Trump admin unleashes jet ski division in effort to further secure the southern border

The U.S. Coast Guard is using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to buy jet skis for their maritime force NewsWorldAmericasUS politicsTrump admin unleashes jet ski division in effort to further secure the southern borderThe U.S. Coast Guard is using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to buy jet skis for their maritime forceSophie Clark Friday 06 March 2026 10:59 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverBooker and Schumer react to departure of 'corrupt' Noem from DHSYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreThe U.S. Coast Guard has obtained a new tool in their arsenal for patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border: jet skis.In a video posted to Instagram in February, the Coast Guard confirmed that they are deploying ‘Coasties’ on jet skis to control, secure, and defend the border. This investment came as Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday said that despite a large infusion of cash from the federal government, the Coast Guard still needed higher annual funding appropriations, according to the Military Times. The federal government is currently working on refurbishing the U.S.’ssecond-smallest force as part of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s Force Design 2028, a plan to expand, upgrade, and streamline the Coast Guard. open image in galleryThe U.S. Coast Guard have obtained jet skis for their border security operation (US Coast Guard)The caption for the Coast Guard’s video on Instagram said: “These aren’t your grandfathers’ jet skis – they are key to controlling, securing, and defending our borders and maritime approaches, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Coast Guard’s Office of Rapid Response and Prototyping (CG-RAPTOR) and historic investments made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been critiqued by Democrats for what they see as taking money away from healthcare to fund the White House’s mass deportation agenda. As of March 5th, Noem is no longer the Secretary of Homeland Security, having been replaced by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. Given Force Design 2028’s alignment with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” it is likely this plan will remain in effect regardless of Department of Homeland Security leadership. open image in gallery‘Coasties’ pictured on a training search and rescue mission on jet skis (US Coast Guard)“After being weakened by decades of underinvestment, neglect, and strategic drift, the U.S. Coast Guard is facing a readiness crisis,” wrote Noem in Force Design 2028. “It can no longer reliably protect the American people and our Homeland. Now, more than ever, the American people need a strong and capable Coast Guard.”As of July 2025, the Coast Guard had approximately 40,500 service members. It is unclear at this moment whether the prospect of a jet ski will be a successful recruitment strategy. Jet skis are not named in Force Design 2028, but the blueprint does discuss increasing the Coast Guard's use of maritime surveillance tools and integrating AI into its mission to secure the U.S’ maritime safety by enforcing tariffs, preventing smuggling, and engaging in search and rescue missions. This is not the first time the Coast Guard has used jet skis. They were first spotted in use in 2024, when the branch’s Rescue Swimmer Stan Team and Guard Auxiliaries were training off the San Diego Coast. This is also not the first time that jet skis have been associated with the Trump Administration. FBI Director Kash Patel has been criticised for prioritising jet skiing, football matches, and parties above attending meetings. He denies these allegations. More aboutcoast guardborderKristi NoemGovernmentDonald TrumpJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesCommentsMost popularPopular videosBulletinRead next