Above is one of a series of “What is Going on With Shipping?” videos done by Salvatore Mercogliano. Most are not directly Coast Guard related, but this one is spot-on.
Additional Comment
We did talk about this earlier, “Coast Guard adjusts operations plan to mitigate 2024 workforce shortage” –MyCG
It should be noted that this is not because we have reduced the number of afloat billets, it is because the workforce has not grown as rapidly as the number of billets.
Also, we are not greatly reducing the number of ships compared to historic numbers or the “Program of Record,” The program of record was to provide 8 NSCs, 25 OPCs and 58 FRCs for a total of 91. With these changes we will have 10 NSCs, 23 WMECs, and 55 to 57 FRCs for a total of 88-90 and up to 98 or more as all 65 FRCs currently funded are delivered.
The problems are that the 210s should have been replaced decades ago and demand for Coast Guard assets has increased. The Missions we are doing with the FRCs in the Western Pacific should really be being done by a ship with better seakeeping and endurance and facilities for a helo and UAS, something like “Cutter X.”
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Sad that it’s been this way for a while – flog the slaves harder – press gang the Aux also
We did talk about this earlier. https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2023/11/01/coast-guard-adjusts-operations-plan-to-mitigate-2024-workforce-shortage-mycg/
It should be noted that this not because we have reduced the number of afloat billets, it is because the workforce has not grown as rapidly as the number of billets.
Also, we are not greatly reducing the number of ships compared to historic numbers or the “Program of Record,” The program of record was to provide 8 NSCs, 25 OPCs and 58 FRCs for a total of 91. With these changes we will have 10 NSCs, 23 WMECs, and 55 to 57 FRCs for a total of 88-90 and up 98 or more as all 65 FRCs currently funded are delivered. .
The problems are that the 210s should have been replaced decades ago and demand for Coast Guard assets has increased. The Missions we are doing with the FRCs in the Western Pacific should really be being done by a ship with better seakeeping and endurance and facilities for a helo and UAS.
While accession may not be keeping up with the pace of new billet creation, the real cause of this is the same recruitment crisis that the other services are facing. The CG is short almost 4000 personnel which is forcing hard decisions as to what units to operate and what missions to conduct.
This has been an ongoing problem back from when I was in the Guard in 1968 to 72. How about we just decommission one aircraft carrier and fund the CG with that savings. Or, stop funding all the overseas wars and use that money.