David Helvarg
October 24, 2013
After 223 years you’d think the Coast Guard would have proved its usefulness to the nation. Instead, even after the government shutdown, its essential personnel still face unprecedented funding cuts and growing demands that threaten their ability to operate.
Although one of the nation’s five armed services, the Coast Guard is the only one not located in the pork-laden Department of Defense but living on far thinner gruel provided by a series of foster agencies including, since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security.
