The bill creates a new top-level leadership role—the Secretary of the Coast Guard—within Title 14 of the U.S. Code. It reorganizes codification to insert a formal Chapter 2 and defines the secretary’s duties, powers, and reporting relationships.
It also makes clerical amendments to align the analysis of Title 14 with the new structure. The change shifts direct reporting for Coast Guard leadership, mandating that the Commandant report to the Secretary of the Coast Guard and that the Secretary report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security (the DHS head).
At a Glance
What It Does
Establishes a Secretary of the Coast Guard position and a new Chapter 2 in Title 14. It defines the Secretary, powers, and reporting direction, while redesignating and inserting codified sections for the Coast Guard leadership.
Who It Affects
The Coast Guard organization, including the Commandant and other DHS-aligned personnel; the Secretary of Homeland Security as the reporting authority; lawmakers and the President who appoint the new Secretary.
Why It Matters
Creates a formal, Senate-confirmed leadership line for the Coast Guard and consolidates command under a single executive channel, potentially affecting policy execution, budgeting, and interagency coordination within DHS.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025 introduces a new executive position—the Secretary of the Coast Guard—within the framework of Title 14 of the United States Code. The bill instructs the redesignation of existing statutory sections (moving 106 to 107) and then inserts a new Chapter 2, titled 'Secretary of the Coast Guard.' At the heart of the proposal is the creation of a Secretary of the Coast Guard, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
This office would exercise the Coast Guard’s powers and perform duties as prescribed by law, the President, or the Secretary, in directing Coast Guard operations. The Secretary would report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security, establishing a direct line in the department’s chain of command, while the Commandant would report to the Secretary of the Coast Guard.
In addition to the substantive authority, the bill makes a clerical amendment to the analysis for Chapter 1 of Title 14, replacing the entry for the old Section 106 with new definitions: 106 will define the Secretary of the Coast Guard, and 107 will define the Commandant. This ensures the codified text matches the new organizational scheme and clarifies who leads the Coast Guard and who defines the top-level command structure.
The bill, as drafted, is focused on structure and reporting—and does not specify funding or specific programmatic authorities beyond the general directive to direct Coast Guard affairs.Overall, the measure formalizes a premier leadership role for a Coast Guard Secretary, reconfiguring the chain of command within the department and potentially affecting governance, oversight, and interagency coordination with a new, centralized executive line of authority.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates a new position: Secretary of the Coast Guard, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.
Section 106 is redesignated as 107, and a new 106 is inserted to define the Secretary of the Coast Guard.
Chapter 2—Secretary of the Coast Guard is added to Title 14, including 201. Secretary of the Coast Guard.
The Secretary of the Coast Guard is granted powers to direct the Coast Guard, as prescribed by law, the President, or the Secretary.
The Commandant must report directly to the Secretary of the Coast Guard, and the Secretary of the Coast Guard reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Re-designation and insertion into Chapter 2
The bill redesignates section 106 as section 107 and inserts a new section 106 to define the Secretary of the Coast Guard. It then creates Chapter 2—Secretary of the Coast Guard, establishing the framework for a dedicated top executive for the Coast Guard within Title 14 and setting the next steps for appointment and authority.
201. Secretary of the Coast Guard
Section 201 establishes that a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary would exercise the powers of the Secretary in section 501 and carry out duties as prescribed by law, the President, or the Secretary, in directing Coast Guard operations. The Secretary would report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Commandant would report directly to the Secretary of the Coast Guard.
Editorial changes to Title 14 analysis
The bill amends the section-by-section analysis for Chapter 1 of Title 14 by striking the item relating to section 106 and inserting new entries: 106. Secretary of the Coast Guard defined; 107. Commandant defined. This aligns the legislative map with the new organizational structure.
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Explore Government in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Coast Guard leadership gains a clear, formal line of authority with a Senate-confirmed Secretary at the top of the Coast Guard chain of command.
- The Commandant gains a designated reporting line to the Secretary of the Coast Guard, potentially enhancing operational coherence within the service.
- The Department of Homeland Security benefits from a more centralized executive structure for Coast Guard policy and operations.
- The President and Senate gain a formal, accountable process for appointing a senior Coast Guard official with defined powers.
- Maritime stakeholders and national security communities may see more consistent Coast Guard direction and improved cross-agency coordination within DHS.
Who Bears the Cost
- Department of Homeland Security and its budget for an additional high-level executive and supporting staff.
- Coast Guard administrative offices and personnel who may experience transitional overhead during the reorganization.
- DHS in general, which could face new governance layers and reporting requirements tied to the Coast Guard's leadership.
- Congressional oversight resources, which may need to adjust to a new executive position and reporting framework.
- Operational programs that could incur short-term adjustments as the new command structure is implemented.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether centralizing Coast Guard leadership under a separate Secretary will improve policy coherence and accountability, or whether it will create duplication of authority within DHS and blur lines of command that historically balanced civilian leadership with military-like operational control.
The bill’s central design is a governance reform that centralizes Coast Guard leadership under a dedicated, Senate-confirmed Secretary who reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. This creates a new layer of executive oversight and could streamline decision-making within DHS, but it also runs the risk of politicizing a service with unique civil and military roles.
The reorganization raises questions about the division of authority between the Secretary and the Commandant, potential budgetary implications, and the mechanisms for interagency coordination during emergencies. Implementation questions include how this structure interacts with existing DoD and interagency operations, how conflicts of authority would be resolved, and what transitions (staffing, funding, and systems) will be required to effectuate the change.
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