WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, today joined U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) in urging the United States Coast Guard to commit to modernizing campus infrastructure at the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). In a letter to Acting Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday, the lawmakers outlined how years of underinvestment have left the Academy with deteriorated facilities that pose health and safety risks, fail to meet all academic and military training needs, and do not adequately support the development of our nation’s future Coast Guard leaders. The lawmakers called on the Coast Guard to respond with a plan for improving New London campus facilities to ensure the Academy can rise to its full potential in educating America’s multi-mission, maritime military force.

The lawmakers wrote: “The Academy is one of the Coast Guard’s most important assets, responsible for training and educating our nation’s maritime military leaders and commissioning 250 graduates each year as Coast Guard officers, and another 250 Officers through Officer Candidate School, to ensure our nation’s waters are safe, secure, and effectively monitored. The New London, CT, campus is where every Coast Guard leader has developed the leadership skills, military training, and maritime know-how that the Service relies upon for the execution of its eleven missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and defense readiness. When operating at its best, the Academy equips the Coast Guard to live fully into its service to nation, duty to people, and commitment to excellence.”

They continued: “Unfortunately, tight budgets, deferred maintenance, and delayed modernization projects have left the New London campus operating well below its potential and unable to meet the full needs of cadets, faculty, and the Service broadly. Sporadic funding has left the Academy with facilities averaging 65 years in age, stretched well beyond their service lives. Limited space has driven the Academy’s utilization of building space over 90%, well above the academic standard of 65%, constraining swing space and flexibility. Despite decades of work to bring barracks up to standard, limited funds have delayed progress and have left most cadets crowded three to a room… As judged by the leaking, dilapidated pool built in 1932, outdated and failing HVAC and electrical systems, and unsafe pier infrastructure still requiring repairs after Super Storm Sandy in 2012, it’s clear that Academy facilities need major investments to ensure the USCGA attracts the best and brightest and can effectively train and develop them for long, successful, fulfilling Coast Guard careers.”

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Coast Guard cannot afford to let the Coast Guard Academy’s long neglected infrastructure needs slip any further. We call on you and your service to commit to the focus, planning, and dedication of resources necessary to tackle the Academy’s short- and long-term infrastructure needs – moving immediately to address the mold, electrical, habitability, and other issues that pose health and safety risks today, while committing to steady and substantial investments to modernize Academy facilities for years to come,” the lawmakers concluded.

The lawmakers additionally posed the following questions to Acting Commandant Lunday and requested answers by September 8th, 2025:

  1. The recently passed reconciliation bill included $2.2 billion for major depot level maintenance and repair. How does the Coast Guard plan to use these funds to address infrastructure needs at the Academy – both immediately pressing issues and longer-term maintenance projects?
  2. The reconciliation bill also provided $4.379 billion for shore facility investments, including $425 million without a specific designated purpose. How does the Coast Guard plan to use these funds to advance Academy facility improvements?
  3. What projects are currently listed on the Academy’s maintenance backlog, and what are the estimated associated costs by project?
  4. Beyond the maintenance backlog, what additional Academy infrastructure project needs have been identified, and what are the estimated associated costs by project?
  5. The fiscal year 2026 President’s Budget Request included just $21.3 million for shore facilities funding – proposing a dramatic 90% cut from the previous year’s enacted amount. When Coast Guard facilities, at the Academy and elsewhere, are in need of serious, steady investments this year and into the future, how do you justify requesting such a dramatic cut to infrastructure funding in the Coast Guard’s annual budget?
  6. Especially in view of this year’s dramatically low fiscal year 2026 request, how does the Coast Guard plan to ensure the consistent, robust funding necessary to fully modernize Coast Guard Academy facilities over the coming years?
  7. How is Coast Guard leadership working with Academy personnel to plan, budget for, and execute on the short- and long-term infrastructure projects critical to the Academy’s success?
  8. How is the Coast Guard assessing and prioritizing the Academy’s queue of infrastructure projects for funding and execution? Over the next 25 years, how much money annually does the Coast Guard estimate will be necessary to carry out infrastructure improvement plans?
  9. What program management structure and staffing will the Coast Guard put into place to ensure the continuity and long-term success of Academy infrastructure modernization efforts? Will the Coast Guard create a new program management office responsible for acquiring, upgrading, and decommissioning these facilities?
  10. How is the Coast Guard addressing the findings of the recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report about ongoing mold, moisture, and air quality problems at the Academy? How will upcoming investments address these issues and ensure the health and safety of the full Academy community?

 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.