14 U.S.C. § 101 | Establishment of Coast Guard

January 28, 1915The Coast Guard, established , shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 496 Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(1)Oct. 18, 197690 Stat. 2519 Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(a)Nov. 25, 2002116 Stat. 2314 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 217(1)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1555 Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 103(b)Dec. 4, 2018132 Stat. 4195 (, , § 1; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 101, , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Jan. 28, 1915, ch. 20, § 1 38 Stat. 800 July 11, 1941, ch. 290 55 Stat. 585 Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 1 (, ; , §§ 5, 6(a), ).

Said section has been divided. Provisions relating to operation under the Navy in time of war are placed in sections 3 and 4 of this title, and the remainder is in this section.

July 11, 194155 Stat. 585 This section continues the Coast Guard as a military service and branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times. By the act of , (title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 1), the Coast Guard was constituted a branch of the land and naval forces of the United States at all times. This section therefore merely continues an existing agency and codifies existing law on the military status of the Coast Guard, substituting “armed forces” for “land and naval forces” because of the recent establishment of the Department of the Air Force as an “armed force” rather than as a part of the “land and naval forces”. The Coast Guard is designated a service in the Treasury Department except when operating as a service in the Navy. This is a better definition of the status of the Coast Guard than one which defines it as a service under the Treasury Department in time of peace, because the President is authorized to place the Coast Guard under the Navy in time of emergency, which could be in time of peace.

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 562 of this titleA prior section 101 was renumbered .

Pub. L. 115–282For redesignation of prior sections 1 to 100 not listed below as having been previously repealed or omitted, see Table Showing Redesignations Made by Title I of preceding this section.

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 497 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 217(1)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1555 section 105 of this titleA prior section 5, , , which defined the term “Secretary” for purposes of this title, was omitted in the general amendment of this chapter by , , . See .

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 498 act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, § 53 70A Stat. 641 section 741 of Title 10A prior section 43, , , provided for relative rank of commissioned officers with respect to Army and Navy officers, prior to repeal by , . See , Armed Forces.

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 498 Pub. L. 86–474, § 1(4)May 14, 196074 Stat. 144 A prior section 45, , , related to permanent grade of Commandant on expiration of term, prior to repeal by , , .

Pub. L. 86–474, § 1(7)May 14, 196074 Stat. 145 Prior sections 48 and 49 were repealed by , , .

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 499 Section 48, , , related to permanent grade of that Assistant Commandant and Engineer in Chief on expiration of term.

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 499 Section 49, , , related to grade and retired pay upon retirement of Assistant Commandant or Engineer in Chief.

Pub. L. 103–206, title II, § 205(b)(1)Dec. 20, 1993107 Stat. 2422 Pub. L. 111–281, title V, § 511(b)Oct. 15, 2010124 Stat. 2952 A prior section 50a, added , , , related to appointment and grade of Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard, prior to repeal by , , .

Pub. L. 111–281, title II, § 214(a)Oct. 15, 2010124 Stat. 2915 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 216(a)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1555 A prior section 55, added , , , related to appointment and functions of District Ombudsman, prior to repeal by , , .

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 500 Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1263, § 31 68 Stat. 1237 Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, § 1404Aug. 23, 195872 Stat. 808 Pub. L. 89–662, § 2Oct. 14, 196680 Stat. 912 Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(4)Oct. 18, 197690 Stat. 2519 Pub. L. 97–295, § 2(3)Oct. 12, 198296 Stat. 1301 Pub. L. 99–640, § 10(a)(3)Nov. 10, 1986100 Stat. 3549 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(d)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1373 Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, § 1122(c)Sept. 23, 1996110 Stat. 2687 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 216(b)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1555 A prior section 82, , ; , ; , , ; , , ; , (5), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to cooperation with Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to aids to air navigation, prior to repeal by , , .

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, § 1 63 Stat. 501 Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(6)Oct. 18, 197690 Stat. 2519 A prior section 87, , , related to color and numbering of buoys along coast, or in bays, harbors, sounds, or channels, as indicating whether such buoys were to be passed on the starboard or port hand and prescribed the coloring for buoys in channel ways, prior to repeal by , (7), , .

act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 63 Stat. 502 Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, § 1404Aug. 23, 195872 Stat. 808 Pub. L. 94–546, § 1(8)Oct. 18, 197690 Stat. 2519 Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 216(c)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1555 A prior section 90, , ; , , ; , , , authorized the Coast Guard to operate and maintain floating ocean stations, prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–282 section 1 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 112–213January 28, 19152012— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Coast Guard as established , shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times. The Coast Guard shall be a service in the Department of Homeland Security, except when operating as a service in the Navy.”

