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The Trump administration has made the controversial decision to remove Admiral Linda Fagan, the first woman to ever head a US military service, from her position as the leader of the Coast Guard.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for overseeing the Coast Guard, has yet to provide a response to a request for comment on the dismissal of Fagan, which was made on Tuesday.
Fox News reported that a senior official highlighted several factors behind the decision, including her inability to tackle border security concerns, an overemphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a growing mistrust following the Coast Guard’s handling of sexual assault investigations.
For years, Trump and fellow Republicans have vehemently opposed government initiatives designed to promote diversity, with border security emerging as a central focus of the president’s agenda. On the first day of his new term, Trump declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border to underscore this priority.
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“She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service to our nation,” acting DHS secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message to the Coast Guard, which is one of the five US military branches.
Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.
She “served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way,” according to an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website.