Homeland security cutter-light concept rendering.
Below is a news release from the Assistant Commandant for Acquisirtions (CG-9).
July 1, 2026 —The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) June 30 for design, production, testing and delivery of homeland security cutter-light (HSC-L) vessels. The Coast Guard plans to acquire seven HSC-Ls through an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.
The RFP is available here. Proposals are due by July 14, 2026.
The Coast Guard’s aging fleet of 65-foot light icebreaking tugs was commissioned into service between 1961-1967 and is well beyond its planned end of service life. The HSC-Ls will replace these critical assets with a dual-capability platform, maintaining year-round access to smaller ports and harbors. The HSC-Ls will be designed to operate efficiently in a variety of ice conditions and will be equipped with aids to navigation capabilities, providing safe passage and navigation for vessels of all sizes.
The Coast Guard plans to use a two-phase process for evaluation of industry proposals received through this RFP. Following receipt of Phase 1 proposals, the service intends to issue advisory down-select notices to select offerors. Phase 2 proposal due dates will be included in a subsequent solicitation amendment.
For more information: Homeland Security Cutter-Icebreaker page
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
The phrase “Homeland Security Cutter” may please the Department, but to me it sounds a bit pretentious for these little ships which are really small icebreaking buoy tenders. “Homeland Security Cutter” says nothing about what their mission is anymore than calling them Coast Guard Cutters, probably less.
I note they have used the same phrase for a commercial supply vessel.
https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2026/06/27/coast-guard-taps-commercial-supply-vessel-to-keep-cutters-on-station-longer-gcaptain/
This phrase seems to tie the vessels to the Department rather than to the Coast Guard.
I have seen the Coast Guard change departments twice, from Treasury to Transportation in 1967 and from DOT to DHS in 2003. There is no reason to believe Coast Guard will be in DHS forever. Personally I think it should be an independent agency since six of eleven CG missions including SAR are not really DHS missions.
Calling these Homeland Security Cutters seems like an attempt to tie them to Department. It might even be a first step in dismembering the Coast Guard.