New U.S. Coast Guard District Map
Below is a Coast Guard news release. As a long time advocate of this change I think we ought to recognize the people who originated this idea, even if those making the change now may have never seen the original proposals or may have forgotten them. There may have been others but I know of at least two:
- Commander Jim Hotchkiss, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
- Commander Leah Cole, U.S. Coast Guard
I passed along their suggestions with comments and suggestions of my own:
- “Nobody Asked Me, But . . . Rename the Coast Guard Districts”–USNI 1 Nov. 2018
- “Rebrand the Coast Guard Districts” –USNI –5 Feb. 2024
I brought it up again, “Rebrand the Coast Guard Districts” –USNI / This was too good an idea not to bring up again –24 May 2025
The change retains the District designation as I suggest. I see no significant problems with the new designations, but there might be a better designation for D17 than “Arctic” because most of the district and most of its activities are not in the Arctic. I also think “Mid-Atlantic” would be a more descriptive name for District 5 than simply “Eastern.”
Coast Guard renames geographic operational districts
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday the renaming of its operational districts from numerical to geographic designations, a key initiative under Force Design 2028 (FD2028).
This strategic change, directed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 21, 2025, aims to indicate more accurately the regions they serve and represent. Renaming operational districts revises a numbered system established during World War II, when the Coast Guard operated as part of the Navy to ensure alignment between the services. In the 80 years since the Coast Guard separated from the Navy, the Service has maintained the numbered districts. However, the Navy stopped using numbered districts over 25 years ago.
Updating operational districts to regional names will more clearly align districts with their areas of responsibility, facilitate collaboration with interagency partners, and ensure the American public and maritime stakeholders can easily find and understand the districts in which they live, recreate and operate. This change is a direct action within FD2028’s organization campaign, which is focused on adapting the Coast Guard’s structure to remain effective and responsive.
The new geographic names, approved by the Department of Homeland Security, are as follows:
District 1: USCG Northeast District
District 5: USCG East District
District 7: USCG Southeast District
District 8: USCG Heartland District
District 9: USCG Great Lakes District
District 11: USCG Southwest District
District 13: USCG Northwest District
District 14: USCG Oceania District
District 17: USCG Arctic District
“This renaming is more than just a change in labels; it’s a critical step in our journey to become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force,” said Acting Commandant Kevin E. Lunday. “Under Force Design 2028, we are driving fundamental changes to speed decision-making, improve strategic alignment, and ultimately best serve the American people for decades to come. This initiative underscores our commitment to ensuring that change is lasting and has an enduring impact on the Service and the Nation.”
This change will not impact operations or change existing geographical district boundaries. To memorialize the updated names for operational districts, the Coast Guard is undertaking the process of formally changing district names in the Code of Federal Regulations. Through this process, the Coast Guard will continue to communicate with stakeholders and provide updated resources and information as appropriate.
For more information, please contact Coast Guard Media Relations at MediaRelations@uscg.mil.
Read more about the Coast Guard’s transformation through FD2028 here: USCG Force Design 2028.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
They should do the same to the Auxiliary as well. Put all the flotilla’s and Divisions under one the same geographic operational districts as the USCG. The Flotilla’s and divisions are a bygone era of World war 2.
The map seems to have deleted New Jersey from the United States (I know, y’all have been longing to delete New Jersey from the United States, but we’re still here!) I assume New Jersey is in the Northeast District?
How many Coast Guard ships are “Capital Ship”? If none, then there in a “Flotilla”…
As a former Fifth District Commander, I agree th