Decrease in US Coast Guard funding for defense-related activities

September 21, 2021

through Michel fabey

US Coast Guard defense operations funding has declined. (US Coast Guard)

After adjusting for inflation, the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) appropriations for defense-related activities declined by about 20% – to $ 530 million in FY2020, from $ 674 million. USD in 2011, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimated in a September 15 report.

Specifically, the operating credit – the primary source of funding for operations at all missions – was $ 8 billion in 2011 and $ 8.2 billion in fiscal 2020, after adjusting for ‘inflation, “GAO noted in its report titled” Coast Guard: Information on Deployments, Expenses, and Funding of Defense Readiness Missions. “

GAO said, “The defense readiness mission represented a small portion of coastguard deployments and operational spending from fiscal years 2011 to 2020.”

USCG ship and aircraft deployments for the defense readiness mission accounted for about 5% of deployments over the 10-year period – ranking eighth out of 11 statutory missions, GAO reported.

However, the Coast Guard also deploys ships and planes to support the Department of Defense (DoD) in its other statutory missions, including drug interdiction; ice operations; and ports, waterways and coastal safety, ”GAO said.

Likewise, defense readiness accounted for approximately 7% of the service’s total operating expenses for fiscal years 2011 to 2020. Coast Guard defense readiness’s share of estimated operating expenses was lower than those of seven of its 11 missions, ”added GAO.

In addition to its operations credits, the Coast Guard also receives reimbursements from the DoD for specific activities, such as escorts of navy submarines conducted by maritime forces protection units and service in staffs. combat commanders, GAO said.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-coast-guard-appropriations-for-defence-related-activities-decline

After adjusting for inflation, US Coast Guard (USCG) appropriations for defense-related activities …