Senate Finds Sexual Misconduct Widespread in Coast Guard

A recent report from the Homeland Security Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has revealed alarming accounts of systemic sexual assault and harassment within the U.S. Coast Guard. Over 80 whistleblowers provided testimonies detailing a pervasive culture of silencing, retaliation, and inadequate accountability. The 48-page report, titled “A Pervasive Problem: Voices of Coast Guard Sexual Assault and Harassment Survivors,” highlights that these issues affect enlisted members, officers, and cadets alike, as emphasized by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the subcommittee chair. The investigation, known as Operation Fouled Anchor, was conducted in secrecy, even from Congress, and substantiated numerous past assaults. Blumenthal stressed the need for “meaningful accountability” for both perpetrators and those who cover up their actions, asserting that ongoing investigations could lead to disciplinary measures within the Coast Guard. The report includes harrowing accounts from victims, including one woman who was discouraged from reporting her experience due to concerns about the careers of her alleged assailants. Victims described the investigation process as retraumatizing, with one service member recounting how investigators questioned his credibility while favoring the account of his alleged assailant. Another former cadet detailed the trauma of living in close proximity to her alleged attacker after being denied relocation. Despite claims from Coast Guard leadership about reforms in handling misconduct, senators have noted that sexual assault remains “persistent and unacceptably prevalent” within the organization, prompting further scrutiny and hearings on the matter.