WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard needs a service secretary and must grow its force by 15,500 people by 2028 to reverse its “downward readiness spiral,” according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The planned changes were outlined Wednesday by Noem during the Coast Guard Academy’s graduation ceremony in New London, Conn., during which pledged to work with Congress to overhaul the service. 

“You are the first graduating class of a brand-new Coast Guard,” Noem told the more than 250 new officers.

Coinciding with Noem’s remarks, Coast Guard headquarters released its executive report detailing Force Design 2028, an initiative to reorganize the service, address workforce shortfalls and streamline the purchase of vessels and new technology.

All branches of the armed forces, which are part of the Department of Defense, have service secretaries who provide direct civilian political leadership and oversight.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard operates under a commandant who reports to the secretary of Homeland Security.

The Coast Guard’s lack of a service secretary has contributed to its neglect and drift for decades, Noem said.

“I, working with Congress, will pursue the legislation needed to establish a Coast Guard service secretary within the Department of Homeland Security to correct this historical institutional disadvantage that has left it less ready to protect the American people,” Noem wrote in the Force Design 2028 executive report.

In recent years, Coast Guard officials have advocated for the service’s needs, which have grown with its responsibilities. Since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20, the service has faced increased pressure to deter illegal immigration along the southern border, while maintaining its commitments to the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions.

A Coast Guard secretary would be responsible for advocating for the service at a political level, as well as directing actions to organize, man, train and equip the service.

The secretary’s authority would be comparable to that of other service secretaries within the Defense Department. Also like the other service secretaries, the position would be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Noem said the Coast Guard has unprecedented support from the president that will transform the service. She said Trump recently asked her what the Coast Guard needs.

“I said, ‘Sir, they need everything. They’ve been neglected for too long,’ ” Noem said during the graduation ceremony.

The Coast Guard’s cutters, boats, aircraft, information technology and shore stations are on the verge of collapse because of a long-term lack of maintenance, Noem said. And efforts to replace the aging assets are underfunded and behind schedule.

“The men and women of the United States Coast Guard represent the very best that the nation has to offer. When they have the assets, capabilities, support, and advocacy they deserve, there is nothing they cannot accomplish,” reads Force Design 2028.

The Coast Guard is making strides to recruit new members, Noem said. With four months left in the fiscal year, the Coast Guard has already surpassed its recruiting goal of 4,300 by approximately 400 people. But maintaining the current force is not enough. The service must grow, Force Design 2028 reads. 

The plan also calls to increase the Coast Guard by 15,500 members by the end of fiscal year 2028. In 2024, the Coast Guard employed 55,500 people across its force, of which more than 39,000 are active-duty service members.

But the service is short by about 3,000 active-duty members and is operating below the workforce level that it deems necessary to meet operational demands, a federal watchdog reported this month.

“For decades, chronic manning shortages at front-line units have hampered the service’s ability to execute its missions. These gaps also created an unacceptable risk to its personnel and the public,” reads Force Design 2028.

In line with this effort, the service will invest more in recruiting, the Coast Guard Academy, officer candidate school, and the Coast Guard Reserve. Force Design 2028 also outlines an effort to provide leadership training and opportunities to the Coast Guard’s civilian workforce.

Force Design 2028 echoes changes that are being implemented across the military services in line with Trump’s executive order on “Restoring America’s Fighting Force.” Changes taking place across the services, including the Coast Guard, are an emphasis on merit-based promotions, reviews of physical fitness standards and a restructuring of leadership to eliminate redundancies.

The Coast Guard announced last week plans to cut 25% of its 46 flag officer positions by January as part of Force Design 2028. The reductions, according to a service-wide message sent May 15, are meant to eliminate redundant executive oversight that “hinders efficient decision-making and service effectiveness.”

Decision-making, Noem said, will “return to the front line, where it belongs.” 

The message follows an order earlier this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut the number of active-duty general and flag officer ranks across the Defense Department by 10%. That plan also calls for reducing the number of four-star positions by 20%.

“[Force Design 2028] will restore the service to greatness so that it is once again the instrument of national power that ensures our national security and economic prosperity for generations to come,” Noem wrote in the report.

Adm. Kevin Lunday, as commandant of the Coast Guard, will lead Force Design 2028. Lunday, who previously served as the vice commandant, took command of the Coast Guard on Jan. 21 after Trump fired Adm. Linda Fagan from the position reportedly for failing to address border security. Lunday will drop “acting” from his title, according to Noem, who named Lunday as the commandant of the Coast Guard during the graduation ceremony Wednesday. Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, recommended for promotion to admiral, will serve as the vice commandant.

“Leadership has consequences. It matters who’s in charge. It matters not just to the people that they lead, but it also sets an example for others across the communities, the states and the nation in which they serve,” Noem said to the graduating class. “These leaders have the full faith and trust of me. They have the full faith and trust of the president of the United States, and I am certain that they will not let us down.”

previous coverage

• Coast Guard needs to do more to understand retention, recruiting challenges, federal watchdog says
• Coast Guard needs more money, new ships and aircraft to keep up with southern border mission, commandant says
• Coast Guard commandant says service is maneuvering a tight budget as its worldwide mission expands
• Hegseth directs 20% cuts to top generals and admirals among other reductions across military