Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan was relieved of her duties Jan. 20, President Donald Trump’s first day in office.

Fagan was the first woman ever to head a branch of the U.S. military and the first to be fired. She was relieved for failing to address border security, including allowing fentanyl into the country, and placing too much emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Coast Guard, to the point of sacrificing operational matters, according to an unnamed Homeland Security official.

The effect of the change in command on U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, the nation’s only basic training center for Coast Guard enlisted personnel, is unknown. The station’s mission is primarily search and rescue operations.

The unnamed official made the comments about Fagan’s firing following remarks by acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman.

“She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service to our nation,” Huffman said.

Fagan also was blamed by the unnamed official for lower enlistment rates in the Coast Guard, despite lower numbers being reported by other branches of the military as well.

She was immediately replaced by Vice-commandant Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, who was named acting commandant.

Fagan was appointed the 27th commandant of the Coast Guard in June 2022. She was the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral, otherwise known as a full admiral or simply “admiral.” She had a long history of service in the marine safety field.

She assumed her command as news broke of an investigation into rape and sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. After a U.S. Senate Homeland Security subcommittee described a “culture of cover-up” in the Coast Guard, Fagan vowed to hold Coast Guard leadership responsible.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.