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US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025 [Credit: AFP]
President Donald Trump has removed Admiral Linda Fagan, the first woman to lead a United States military service, as the head of the Coast Guard.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, did not immediately comment on Fagan’s dismissal, AFP reports.
The sack came less than 24 hours after the inauguration ceremony of the 47th US President at the Capitol, on Monday.
“She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service,” acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message Tuesday to the Coast Guard.
Fox News cited a senior official saying reasons for her removal included her failure to address border security threats, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and an “erosion of trust” over the Coast Guard’s investigation into sexual assault cases.
Another official cited alleged “leadership deficiencies.”
A senior official from the DHS was far more critical, saying Fagan was dismissed “because of her leadership deficiencies, operational failures, and inability to advance the strategic objectives of the US Coast Guard.”
“The admiral failed to address border security threats, mismanaged acquisitions, including helicopters, and put ‘excessive focus’ on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Trump and other Republicans have long railed against government programmes aimed at fostering diversity.
Also, border security is a key priority for Trump’s administration, as he declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on Monday, the first day of his new term of office.
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s yet-unconfirmed nominee to head the Defense Department, said last week that senior officers “will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders,” indicating that further dismissals are possible.
Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.
“She served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way,” an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website, revealed.
