Senate approves Adm. Lunday as Coast Guard commandant after flap over hate symbol policy

Coast Guard Adm. Kevin Lunday — whose nomination for commandant was temporarily held up by lawmakers amid a political controversy about policies related to hate symbols — was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday night to lead the sea service.

Lunday had been serving as acting commandant since January after Adm. Linda Fagan was fired from her post. He was formally nominated by President Donald Trump in October to hold the role on a more permanent basis.

Notably, his previous leadership roles in the sea service gave him a strong background in cyber.

“Experienced in operational and technical cyberspace operations, Admiral Lunday served as Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command where he directed the operation, maneuver, and defense of the Coast Guard Enterprise Mission Platform as part of Department of Defense (DoD) networks. He also directed remote and deployable cyberspace operations to protect U.S. maritime critical infrastructure from cyberattack. Prior to this role he served as Director of Exercises and Training (J7), U.S. Cyber Command where he directed the joint training and certification of the DoD Cyber Mission Force, the nation’s cyberspace warriors,” his Coast Guard bio states.

Lunday’s confirmation comes amid concerns about cyber threats and as the sea service pursues new unmanned technologies, such as drones and autonomous maritime platforms.

Earlier this year, the Coast Guard released a new modernization blueprint dubbed Force Design 2028, which includes major upgrades to the organization’s digital capabilities, among other initiatives.

Lunday received Senate confirmation by voice vote after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on social media Thursday about the department’s workplace harassment and hate symbol policies and urged lawmakers to confirm the nominee.

The Coast Guard falls under DHS but is also considered a military service. It often conducts missions in partnership with the Navy.

“The 2025 language of the USCG Harassing Behaviors Prevention, Response, and Accountability Instruction, coupled with the existing language in the Coast Guard’s Civil Rights manual, strengthens our ability to report, investigate, and prosecute those who violate longstanding policy. The November 20 policy and lawful order was issued to double down on that language and further clarify the display of divisive and hate symbols and flags prohibited as a violation of Coast Guard policy and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The pages of superseded and outdated policy will be completely removed from the record so no press outlet, entity or elected official may misrepresent the Coast Guard to politicize their policies and lie about their position on divisive and hate symbols,” Noem wrote.

She continued: “Finally, the politicized holdup of Admiral Lunday’s nomination has gone on long enough, and it needs to end. He has given nearly 39 years of distinguished service to the Coast Guard, this country, and the American people. He should be confirmed without delay.”

Last month, Lunday issued a statement saying that the Coast Guard “remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace. Symbols such as swastikas, nooses and other extremist or racist imagery violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant under current policy.”

In a social media post Thursday following Noem’s announcement, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., stated that she appreciated Lunday’s service and announced that she was lifting her hold on his nomination.

“While I continue to have reservations about the process by which this happened and the confusion created by leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased to see that the policy now directly refers to stronger language against swastikas and nooses. For this reason, I will be lifting my hold on Acting Commandant Kevin Lunday. I appreciate his lifetime of service to our country and look forward to working with him to continue to strengthen anti-harassment policy at the Coast Guard,” she wrote.