Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation

CHAIRMAN RASKIN'S OPENING STATEMENT

CHAIRWOMAN MALONEY'S OPENING STATEMENT

PURPOSE & BACKGROUND

• In December 2018, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report finding that a Lieutenant Commander stationed at the Coast Guard Academy “was retaliated against on the basis of her complaints, in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.”  The OIG’s report also identified “potential disparities” and inconsistencies in the handling of harassment complaints at the Academy.
• Reps. Cummings, Thompson, and Courtney conducted an eighteen-month-long investigation to examine the handling of complaints of harassment and retaliation at the Coast Guard Academy and the Academy’s responses to disparities identified in the Equity Scorecard review.
• The Coast Guard repeatedly obstructed the Committees’ investigation by delaying the delivery of requested documents and heavily redacting them. 
  • On August 14, 2019, officials from the Coast Guard Academy, on orders from Admiral Schultz, refused to answer any questions from Committee staff regarding any past events at the Academy involving faculty or cadets, including any questions pertaining to the Inspector General’s report or to any document produced by the Coast Guard to the Committee.
• On Wednesday, December 11, the Committees will release a joint report outlining the findings of the investigation.