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USCG & The Arctic cate its constrained resources, and assess its progress toward sions such as ice breaking and defense readiness begin and achieving its Arctic strategic goals. end. This backlog totaled at least $2.6 billion at that time.

To address operational challenges in the Arctic and other re- The Coast Guard has a key role within the federal govern- gions, the Coast Guard plans to acquire 28 new cutters, including ment in Arctic policy implementation and enforcement. It is at least three new icebreakers. But in the interim, it has projected facing growing responsibilities to assess and manage risks to an operational gap through 2039. Until these new ships enter ser- maritime safety and security and national security as regional vice, cutter and icebreaker shortages may continue to challenge conditions continue to change. However, there are several the Coast Guard’s ability to meet its Arctic commitments. Fur- concerns with the service’s Arctic planning and operations. ther, acquisition of these three icebreakers is years behind sched- GAO has made a number of recommendations in its reports, ule and up to $2 billion over the initial cost estimate, as reported including improving its planning, acquisition, and data collec- by GAO in June 2024. Meanwhile, Russia has more than 40 ice- tion efforts. Implementing these recommendations is critical breakers, and China—which is not an Arctic nation—has three. to protecting U.S. interests in the Arctic.

Coast Guard operational challenges in the U.S. Arctic re-

The Author gion are ampli? ed by limited infrastructure and logistics ca- pabilities in Alaska. For example, the Coast Guard operates its

MacLeod forward deployed helicopters from a leased Alaska National

Heather MacLeod is a Director in GAO’s

Guard aircraft hangar in Kotzebue, Alaska because the ser-

Homeland Security and Justice team. vice lacks its own infrastructure. The infrastructure that the

She oversees Coast Guard and maritime security issues, including Coast Guard

Coast Guard does have is aging and sometimes in a state of workforce and strategic planning efforts, disrepair. In February 2019, GAO found that the Coast Guard and maritime port and supply chain/ faced a costly backlog of shore infrastructure projects related cargo security.

to docks, air stations, and other infrastructure from which mis-

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