Following her dismissal last month due to concerns over border security, recruitment, and DEI initiatives, former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan was reportedly given just three hours to vacate her official residence at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling in Washington, D.C. NBC News, citing two sources familiar with the situation, reported that the eviction occurred on Tuesday, despite Fagan having a 60-day grace period to secure new housing after her termination by the Trump administration.
The short notice reportedly left Fagan insufficient time to retrieve all her belongings, with a former military official telling NBC that "many, possibly all," of her personal items remained. She reportedly spent the night with friends. Homeland Security officials reportedly instructed acting Commandant Kevin Lunday to enforce the eviction, although it remains unclear whether the order originated directly from President Trump. According to one source, shortly after the eviction notice, aides to DHS senior advisor and retired Coast Guard officer Sean Plankey contacted Fagan's team, requesting that the house be left unlocked for interior photographs.
A senior DHS official previously confirmed to Fox News that Fagan's termination stemmed from a combination of factors, including an "erosion of trust," leadership shortcomings, operational failures, and an inability to achieve the Coast Guard's strategic goals. These issues encompassed inadequate responses to border security threats, particularly in intercepting fentanyl and other illegal drugs; insufficient coordination with DHS on maritime border operations; and struggling recruitment and retention efforts. The official also cited persistent delays and cost overruns in acquiring crucial equipment like icebreakers and helicopters, impacting Coast Guard operations in the Arctic and other strategic areas. Furthermore, Fagan's emphasis on DEI initiatives, including at the Coast Guard Academy, was criticized for diverting resources from core operational needs.
The handling of Operation Fouled Anchor, an internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy, also contributed to the "erosion of trust." The Coast Guard's delayed disclosure of the operation, which ran from 2014 to 2019, until 2023 drew criticism. Fagan faced scrutiny from senators during a summer hearing on Capitol Hill for not holding anyone accountable for the cover-up and withholding requested documents. The DHS official stated that the inadequate response to the systemic issues uncovered by the investigation revealed a leadership culture resistant to accountability and transparency in protecting service members.
Fagan, the first woman to lead a branch of the U.S. military, assumed the role of the 27th Commandant of the Coast Guard on June 1, 2022. She oversaw global operations and a workforce of 42,000 active-duty personnel, 7,000 reservists, 8,700 civilians, and 21,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers.
