FEDERALhearing transcript

Review of U.S. Coast Guard Major Acquisition Programs

Original title: COAST GUARD MAJOR ACQUISITIONS

January 1, 2018

Coast Guard Military Acquisitions Budget Maritime Security Offshore Patrol Cutter

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses whether the Coast Guard will receive the funding necessary to replace aging assets, which directly impacts the agency's capacity to secure ports, protect the environment, and ensure waterway safety.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Coast Guard

The agency's ability to acquire new equipment and meet operational targets is directly tied to the budget decisions discussed.

Shell Oil

The company's Arctic drilling operations are subject to Coast Guard permitting processes, which were a subject of inquiry during the hearing.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript from a 2015 House subcommittee hearing regarding the U.S. Coast Guard's ability to meet operational goals. The hearing focused on the impact of budget cuts on the acquisition of new vessels and equipment, specifically the Offshore Patrol Cutter.

Key Facts

The Coast Guard is currently operating significantly below its required operational hour targets.
The President's fiscal year 2016 budget request proposes a 17 percent reduction in funding for the acquisition of replacement assets.
The budget fails to guarantee funding for the detailed design phase of the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).
Failure to begin the OPC detailed design by the end of 2016 could lead to increased project costs.
The subcommittee requested a history of all major acquisition program baselines since 2005.
The subcommittee requested information regarding the Coast Guard's role in issuing drill permits for Shell Oil's Arctic operations.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Coast Guard struggling to meet its mission goals?

According to the subcommittee, the Coast Guard lacks a sufficient number of modern assets to perform its duties effectively.

What is the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC)?

It is a major acquisition program for the Coast Guard that requires funding for detailed design to avoid future cost increases.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Budgetary Tension on Acquisitions

The hearing highlights a significant friction point between the legislative branch and the executive branch regarding the funding of long-term maritime infrastructure.

U.S. Coast Guard Duncan Hunter

Connected Entities

personDuncan Hunter“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation”Map →

personBruce D. Baffer“Rear Admiral, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer”Map →

organizationShell Oil“Mentioned in relation to Arctic drilling operations”Map →

personJames H. Offutt“National President, Navy League of the United States”Map →

personMichele Mackin“Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, U.S. Government Accountability Of”Map →

organizationU.S. Coast Guard“The federal agency responsible for maritime safety and security”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment15
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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