Summary#
This bill, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, approves money and makes many changes for the Coast Guard and related agencies. It sets funding levels for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. It updates rules for buying ships and systems, directs reports and briefings about major ship programs (including Polar Security Cutters and Great Lakes icebreaking), and allows certain new procurement and construction approaches (for example, a floating drydock at the Coast Guard Yard). The bill changes personnel and hiring rules, adds new family leave and housing authorities, creates pilot programs for behavioral health technicians and tuition assistance, and changes academy oversight, cadet protections, and cadet facilities and training. It requires many studies and reports on missions, facilities, maritime domain awareness, and vessel traffic. The bill revises merchant mariner credentialing and training rules, establishes advisory bodies and pilot programs for uncrewed maritime systems, and adds vessel- and port-safety and pollution-response provisions. It includes many provisions to improve prevention and response to sexual assault and harassment in the Coast Guard, including new record-retention rules, reporting, victim care policies, safe-to-report protections, and other accountability steps. The bill also amends statutes for NOAA (vessel fleet planning and personnel), and makes multiple technical and administrative amendments across maritime law.
What it means for you#
- If you are a Coast Guard member or civilian employee: the bill changes hiring authorities, family leave rules, housing authorities, behavioral health and counseling access, uniform allowances for maternity, and other personnel rules. It adds pilot programs and reporting requirements that may affect career paths, training, and benefits.
- If you work in the maritime industry or are a mariner: the bill changes merchant mariner credentials, training alternatives, examination schedules, and documentation processes. It also directs studies and rules affecting vessel safety, inspection schedules, and pier or anchorage arrangements.
- If you live near Coast Guard facilities or ports: the bill requires tsunami preparedness plans for Coast Guard properties in inundation zones and directs reports and studies on port readiness, marine traffic, and abandoned vessels.
- If you care about maritime technology or research: the bill authorizes work on uncrewed maritime systems, creates advisory committees and pilot programs, and requires plans for Coast Guard uncrewed capability and data integration.
- If you are a Coast Guard Academy cadet, parent, or staff: the bill strengthens academy oversight, expands cadet advisory roles, requires security and wellness rooms, installs electronic locks, and requires reporting and surveys on misconduct and wellbeing.
Expenses#
- The bill amends title 14 appropriation language to authorize at least $11,287,500,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $11,851,875,000 for fiscal year 2026 for the Coast Guard (Section 101).
- It authorizes amounts for other program categories, including $3,627,600,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $3,651,480,000 for fiscal year 2026 for specified funds (as set in the amended statute).
- It sets specific smaller authorizations for certain accounts (for example, amounts of $25,570,000 and $26,848,500 in two subparagraphs and $15,415,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $16,185,750 for fiscal year 2026 in another).
- For retired pay and related benefits the bill specifies $1,210,840,000 for fiscal year 2025.
- The NOAA provision includes an authorization line of $93,000,000 for fiscal years 2025–2026 for NOAA fleet matters.
- Several sections make receipts or other amounts available until expended for specific programs (for example, Coast Guard receipts or proceeds from sales or enhanced-use property arrangements).
- Many provisions direct studies, pilot programs, briefings, or planning that may require appropriations; the bill text often states these are subject to availability of appropriations or directs the submission of cost estimates or reports to congressional committees.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.