Pub. L. 107–2962002— substituted “Department of Homeland Security” for “Department of Transportation”.

Pub. L. 94–5461976— substituted “Department of Transportation” for “Treasury Department”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–296 section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296 section 101 of Title 10Amendment by effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXIIJan. 1, 2021134 Stat. 4681

Pub. L. 116–283 section 417 of Title 6 section 1903 of this title section 1901 of this title“This subtitle [subtitle E (§§ 8271–8278) of title LVXXXII [LXXXII] of div. G of , enacting sections 1905, 2131, and 5111 of this title and , Domestic Security, amending , and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act’.”

[LXXXII], § 8271, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–265, title III, § 301Oct. 11, 2018132 Stat. 3752

section 313 of this title“This title [enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–281, § 1Dec. 18, 2014128 Stat. 3022

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–213, § 1(a)Dec. 20, 2012126 Stat. 1540

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–281, title V, § 501Oct. 15, 2010124 Stat. 2951

section 2116 of Title 46 section 3309 of Title 46 section 50a of this title section 50 of this title“This title [enacting sections 57 to 59, 102, and 200 of this title and , Shipping, amending sections 47, 50, 51, 52, 93, and 290 of this title and , repealing , and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard Modernization Act of 2010’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–241, § 1July 11, 2006120 Stat. 516

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–293, § 1Aug. 9, 2004118 Stat. 1028

“This Act [see Tables for classification] may be referred to as the ‘Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–295, title III, § 301Nov. 25, 2002116 Stat. 2102

section 1113 of Title 33“This title [amending sections 259, 260, 271, 336, and 511 of this title, sections 1203, 1231a, 2073, 2302, and 2752 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and sections 2110, 2302, 4508, 7302, 8701, and 13110 of Title 46, Shipping, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 88 and 92 of this title and ] may be cited as the ‘Coast Guard Personnel and Maritime Safety Act of 2002’.”

, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, § 401Nov. 25, 2002116 Stat. 2113

“This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Omnibus Maritime and Coast Guard Improvements Act of 2002’.”

, , , provided that:

Transfer of Functions

November 25, 2002section 542 of Title 6For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(b)(1)Oct. 15, 196680 Stat. 931 Section 6(b)(2) of Pub. L. 89–670 section 3 of this title section 108 of Title 49Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transportation and all functions, powers, and duties, relating to Coast Guard, of Secretary of the Treasury and of other offices and officers of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by , , . , however, provided that notwithstanding such transfer of functions, Coast Guard shall operate as part of Navy in time of war or when President directs as provided in . See , Transportation.

Directions

Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, § 7002(b)Dec. 18, 2025139 Stat. 1661

Pub. L. 119–60“In this division [div. G (§§ 7001–7701) of , see Tables for classification], when Secretary [sic] or the Commandant are [sic] directed to provide or develop—

“(1)

a briefing, such briefing shall be accompanied by a narrative description, and at the option of any committee designated as a recipient, be delivered in person;

“(2)

a policy, such policy shall be detailed, in writing, and publicly available, but may contain a classified annex;

“(3)

a plan, such plan shall be detailed, and in writing;

“(4)

a report, such report shall be detailed and in writing; and

“(5)

a strategy, such strategy shall be detailed and in writing.”

, , , provided that:

section 7002(b) of Pub. L. 119–60 section 7002(a) of Pub. L. 119–60 section 106 of this title[For definitions of “Commandant” and “Secretary” as used in , set out above, see , set out as a note under .]

Designation of Coast Guard Headquarters Building

Pub. L. 113–31Aug. 9, 2013127 Stat. 511

“SECTION 1.

DESIGNATION.

“The headquarters building of the Coast Guard on the campus located at 2701 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue Southeast in the District of Columbia shall be known and designated as the ‘Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building’.

“SEC. 2.

REFERENCES.

“Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building’.”

, , , provided that: