Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and first female leader of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, was fired this morning by the Trump administration, Fox News reported. She had been appointed in 2022 to lead the Coast Guard by former President Joe Biden.
Adm. Fagan. 61, was served the termination notice by the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman who reportedly cited concerns about the border, recruitment and an “erosion of trust.”
The Fox News report suggested that Adm. Fagan was found to have demonstrated leadership deficiencies, operational failures and an inability to advance the strategic objectives of the Coast Guard. These include the failure to address border security threats, insufficient leadership in recruitment and retention, mismanagement in acquiring key acquisitions such as icebreakers and helicopters, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and an “erosion of trust” over the mishandling and cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, which was the Coast Guard’s internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly vowed to get rid of so-called woke generals and military officers who champion diversity. This pledge has been echoed by Pete Hegseth, the administration’s pick for Pentagon chief.
Commissioned in 1985, Adm. Fagan was widely regarded as a pioneering female in U.S. Coast Guard, rising through the ranks until she became become Commandant which was hailed as a “historic event” for the service.
(USCG file photo of Admiral Linda Fagan)