A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights the need for the U.S. Coast Guard to enhance its operational data collection and performance tracking in the Arctic to better manage evolving risks and allocate resources more effectively. As an Arctic nation by virtue of Alaska, the U.S. has increasing responsibilities in the region due to rising geopolitical tensions, climate change, and growing maritime activity. The Coast Guard has taken steps to manage these risks, but gaps in its tracking of operations and resource usage hinder its ability to meet strategic goals.
The report emphasizes that while the Coast Guard has deployed ships and participated in training exercises to address the region’s challenges, it has not always been able to meet its planned deployment targets. From fiscal years 2016 to 2021, key performance reports on asset use and mission progress lacked crucial information, including targets for essential missions such as maritime law enforcement. Additionally, no reports were available for 2022 and 2023, further complicating the Coast Guard’s ability to assess its operational success in the region.
The Coast Guard’s Arctic strategy and implementation plan outline initiatives to reduce response times and maintain a stronger presence in the region. However, the GAO report found that the strategy lacks key performance metrics, targets, and timelines, making it difficult to measure progress and adjust resources accordingly. The report also highlighted the importance of aligning the Coast Guard’s efforts with broader national Arctic strategy goals to ensure an integrated approach to managing regional risks.
Collaboration with the Department of Defense (DOD) has been a key part of the Coast Guard’s Arctic operations, with both agencies working together on strategy development and operational support. For instance, the Coast Guard has provided search and rescue coverage for DOD during joint exercises and has shared expertise to improve Arctic domain awareness.
The GAO made two recommendations: first, that the Coast Guard ensure it collects and reports complete data on resource use and mission performance in the Arctic; and second, that its Arctic implementation plan include clear performance measures, targets, and timeframes for action items. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, concurred with both recommendations and outlined planned actions to address these issues.
As the Arctic becomes a region of increasing strategic importance, the Coast Guard will need to refine its operations and data collection efforts to ensure it is well-prepared to manage the unique challenges posed by the changing environment and geopolitical landscape.
Read the full GAO report here.