Integrated Deepwater System Program

From Coast Guard struggling to update its aging fleet – USATODAY.com.

The problem with the US Coast Guard is that Congress and America neglected to properly finance and properly fund the US Coast Guard. Congress kept piling on more missions and more requirements without adequate funding, and adequate congressional oversights. In a sense, Congress and America failed to support the US Coast Guard and failed to give what was necessary that Congress mandated.

That’s why the US Coast Guard has a problem with updating it’s fleet of white hull cutters and Black hull cutters. The average age of most of the US Coast Guard Cutters dates back to post world war 2 war era. While the rest of the US Military get’s the latest and greatest in hardware, ships and Aircraft. The US Coast Guard is left to do more with less money and less equipment on hand. The Us Coast guard winds up getting hand me downs from the US Navy and ships that the US Navy doesn’t need or want anymore.

The main problem with the US Coast Guard and from what the USA Today story points out is that the US Coast Guard gave management of their procurement to outside contractors. It was as if the US Coast Guard letting the foxes Guard the Hen house and no one was watching over it. The US Coast Guard failed to oversee and manage the project. That’s why the US Coast Guard can only show for what they got was 2 brand new National Security Cutters and two more on the way.

It’s going to be very hard for the US Coast Guard to convince Congress to pour more money into the US Coast Guard, unless the US Coast Guard does a complete 180 and overhauls how they procure and manage projects. Even for their new National security cutters, I believe the US Coast Guard should build one for every Hamilton Class cutter they retire. Even when Congress is in a budget conscious mood, it’s going to be a tough sell for the US Coast Guard unless they come up with some way that is going to convince Congress to pour more money into the US Coast Guard.