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How the US Coast Guard used its US$12Bn budget in 2025
One of the world’s most active maritime agencies facilitated the safe movement of 1.8Bn tonnes of cargo in 2025 while being repositioned under the Trump administration as ’a vital instrument of national power’
Rising investment in the US Coast Guard (USCG) has seen the agency save almost 5,000 lives and preserve more than US$974M of property in 2025 through rescue and salvage.
The US government agency has an annual budget of US$12.1Bn to maintain the US maritime domain, rescue seafarers, salvage vessels, conduct counter-drug and law-enforcement missions, and enable marine transport to and from US harbours.
“Conservative analysis shows the service generates more than US$74.0Bn in social and economic value through cost avoidance," the USCG said in a statement on its spending during the first year of US President Donald Trump’s second term of office.
In 2025, the USCG said it facilitated the safe movement of 1.8Bn tonnes of cargo, a 13% increase from 2024, and seized more than 230,000 kg of cocaine, the highest total in the USCG’s history and an increase of more than 200% over 2024.
Drug trafficking in waters outside the US has been used by the Trump administration as pretext for a string of military actions in the latter half of 2025, and the USCG, administered by the US Department for Homeland Security, has taken on additional duties as the US has built up naval forces in the Caribbean Sea.
Under the Trump administration, the US has amassed a large naval force in the Caribbean region, including USCG personnel, and underook a weeks-long campaign of aerial bombardment of small boats in the Caribbean Sea that killed at least 87 people in what the UN termed ’extrajudicial executions’.
US forces, including the USCG have also participated in half a dozen seizures of sanctioned tankers off the coast of Venezuela in the weeks before and after the US military staged a coup in Venezuela captured and extradited of the country’s disputed leader, Nicolás Maduro, in the early days of 2026. The US, reportedly, intends to continue the confiscation of sanctioned vessels, having filed requests for warrants to seize ’dozens’ more vessels in US courts.
USCG said it also exceeded 110% of its active-duty recruiting goal, enlisting more than 5,200 members, the highest total since 1991.
“The US Coast Guard serves as a vital instrument of national power, advancing security both at home and abroad, safeguarding the American economy, and providing rapid response to emergent contingencies,” said US Administration secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem.
USCG defends more than 153,000 km of shoreline, 40,000 km of navigable rivers and 11.7 km2 of the US’ exclusive economic zone.
It has a fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and over 76,000 members, including a dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
As a law enforcement organisation and regulatory agency, the USCG has a remit to protect the US’ marine transport system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads maritime drug interdiction and maintain security on US maritime borders.
“The US Coast Guard is already a stronger, more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force,” said US Coast Guard acting commandant Adm Kevin Lunday.
“The service is better positioned than it was in January 2025 to effectively control, secure, and defend the US borders and maritime approaches, facilitate the uninterrupted flow of commerce, and rapidly respond to contingencies.”
Riviera’s coverage of some of the incidents, salvage and wreck removals, the US Coast Guard responded to and supported in 2025:
- Sunken, damaged tugboat salvaged in US environmentally sensitive area
- Video: dozens of containers fall onto barge in US Port of Long Beach
- Video: Greek bulker suffers explosion in Baltimore Harbor
- Salvage: Q2 2025 shows spike in ship fires, explosions, groundings and capsizes
- Focus shifts to salvage of evacuated, burning vehicle carrier off Alaska
The 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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