Fwd: Issue in Depth- Why We Need to Keep the Coast Guard Afloat

heritage.org | Heritage research | Blog |                          July 4, 2010 Issue in Depth: The U.S. Coast Guard From the recovery in Haiti to the continuing oil cleanup effort in the Gulf the Coast Guard continues to be at the forefront of important U.S. missions. Despite these roles, it is facing a 3.3% cut in the FY 2011 budget in addition to a 2.6% cut in active-duty personnel. The Coast Guard has continuously been stretched thin following the expansion of its mission and its transfer to the Department of Homeland Security. Admiral Thad Allen has pointed out that while the average age of a Coast Guard cutter is 41 years, the average Navy vessel is only for 14 years old. The proposed budget cuts will greatly hinder modernization efforts and can only lead to a slower response when the next emergency hits. In the words of the late Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), the President's budget cuts of Coast Guardsmen are "pennywise and pound foolish." Please see our most recent research on the Coast Guard and its ongoing efforts in the Gulf in this week's National Security Update. Latest Research: The Heritage Foundation: Reject Coast Guard's Maritime Security and Counterterrorism Mission Budget Cuts The U.S. Coast Guard's advanced interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities are being scaled back at a time when they should be expanded. President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request for the Coast Guard explores killing five of the 12 Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) in addition to nine aircraft and five cutters. The Heritage Foundation: U.S. Coast Guard At Risk: Modernization Plans Sinking Under Budget Constraints Given the backbreaking demands currently placed on American forces around the world, the U.S. military's significant humanitarian response efforts in Haiti have been extraordinary. This response has been led by the frequently forgotten fifth member of the U.S. Armed Forces: the U.S. Coast Guard. The Heritage Foundation: Massive Oil Spill Makes Case For Reversing Obama Coast Guard Cuts The recent disaster in the Gulf Coast, where a massive oil spill now threatens to cause billions of dollars in environmental damage, demonstrates how under-funding the Coast Guard is adding unacceptable risk to the safety, security, and prosperity of all Americans. The Heritage Foundation Special Report: Stopping the Slick, Saving the Environment: A Framework for Response, Recovery, and Resiliency On April 20, 2010, the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a mas¬sive, continuing release of underground oil. Washington must develop a comprehensive response to the crisis that mitigates damage, promotes economic and environmental recovery, and delivers solutions to ensure resiliency in the face of future catastrophes. More Blogs and Commentary: The Foundry: Coast Guard Deserves More Than A Thank You Unfortunately, if one follows the money trail, America is falling short when it comes to adequately resourcing the military—including the U.S. Coast Guard. As a consequence of President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget request, the Coast Guard is being "forced to make asset reduction decisions without full appreciation of the impact of those reductions to operational performance." The Foundry: Obama's Oil Spill To-Do List The oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico gets worse by the day. Oil spews from the broken well, further polluting our water and shores. The clean-up efforts drag on with bureaucratic interference, making matters worse. The Foundry: You Can Bet These Clowns Are No Joke Just when you thought that bumbling Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale had retired for good, the FBI uncovers an 11-person, deep-cover Russian spy ring stretching from Boston to Washington.  More Events: July 8, 2010, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: U.S. Capabilities To Manage Irregular Conflicts in the 21st Century Roy Godson and Richard Shultz argue that the United States needs a set of tools and skills suited to the world as it is and as it is likely to evolve, not as it was. July 14, 2010, 12:00 p.m. Location: Washington, DC The CATO Institute: What to do About North Korea? Stephen Linton will discuss what he has learned about Pyongyang's international objectives and suggest possible strategies for the U.S. to use in engaging the North. Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2009, The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400