The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently examined the operational risks and challenges faced by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Arctic. As climate change reshapes the region, increased maritime activity and strategic competition, particularly from Russia and China, have highlighted the critical role of the Coast Guard in enforcing Arctic policy and maintaining maritime security, safety, and environmental protection. Despite the importance of this mission, the GAO report underscores persistent gaps in the Coast Guard's planning, infrastructure, and asset availability that threaten its operational efficacy. 

The Coast Guard has conducted risk assessments and included these findings in strategic documents, such as the 2019 Arctic Strategic Outlook and its 2023 Implementation Plan. However, the GAO found that the Implementation Plan lacks key metrics, including performance measures, timeframes, and targets, which limits the Coast Guard’s ability to evaluate progress, allocate resources effectively, and align its efforts with national Arctic priorities. Additionally, the absence of complete mission performance data, such as operational deployment times and mission hours, further hinders its ability to plan and execute Arctic operations. 

To mitigate risks, the Coast Guard has partnered with the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies, engaging in joint exercises and developing regional plans to address specific challenges. However, operational shortcomings have persisted, largely due to limited assets, including the aging icebreaker fleet and insufficient infrastructure in Alaska. Current measures, such as deploying the medium icebreaker Healy seasonally and conducting forward operations, are stopgap solutions that cannot fully address the increasing demands of Arctic missions. 

The Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter program is central to its strategy for improving Arctic capabilities, but it has faced substantial delays and cost overruns. Initially slated for earlier delivery, the program is now behind schedule by at least four years, with the first heavy icebreaker expected no sooner than 2029. Estimated costs for the three planned cutters have surged from $3 billion to over $5 billion, and questions about affordability in a constrained budget environment persist. 

Compounding these issues is the growing backlog of shore infrastructure projects, which has ballooned from $2.6 billion in 2019 to over $7 billion in 2024. This backlog includes critical maintenance and new construction needs for assets that support Arctic operations, yet many projects lack cost estimates, complicating efforts to address these deficiencies. The lack of adequate infrastructure, combined with delays in acquiring new assets, jeopardizes the Coast Guard's ability to maintain a consistent and effective presence in the Arctic. 

The GAO emphasized that without addressing these strategic and operational gaps, the Coast Guard’s ability to fulfill its Arctic commitments will remain in doubt. Recommendations include establishing clearer performance metrics in planning documents, improving the completeness of operational data, and prioritizing infrastructure investments. By implementing these recommendations, the Coast Guard could better position itself to meet the increasing demands of Arctic missions while aligning with national security and environmental priorities. 

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee accuracy or provide legal advice. For official information, consult the original GAO report or legal counsel.