1.) Such shifts show that even  relatively short periods of increased security activity can affect other  missions. Nonetheless, the district is continuing to use one of its  patrol boats for homeland security patrols on inshore waters and along  the border. Funding Increases Proposed in Fiscal Year 2003 Budget May Not Have a Major Effect on Nonsecurity Missions

Most of the proposed funding increase for new mission-related initiatives in  the Coast Guard’s fiscal year 2003 budget request is directed at security  activities and, according to Coast Guard officials, would likely have a  limited impact on nonsecurity missions. Many of these measures are already reported in  some context or another. Conclusions

The Coast Guard’s adjustment to its new post–September 11th    environment is still largely in process. Sorting out how traditional missions  will be fully carried out alongside new security responsibilities will likely  take several years. After September 11th, the Coast Guard’s  attention understandably turned to assimilating added security  responsibilities, and beyond its short-term plans for fiscal year 2003 it has  not indicated the levels of effort its various missions are likely to receive. It is also important for the Coast Guard to develop  and share with the Congress a longer-term strategy that identifies, at least  in general terms, the levels of effort the Coast Guard projects for its various  missions, along with a time frame for achieving these planned levels. The Coast Guard currently collects and disseminates a wide  variety of information about its nonsecurity missions and activities, but this  information is in disparate forms and documents. Recommendations

To provide the Congress with a useful framework for reviewing and  monitoring Coast Guard activities, we recommend that the Secretary of  Transportation direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to:  Develop a longer-term strategy that outlines how the Coast Guard sees  its resources—cutters, boats, aircraft, and personnel—being distributed  across its various missions, as well as a time frame for achieving this  desired balance among missions. Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

To determine the extent to which the Coast Guard has restored its  nonsecurity missions following the September 11th terrorist attacks, we  reviewed the Coast Guard’s Abstract of Operations.
Why GAO Did This Study

The September 11th attacks affected the scope of activities of many federal agencies, including the Coast Guard. Homeland security, a long-standing but relatively small part of the Coast Guard's duties, took center stage. Still, the Coast Guard remains responsible for many other missions, such as helping stem the flow of drugs and illegal migration, protecting important fishing grounds, and responding to marine pollution. GAO was asked to review the Coast Guard's current efforts and future plans for balancing resource levels among its many missions.

What GAO Found

As the Coast Guard adjusts to its new post-September 11th environment, it will likely take several years to determine how best to balance carrying out nonsecurity missions alongside new security responsibilities. In recent months the Coast Guard has increased its level of effort in nonsecurity activities such as drug interdiction and fisheries patrols, but some of these activities remain below earlier levels. For example, patrol boats formerly used for drug interdiction are still being used for harbor security patrols. Substantial increases in nonsecurity activities are also unlikely in the near future, because the mission-related initiatives proposed in the fiscal year 2003 budget are directed primarily at security missions. Most notably, most of the proposed 1,330 new staff would replace reserve staff activated after September 11th. The Coast Guard has not yet developed a strategy for showing, even in general terms, the levels of effort it plans for its various missions in future years. Understandably, the Coast Guard's attention has been focused on assimilating added security responsibilities. However, developing a more comprehensive strategy is now important, as a way to inform the Congress about the extent to which the Coast Guard's use of its resources--cutters, boats, aircraft, and personnel--will allow it to continue meeting its many responsibilities. Also important is designing a way to keep the Congress informed about its progress in achieving this balance. The Coast Guard has considerable data from which to develop progress reports, but this information is currently in disparate forms and documents.