Potomac Institute Concludes Coast Guard Core Missions in Danger

March 8, 2005

News Release

Washington, D.C. – The Potomac Institute has concluded that the U.S. Coast Guard’s core missions are in danger of being minimized in the course of preparing the fleet to fulfill maritime homeland security (MHLS) missions. The President’s budget for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate in FY 2006 shows the transfer of $17 million from the Coast Guard’s base funding for research and development to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate where it will be consolidated with the R&D activities of TSA, CBP, and IAIP. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) agreed with the Potomac Institute recommendation in a letter to Senator Judd Gregg, Chairman of the Committee on the Budget, and stated, “I believe the research center should continue to be funded and operated directly by the Coast Guard.”

Representative Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) said, “Taking away its R&D budget is the first step in dismantling the Coast Guard and that violates the spirit of the agreement,” as reported in the New London Day on March 3, 2005. The agreement, Section 888 of the Homeland Security Act directs that “the authorities, functions, and capabilities of the Coast Guard to perform its missions shall be maintained intact” even after the Coast Guard is transferred to become a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In the same article, Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) is quoted saying, “Clearly they continue to fail to understand the unique expertise the Coast Guard can provide, and I intend to fight tooth and nail – as I have in the past – to restore funding in this important area.” The Fiscal Year 2006 Budget for Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Program describes the Research Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) program in the USCG as focusing its research on improvements to sensors, equipment, and decision-making tools needed for threat awareness, prevention, response, and consequence management. The program also conducts research in marine environmental protection and response, risk assessment and competence, and human error reduction and fatigue analysis.

Citing the study in the New London Day article, Senator Dodd stated, “As we ask more of the Coast Guard and seek to expand their role and mission, it’s vitally important that they get the resources to do their job. That’s why this budget falls far short of what is needed. It turns a blind eye (to the Potomac study) that said that more needs to be done and not less when it comes to reinforcing and strengthening the Coast Guard.”