Presented by Lockheed Martin —{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security PRESENTED BY LOCKHEED MARTIN The Big Story  Trump on the warpath: First female Coast Guard commandant ousted, more firings expected U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, who made history as the first female uniformed leader of a U.S. military branch, was unexpectedly ousted by President Trump less than 24 hours into his second term.© Associated Press In a message sent to all Coast Guard members, acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman said he had relieved Fagan of her duties, thanking her for her service but offering no further explanation.  But in a lengthy Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement released Tuesday, the department outlined five major reasons for her removal, many of which center on the Trump administration’s vow to refocus U.S. military operations on readiness and lethality, in part by eradicating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.  Fagan, 61, was terminated “because of her leadership deficiencies, operational failures, and inability to advance the strategic objectives of the U.S. Coast Guard,” a senior DHS official said in the release.  The highlighted pitfalls included a failure to address border security threats through “ineffective deployment of Coast Guard assets … especially in interdicting fentanyl and other illicit substances,” and insufficient coordination with DHS to prioritize operations along maritime borders. DHS officials also accused Fagan of mismanagement of key acquisitions, prioritizing non-mission-critical initiatives such as DEI policies, and an erosion of trust following an internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy. Evidence of Fagan’s time as the Coast Guard’s leader was quickly wiped from government websites in the wake of her firing, with the service’s official website for its senior leadership showing a blank space under “Commandant” and her biography page made unavailable.   With her removal came the naming of 32 new officials sworn into the Defense Department, among them advisers and deputy assistant secretaries, who do not require Senate confirmation. The officials will help Trump run the Pentagon as his nominees for top roles make their way through Congressional confirmation. Fagan, also the Coast Guard’s first female four-star admiral, had served as the military branch’s 27th commandant since June 1, 2022, after former President Biden chose her to lead the service of 42,000 active-duty, 7,000 reserve and 8,700 civilian personnel.  Following news of her firing, Democrats quickly criticized the move, including Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), who took to the social platform X to declare her firing “an abuse of power that slanders her good name and outstanding record.” Fagan’s removal is the first of several personnel changes expected to affect top U.S. military members, as Trump has promised to oust the generals and admirals he has deemed “woke.” Read the full report at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  New allegations against Pete Hegseth alarm Democrats as Pentagon confirmation looms Senate Democrats are sounding the alarm over a sworn affidavit from the ex-sister-in-law of Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth that accuses him of being abusive toward his second wife.  Full Story   VA secretary nominee promises expanded care options amid worries of ballooning costsFormer Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, on Tuesday hinted at an expanded health care delivery system after years of pressure to bring down costs and lower wait times for care for former service members. “At the end of the day, the veteran is getting taken care of. VA care is going to happen. . . [but] there’s different expressions of how we make it better. We don’t …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee could hold a vote on the nomination of Douglas Collins to be Veterans Affairs secretary as early as Thursday. In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:Bolton says Trump ended his Secret Service protection President Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton said the president ended his Secret Service protection shortly after his return to the White House this week.  “I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided … Full Story A MESSAGE FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. AMERICAN STRENGTH. To keep America and its allies ahead of emerging threats, Lockheed Martin is delivering and advancing unmatched air dominance solutions focused on technological innovation — where pilots and drones soar together. Learn more   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  Wilson Center will hold a discussion on “Strategic Competition in the Second Trump Administration,” at 9:30 a.m.  The Stimson Center will host a virtual conversation on “Naval Competition in the Indian Ocean Region,” at 9:30 a.m. The House Judiciary immigration integrity, security, and enforcement subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Restoring Immigration Enforcement in America,” at 10 a.m.  The Arab Center of Washington, D.C. will have an online talk on “The Gaza Ceasefire Deal and the Trump Administration: Politics, Prospects, and Implications,” at 11 a.m.  The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a conversation on “What Next for the Korean Peninsula Under Trump 2.0?” at 11 a.m.  What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Senators receive affidavit containing new allegations against Pete Hegseth, who denies the claims (NBC News) Pentagon announces slate of new officials for second Trump term (Military Times)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Trump pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht President Trump said Tuesday he had signed a full pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the scandalous online marketplace Silk Road, fulfilling … Read more ‘QAnon Shaman’ says he’s buying ‘motha f‑‑‑in guns’ after Trump pardon U.S. Capitol rioter Jacob Chansley, otherwise known as the “QAnon Shaman,” said Monday that he’s going to buy some guns after being pardoned by President … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Face the facts: America has outsourced its military supply chain to ChinaGabbard deserves to be confirmed ASAP A call that could change history: Trump and Pezeshkian’s moment to forge peace   You're all caught up. 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