Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are supporting a plan to establish a new civilian secretary of the Coast Guard, a move they say will strengthen oversight and improve coordination with other branches of the military, as reported by Fox News.

Currently, the Coast Guard is the only armed service without a cabinet-level civilian secretary. It falls under the Department of Homeland Security but does not have a direct equivalent to the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

The proposal, which is gaining momentum within the Trump administration and Congress, seeks to align the Coast Guard with the organizational standards of the other services under the Department of War.

In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Hegseth wrote to Noem outlining the importance of the change.

“I view the creation of a Secretary of the Coast Guard as a vital step toward strengthening strategic integration and alignment between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of War,” Hegseth said.

He added, “Furthermore, a Secretary of the Coast Guard would reinforce civilian oversight of the military, a foundational principle of our Constitution. A dedicated Service Secretary would promote appropriate executive accountability and policy guidance for the Coast Guard’s critical mission set, provide clear leadership and advocacy, and ensure that the Service is effectively advancing the priorities of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the President of the United States.”

Noem echoed the importance of creating the position, stressing that it would improve the Coast Guard’s ability to conduct joint operations with other branches of the military.

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She pointed to Operation Pacific Viper, a joint effort between the Coast Guard and the Navy designed to counter drug trafficking into the United States, as an example of the type of coordination that would benefit from a dedicated civilian secretary.

“The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland,” Noem said in a statement.

“Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives. Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trump’s mandate to rebuild the Service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world.”

Supporters argue that creating the position will streamline bureaucracy by ensuring direct reporting to the White House and Congress, eliminating multiple layers of administrative hurdles.

“This person is going to be instrumental in getting things done,” Ezell, a senior administration official, told Fox News Digital.

The proposal coincides with the Coast Guard’s recently unveiled Force Design 2028 plan, which lays out reforms to its organizational structure, acquisitions, contracting, personnel, and technology.

The plan also includes aligning physical fitness, body composition, and grooming standards with those of the Department of Defense, while identifying areas where training and personnel expansion are most needed.

The Coast Guard currently has approximately 43,000 active-duty service members. Advocates of the reform say a dedicated secretary will provide the leadership necessary to strengthen the service’s role in national security, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions.

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