One of Mississippi’s federal representatives will head groundbreaking efforts to create an inaugural military position.
Congressman Mike Ezell, a Republican from the state’s fourth congressional district, is leading the charge in the House of Representatives to create the first-ever Secretary of the Coast Guard — the only branch of the military that lacks a politically appointed civilian head. The move follows a push by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the position.
“I’m proud to lead the charge in Congress to create the first-ever Secretary of the Coast Guard — giving this vital service the leadership, visibility, and accountability it deserves,” Ezell wrote on X. “This will strengthen our national security, protect our coastlines, and support communities like South Mississippi.”
I’m proud to lead the charge in Congress to create the first-ever Secretary of the Coast Guard—giving this vital service the leadership, visibility, and accountability it deserves.
This will strengthen our national security, protect our coastlines, and support communities like…
— Congressman Mike Ezell (@RepEzell) September 25, 2025
The Coast Guard is the only division of the U.S. military that falls under the Department of Homeland Security’s purview, while all others — the Army, Navy, and Air Force — report to the Department of Defense, which has been rebranded by the Trump administration to the Department of War. In recent months, federal officials have endorsed the notion of better aligning the Coast Guard’s mission with that of the branches within the Department of War.
The Coast Guard has more than 40,000 active duty service members. The branch primarily serves to protect the nation’s waters by performing a range of duties, including search and rescue operations, enforcing maritime laws against drug trafficking and illegal immigration, and other related functions.
“We recognize and deeply value the Department of Homeland Security’s stewardship of the Coast Guard’s multi-mission character and its unique homeland security capabilities,” Hegseth wrote in a letter to Noem. “The Department of War believes that the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard can complement and reinforce these strengths while ensuring that, in times of peace or war, the Service is postured to support the full spectrum of national security operations.”
Agreeing with Hegseth, Noem noted that creating a Secretary of the Coast Guard would instill better synergy between the branch and its military peers, especially in joint operations. The Coast Guard is currently involved in Operation Pacific Viper alongside the Navy, with the mission of curbing the influx of illegal drugs flowing into the United States as the Trump administration cracks down on cartels.
“The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland. Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives,” Noem said.
“Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trump’s mandate to rebuild the Service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world. I emphatically endorse and support Secretary Hegseth’s recommendation and look forward to working with him, President Trump, and Congress to make this a reality.”
Hegseth and Noem will work alongside congressional figures, like Ezell, to bring the secretary position to fruition.
