Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
Summary
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 would provide the necessary funding and legal authority for the U.S. Coast Guard to carry out its primary missions through fiscal year 2026. The legislation aims to bolster national security by increasing resources for drug and migrant interdiction, specifically targeting the use of remote-controlled or autonomous vessels by smuggling cartels. It also proposes to modernize the service's aging fleet by expediting the delivery of new icebreakers and upgrading shoreside facilities and IT systems.
For service members and their families, the bill introduces significant reforms to improve quality of life and safety. It proposes to establish confidential reporting for sexual harassment, strengthen protective orders for victims, and provide better access to specialized healthcare and childcare services. Additionally, the bill would require all Coast Guard installations to maintain supplies of opioid-overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, to protect personnel from accidental exposure to illicit drugs like fentanyl during interdiction operations.