Press Releases

Evaluating Progress After Historic Investments in the U.S. Coast Guard

January 15, 2026

Senator Sullivan Announces Subcommittee Hearing on January 29th

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, will convene a hearing titled “The Fleet We Funded: Assessing Coast Guard Force Laydown on the Heels of Historic Investment” on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EST. This hearing will examine how the record $25 billion investment from the Working Families Tax Cut Act and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 is supporting emerging operational demands, including global deployments and increased availability of vessels and aircraft to counter narcotraffickers.

The hearing will also address how the Coast Guard sustains its global presence in key regions—including the Arctic, Indo-Pacific, Western Hemisphere, and Middle East—while managing operational risk. These challenges were evident during recent Venezuela-linked tanker seizure operations, which required specialized boarding teams and imposed significant downstream demands once vessels were seized.

Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Sullivan said:

“As Great Power competition intensifies in the Arctic and North Pacific and commercial activity continues to grow, the United States must ensure the Coast Guard is equipped, ready, and present—especially as we see an increased presence of joint operations being conducted by our adversaries within our ADIZ and EEZ. As Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Coast Guard, I worked with Chairman Cruz to secure the largest investment in Coast Guard history—nearly $25 billion—including funding for 16 new icebreakers and $300 million to homeport the Coast Guard icebreaker Storis in Juneau. The Coast Guard is essential to our national defense, and Alaska—America’s only Arctic state, with more coastline than the entire Lower 48 combined—is central to that mission. This hearing will underscore just how vital the Coast Guard is to Alaska and to the nation.”

Sen. Cruz said:

“As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, I fought to secure the largest investment in Coast Guard history through the Working Families Tax Cut Act. This $25 billion investment ensures the Coast Guard maintains a global presence, keeps our men and women mission-ready, and deters our adversaries. Admiral Lunday has been a steady hand at the helm, defending our maritime borders from deadly drugs, illegal immigration, and transnational crime. I look forward to continuing to advance President Trump’s vision to restore American maritime dominance.”

Witness:

  • Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant, United States Coast Guard

Hearing Details:

WHAT: Subcommittee Hearing titled “The Fleet We Funded: Assessing Coast Guard Force Laydown on the Heels of Historic Investment”

DATE: Thursday, January 29, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM EST

LOCATION: Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

LIVESTREAM: The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.

MEDIA INFO: Reporters wanting to attend the committee should contact their respective media gallery to RSVP.

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