Window on Washington: Semper Gumby

This article originally appeared in the First Quarter 2018 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin. Any opinions in this article are not those of Winston & Strawn or its clients. The opinions in this article are the author’s opinions only.

The Coast Guard is unique. It is a multi-mission maritime service, with defense, law enforcement, safety, navigational, rescue, environmental response, vessel documentation, intelligence, disaster recovery and response, and numerous other functions. It is a military service, yet it resides within the Department of Homeland Security. And in many cases, such as in parts of Alaska and the Arctic, or in the Caribbean Sea, it may be the only Federal presence of real significance capable of responding to the call. Yet, its many essential roles are often misunderstood and underappreciated by the American public and some lawmakers, and consequently it finds itself at times stretched too thin and undercapitalized, with ageing and insufficient assets.

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