The Donald Trump administration axed Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the US Coast Guard chief, on Tuesday just 24 hours after Trump took office for his second term. A senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed the move to Fox News.
She made history to be the first woman to head one of the armed forces branches of the US. Admiral Fagan was sworn in as the chief of the Coast Guard on June 1, 2022. Her term occurred under former President Joe Biden.
Acting DHS Secretary Benjamin Huffman wished the Coast Guard through a message that she had long and distinguished careers.
Fagan’s career spanned all seven continents, including significant work in Antarctica, Africa, Tokyo, and Geneva, among other locations, as detailed on the Coast Guard’s website. However, the biography has since been removed.
Allegations Against Admiral Fagan
Fagan faced accusations of failing to effectively utilize Coast Guard resources to secure national borders against illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
In her absence, Admiral Kevin Lunday, who previously served as Fagan’s deputy and vice commandant, will take over as acting commandant of the Coast Guard, according to a DHS spokesperson speaking to Newsweek.
Trump Off to Fighting Start in Second Term
President Donald Trump entered his second term on Monday, January 20, with a bold agenda of reversing most of the major policies of the previous administration.
His first set of moves was to sign executive orders revoking the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, respectively in line with his “America First” agenda.
Trump was also said to pardon 1,500 people who took part in the US Capitol riots that challenged the outcome of the 2020 election.
Dropping Admiral Fagan forms part of a host of other critical decisions made by Trump as he resumes the presidency with a strong stand on the reform of domestic and foreign policies.