Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation
CHAIRMAN RASKIN'S OPENING STATEMENT
CHAIRWOMAN MALONEY'S OPENING STATEMENT
PURPOSE & BACKGROUND
• In December 2018, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report finding that a Lieutenant Commander stationed at the Coast Guard Academy “was retaliated against on the basis of her complaints, in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.” The OIG’s report also identified “potential disparities” and inconsistencies in the handling of harassment complaints at the Academy.
• Reps. Cummings and Thompson, in consultation with Rep. Courtney, conducted an eighteen-month-long investigation to examine the handling of complaints of harassment and retaliation at the Coast Guard Academy and the Academy’s responses to disparities identified in the Equity Scorecard review.
• The Coast Guard repeatedly obstructed the Committees’ investigation by delaying the delivery of requested documents and heavily redacting them.
• On Wednesday, December 11, the Committees will release a joint staff report outlining the findings of the investigation.
WITNESSES
Admiral Karl Schultz (Invited)
Commandant
United States Coast Guard
Vice Admiral Michael McAllister (Minority Witness)
Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Mission Support
United States Coast Guard
Lieutenant Commander Kimberly Young-McLear
Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff
United States Coast Guard Academy
Jackson Eaton
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Special Reviews and Evaluations
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
DOCUMENTS
- Notice
- Memo
- Attendance
- Rep. Lesko for the record DHS response memo to an OIG report
- QFR’s from Rep. Thompson to Lt. Cmdr. Young-McLear at the U.S. Coast Guard
- QFR’s from Rep. Thompson and Rep. Hice to Vice Admiral McAllister at the U.S. Coast Guard
- QFR responses from Lt. Cmdr. Young-McLear at the U.S. Coast Guard to Rep. Thompson
- Joint Staff Report: "Righting the Ship: The Coast Guard Must Improve its Processes for Addressing Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation