Issue Date: 14 February 2011

View the 2011 Posture Statement and FY 2012 Congressional Justification at: http://www.uscg.mil/posturestatement/

U.S. Coast Guard Fact Sheet

Fiscal Year 2012 President’s Budget

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

2100 Second Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20953

www.uscg.mil

BACKGROUND: The FY 2012 President’s Budget requests $10.34 billion for the Coast Guard, including $8.68

billion in discretionary funding. 

KEY POINTS:

 The FY 2012 budget funds current services requirements to Sustain Front-line Operations and provides $1.42 

billion to Rebuild the Coast Guard by continuing critical recapitalization projects. 

 The FY 2012 budget makes targeted investments to Enhance Maritime Incident Prevention and Response capacity 

and Support Military Families. 

 The budget supports efforts to constrain government spending. In the current fiscal environment, the Coast 

Guard will seek efficiencies and make targeted reductions in administrative functions to fund higher order 

needs. 

 The Coast Guard will continue to provide superior value and service to the American public. 

REBUILD THE COAST GUARD: The budget requests $1.42 billion for Acquisition, Construction and 

Improvements (AC&I). Investment in recapitalization is the Service’s top budget priority. Highlights include:

 $642M for vessels (National Security Cutter (NSC) #5; six Fast Response Cutters (FRC); Offshore Patrol Cutter

(OPC) design; 40 Response-Boat Mediums (RB-M), Medium Endurance Cutter/in-service vessel sustainment).

 $289M for air assets (two HC-144A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA); one HH-60; asset enhancements/upgrades).

 $187M for Major Acquisition Systems Infrastructure and other Shore Infrastructure projects.

 $114M for other projects (e.g., Rescue 21; Interagency Operations Centers; and Command, Control, 

Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance systems, etc.).

SUSTAIN FRONT-LINE OPERATIONS: The budget requests $6.82 billion for Coast Guard operating 

expenses. To ensure the Coast Guard is able to meet the needs of the Nation, the FY 2012 budget makes targeted 

reductions in administrative functions and balances resources between investing in capital assets, sustaining frontline operations, and enhancing mission execution. 

 $66M to fund the military pay raise and increases for military benefits.

 $68M to operate new assets and infrastructure (e.g., NSC, FRC, MPA, RB-M, etc.).

 $39M to operate and maintain CGC HEALY and initiate the operational reactivation of CGC POLAR STAR. 

The Coast Guard will begin the transition from three to two polar icebreakers in FY 2011. 

 $28.7M in depot level maintenance funding critical to sustaining existing assets (e.g. 225-ft and 175-ft buoy 

tender maintenance, aircraft spare parts, and shore maintenance).

 One High Endurance Cutter (HEC) is proposed for decommissioning. The average age of the HEC fleet is 43 

years and these assets are failing at an increased rate. HECs are being replaced through acquisition of NSCs.

ENHANCE MARITIME INCIDENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE: The FY 2012 budget requests 

$22M and 192 positions to advance implementation of the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety and Marine 

Environmental Response (MER) Mission Performance Plans. The Coast Guard will enhance core 

competencies in FY 2012 to keep pace with an ever-growing and evolving maritime industry and ensure 

continued proactive leadership to prevent disasters on the Nation’s waters.

SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES: The Administration is committed to improving the quality of life for 

military members and their families. The health and welfare of families is the heart of operational readiness. 

The FY 2012 budget includes $29M to address critical housing shortfalls in Cape Cod, MA and Astoria, OR, 

and improve access to affordable, quality childcare for military families, better aligning the Coast Guard with 

Department of Defense child care standards.