusivity training programs within the USCG, advocating instead for a focus on mission-critical operations.
Full text of Congressmen Crane and Gaetz’s letter can be found online along with exclusive coverage by Daily Signal.
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