Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 4275
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-07-23: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T17:08:27Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4275) authorizes funding and personnel levels for the U.S. Coast Guard from fiscal years 2025 to 2029, establishes a dedicated Secretary of the Coast Guard as a civilian position reporting directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and enacts reforms to enhance operational efficiency, personnel support, maritime safety, and responses to sexual assault and harassment. It aims to modernize the Coast Guard's structure, acquisition processes, and accountability while addressing emerging challenges like autonomous systems and environmental protection.

Key Provisions

The Act is organized into seven titles, covering authorizations, organization, shipping, oil pollution, misconduct response, oversight reports, and amendments.

Title I: Coast Guard Authorizations and Accountability
Authorizes appropriations totaling billions across operations, procurement, retired pay, and other categories, with increases each year (e.g., $11.3 billion for operations in FY 2025, rising to $15.5 billion in FY 2029).
Sets military end strength at 50,000 for FY 2025-2026, increasing to 60,000 by FY 2028-2029.
Requires reports on homeporting projects, major acquisitions, overdue reports, polar icebreakers, and Pacific operations.

Title II: Organization, Authorities, Acquisition, and Personnel
Organization: Creates the Secretary of the Coast Guard position (civilian appointee), limits reappointment of the Commandant to one additional term, and adds roles like a Special Advisor for Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs.
Authorities: Expands cyber support abroad, increases minor construction thresholds to $4 million, and mandates tsunami preparedness plans for Coast Guard properties.
Acquisition: Prohibits foreign shipyard use without presidential exceptions, improves lifecycle cost analysis, and allows service life extensions for assets.
Personnel: Enhances family leave, career flexibility, direct hiring for key roles (e.g., firefighters, medical professionals), and incentives for remote postings; consolidates college precommissioning programs.
Coast Guard Academy: Modifies the Board of Visitors, requires electronic locks on cadet rooms, installs privacy rooms, and authorizes facility use by foundations.
Reports and Policies: Mandates naloxone availability for opioid overdoses and plans to reduce drug trafficking incentives.

Title III: Shipping and Navigation
Merchant Mariner Credentials: Reduces sea service requirements (e.g., from 3 years to 18 months for able seamen), allows noncitizen nationals, and modernizes exams.
Vessel Safety: Strengthens penalties for grossly negligent operations, enables performance-based inspections, and designates pilotage waters in the Straits of Mackinac.
Ports: Improves Vessel Traffic Services, requires cyber-incident training, and establishes an advisory committee on autonomous maritime systems.
Autonomous Systems: Launches a pilot for small uncrewed maritime oversight and requires NOAA involvement in policy councils.
Other: Extends cetacean protection programs and suspends certain AIS enforcement for fishing gear.

Title IV: Oil Pollution Response
Updates vessel response plans to include salvage and firefighting inspections.
Allows use of marine casualty investigations in administrative proceedings.
Requires online incident reporting and invests Exxon Valdez spill funds in high-yield assets and marine research.
Adds international oil spill response measures.

Title V: Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Response
Mandates independent reviews, comprehensive evidence retention policies (up to 50 years for certain cases), and victim transfer options.
Establishes a Chief Prosecutor, Safe-to-Report policy, and special victim capabilities.
Requires continuous vetting of clearances, expanded training, and flag officer concurrence for separations of reporting victims.
Ensures access to temporary separations and confidential reporting.

Title VI: Comptroller General Reports
Requires studies on research programs, behavioral health care, medical records, training infrastructure, housing allowances, Academy safety, and permanent change of station processes.

Title VII: Amendments
Makes technical corrections to various laws, including vessel safety, ports, and oil pollution statutes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Organizational Structure: Repeals the direct reporting of the Commandant to the DHS Secretary, creating an independent civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard (14 U.S.C. § 201), with a required transition plan and GAO review.
Personnel and Funding: Increases end strength by 15,500 over five years and authorizes multi-year funding escalations; expands family leave to reserves and maternity allowances.
Acquisition and Operations: Bans lead systems integrators in major projects, restricts foreign vessel construction, and mandates analysis of alternatives for aircraft fleets (maintaining at least 140 rotary-wing aircraft).
Misconduct Response: Introduces 50-year retention for sexual assault evidence, a Chief Prosecutor role (14 U.S.C. § 324), and mandatory flag officer review for separations of victims; aligns with DoD standards for protective orders and expedited transfers.
Maritime Regulations: Reduces mariner credential service times, adds felony penalties for negligent vessel operations, and exempts small uncrewed systems from certain inspections during NOAA surveys.
Repeals and Technical Fixes: Eliminates outdated boards (e.g., boards of review for separations) and updates cross-references (e.g., in oil pollution and hydrographic laws).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Bolsters Coast Guard capacity with higher funding ($50+ billion total) and personnel, easing strains on DHS and DoD partnerships; enhances interagency coordination (e.g., with NOAA, VA, DoD) for autonomous tech, oil spills, and misconduct data sharing.
Citizens: Improves maritime safety through better vessel inspections, aids to navigation, and pollution response, potentially reducing accidents and environmental risks; expands whistleblower and victim protections, aiding survivors in accessing benefits and justice.
International Relations: Strengthens U.S. presence in the Pacific and Arctic via polar cutter updates and operations plans; facilitates cyber support abroad and aligns with IMO standards for autonomous systems, potentially aiding alliances in drug interdiction and fisheries enforcement.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Coast Guard Personnel: Active-duty, reserves, cadets, and civilians benefit from expanded training, leave policies, hiring incentives, and misconduct reforms; senior leaders face stricter accountability.
Maritime Industry: Shipbuilders, operators, and mariners gain from streamlined credentials, autonomous pilots, and safety updates; ports and fisheries see enhanced traffic monitoring and gear rules.
Victims and Advocates: Sexual assault/harassment survivors receive better support, evidence retention, and transfer options; whistleblowers get stronger protections.
Tribal/Native Hawaiian Communities: New advisor role improves consultation on Pacific/Arctic operations.
Congress and Oversight Bodies: Increased reporting and GAO studies enhance transparency; DoD/VA integration aids veterans' services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Aligns Coast Guard with Uniform Code of Military Justice for misconduct (e.g., 50-year evidence retention), potentially expanding DoD-like protections; clarifies foreign shipyard bans with national security exceptions, avoiding trade disputes.
Constitutional: Establishes civilian oversight via the new Secretary, preserving military chain of command (Commandant reports to Secretary of the Coast Guard, not directly to DHS head), which may raise separation-of-powers questions but includes GAO review for feasibility.
Political: Addresses misconduct scandals through reforms (e.g., independent reviews, victim transfers), promoting accountability amid public scrutiny; boosts Arctic/Pacific focus amid geopolitical tensions, signaling U.S. commitment to maritime security without partisan bias.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

Recent Actions

2025-07-23: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-07-23: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-07-23: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 12 (Roll no. 218). (text: CR H3572-3617) (Roll call 218)
2025-07-23: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 12 (Roll no. 218). (text: CR H3572-3617: 4) (Roll call 218)
2025-07-23: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3622-3623)
2025-07-23: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2025-07-23: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4275.
2025-07-23: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3572-3620)
2025-07-23: Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2025-07-22: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 174.
2025-07-22: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-214.
2025-07-22: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-214.
2025-07-15: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 60 - 0.
2025-07-15: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-07-15: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged

Bill Versions

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (436 pages)
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-02 — PDF (485 pages)
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (435 pages)
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-22 — PDF (454 pages)