Offshore Patrol Cutter and other acquisitions slowed by shore infrastructure backlogs, GAO testifies

Shore infrastructure backlogs are hampering other US Coast Guard acquisitions such as the Offshore Patrol Cutter (shown here in a rendering), the Government Accountability Office told Congress. (US Coast Guard)

The inability of the US Coast Guard (USCG) to tackle major shore infrastructure projects is hampering other USCG acquisition efforts, according to a 5 March Congressional testimony by Heather MacLeod, the director of US Government Accountability Office's (GAO's) Homeland Security and Justice team before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

“The coast guard's shore infrastructure backlogs are contributing to a buildup of unaffordable acquisitions in both the near-term and long-term,” MacLeod testified.

“This presents significant challenges to the coast guard's major acquisition programmes,” she said, adding, “In February 2025 we found that the coast guard's highest priority programmes are still experiencing schedule challenges.”

For example, in August 2024 the service revised its schedule goals for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) programme, MacLeod pointed out.

“The programme is now planning for delivery of its lead ship by December 2025, more than four years later than originally planned,” she testified.

“The USCG faces multiple backlogs of shore infrastructure projects that it estimates will cost at least USD7 billion to address as of June 2024,” MacLeod said.

“This is more than double the amount we reported in 2019,” she noted. “The backlogs consist of recapitalisation projects, such as new construction, and deferred depot-level maintenance, such as repaving an airfield. According to coast guard officials, these backlog projects are priorities that would be completed immediately if funding were available.”

The USCG is being constrained by its infrastructure backlog as the US is increasing deployments for expanded border missions.

For more information on that expansion, please see