The U.S. House of Representatives has passed S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA), which includes the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 as part of its provisions. The legislation authorizes funding for the United States Coast Guard through fiscal year 2027 and aims to strengthen its capacity to protect national borders, support maritime commerce, enhance safety at sea, and address growing concerns in the Pacific region.
The provisions in the NDAA are drawn from H.R. 4275, introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Salud Carbajal (D-CA). This bill was previously approved by the House on July 23, 2025. Adjustments were made during bicameral negotiations before inclusion in Division G of the NDAA.
“I’m grateful that the Coast Guard Authorization Act was included in this year’s NDAA. This legislation provides the men and women of the Coast Guard – one of our nation’s six armed services – with the resources they need to carry out their many missions vital to national security, the safety of Americans and mariners, and our economy,” said T&I Committee Chairman Graves. “The legislation also builds on the historic investments in modernizing the Coast Guard’s air and sea assets provided through the budget reconciliation process, and it supports the Administration’s vision to strengthen America’s maritime and shipbuilding capabilities.”
“Today's passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 through the NDAA ensures the Coast Guard has the resources it needs to remain mission ready—preventing and responding to oil spills in the Puget Sound and beyond, preventing sexual assault and harassment and more—and improve its shoreside infrastructure while investing in the women and men who keep our seas safe,” said T&I Committee Ranking Member Larsen. “I hope we can continue this bipartisan momentum into next year.”
“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud to see this year’s NDAA include the Coast Guard Authorization Act,” said Subcommittee Chairman Ezell. “This legislation gives our Coasties the tools, assets, and support they need to protect our shores, strengthen maritime safety, and keep our economy moving. From the Gulf Coast to the Pacific, the Coast Guard is on the front lines every day, and this bill ensures they have what they need to meet rising threats and continue their vital missions.”
“The Coast Guard is on the front lines every day protecting lives at sea, keeping our shores safe, and contributing to our national defense,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal. “This bipartisan legislation will deliver critical resources for the Coast Guard to carry out its missions, modernize infrastructure and safety systems, and enhance quality of life for our Coasties. Just as importantly, it reinforces our shared responsibility to ensure the Coast Guard follows through on reforms to eliminate sexual assault and harassment from its ranks.”
The authorization act supports ongoing operations as well as efforts toward recapitalizing aging vessels such as cutters along with aviation equipment, facilities on shorelines across regions including Alaska where there is increased focus on oil spill prevention response capabilities.
Additional measures include modernizing acquisition processes within USCG operations; boosting transparency around spending especially regarding a $24.6 billion investment authorized under H.R. 1; improving protections against sexual misconduct based on lessons from Operation Fouled Anchor; updating requirements for merchant mariner credentials; strengthening U.S.-Build standards for ship construction; increasing vessel safety; enhancing regulatory processes; broadening recruitment opportunities among merchant mariners; all with an eye toward supporting both readiness at sea today while preparing USCG forces for future challenges.
