In a blow to national security and maritime safety, the U.S. Coast Guard is facing an internal crisis as the partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown reaches its 75th day.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday revealed that the funding lapse has become so severe that utility companies are beginning to shut off power, water, and gas at active military installations across the country.
During a CBS News interview, Lunday confirmed that &#8220;the lights are shutting off&#8221; at stations tasked with life-saving missions. In the last several days, Station Channel Islands in California and Station Port Huron in Michigan had their power cut off, while Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii saw its natural gas service interrupted.
While the Coast Guard was able to restore these specific services, Lunday warned that the number of shutoffs is expected to rise. These stations operate 24/7, 365 days a year, standing ready to respond to mariners in distress or national security threats.
&#8220;I think a lot of Americans would be pissed to hear this is happening,&#8221; the CBS interviewer posited to the Admiral.
&#8220;Furious,&#8221; Lunday responded. &#8220;That’s exactly right.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
EXCLUSIVE: Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday tells CBS News’ <a href="https://twitter.com/NicoleSganga?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NicoleSganga</a> that several Coast Guard stations across the country recently lost power, water or gas. Service has been restored, but he warns more outages could happen as the DHS shutdown continues. More tomorrow… <a href="https://t.co/G0k6qtz80h">pic.twitter.com/G0k6qtz80h</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/2049637221385506868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Coast Guard acts as the nation&#8217;s maritime police force. Because they have Title 14 authority, they can board vessels at sea without a warrant to ensure compliance with U.S. laws.
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Drug Interdiction: They are the lead agency for stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. via the sea, often seizing billions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana annually.</li>
<li>Migrant Interdiction: They patrol the Caribbean and the Pacific to intercept human trafficking and illegal migration, often rescuing people from unseaworthy vessels.</li>
<li>Ports &amp; Waterways Security: They protect 361 U.S. ports from terrorism and ensure that &#8220;high interest&#8221; vessels (like tankers or cruise ships) are screened before entering.</li>
</ul>
The Coast Guard currently holds the distinction of being the only military branch impacted by the funding stalemate. Because the service falls under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense, its personnel are caught in a legislative &#8220;procedural loop&#8221; over immigration enforcement and the SAVE Act.
The human cost of the 75-day impasse is <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/04/28/utility-shutoffs-mounting-debt-coast-guard-endures-hardships-in-ongoing-shutdown/">mounting</a>:
<ul data-path-to-node="9">
<li>
Personnel Hardship: While active-duty members have received intermittent pay through discretionary funding shifts, there is no guarantee of future checks. Families are reportedly relying on interest-free loans from Coast Guard Mutual Assistance to buy groceries.
</li>
<li>
Civilian Crisis: Nearly 10,000 civilian employees went unpaid for nearly two months. One civil servant in Alaska reportedly sold his car to pay rent before emergency funding was briefly released.
</li>
<li>
Operational Decay: Over $200 million in unpaid bills has caused private contractors to cease maintenance on ships and aircraft.
</li>
</ul>
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has staunchly refused to bring the bill funding DHS to a vote, as House Republicans are insisting on a funding package that includes strict immigration reforms and the SAVE Act, using the DHS budget as legislative leverage.
“We have to move DHA funding because it’s urgent … we are out of money,” Johnson stated.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Phil Waldron told a House subcommittee that the workforce&#8217;s focus is being &#8220;dangerously fractured&#8221; by financial anxiety. &#8220;Their focus is required for dangerous missions,&#8221; Waldron said. &#8220;That focus is fractured when they’re worried about paying their rent.&#8221;
As of April 30, 2026, the shutdown remains the longest in DHS history. While the Coast Guard continues to answer distress calls under its &#8220;Always Ready&#8221; motto, leadership warns that every day of the shutdown creates a 2.5-day recovery backlog, hollowing out the readiness of the nation’s primary maritime shield.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

‘The Lights Go Out’: Coast Guard Faces Shutoffs, Financial Crisis As DHS Shutdown Hits Day 75

Coast Guard

Congress

Department of Homeland Security

Government Shutdown

Politics

The U.S. military seized another Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean early Thursday morning, as federal authorities intensified enforcement against sanctioned vessels tied to the Maduro regime. 
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said a Coast Guard tactical team conducted a pre-dawn raid of the motor tanker Veronica, the sixth sanctioned vessel seized by the Coast Guard in recent weeks. The operation went smoothly, and the ship was seized without incident, Noem said. 
“As another sanctioned ghost fleet tanker, Motor Tanker Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters, and was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” Noem posted on X, sharing footage of the operation. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Early this morning, a Coast Guard tactical team conducted a pre-dawn boarding and seizure of Motor Tanker Veronica in the Caribbean. As another sanctioned ghost fleet tanker, Motor Tanker Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters, and was operating in defiance of… <a href="https://t.co/MyWyQGH1h0">pic.twitter.com/MyWyQGH1h0</a>
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2011803374807547909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“As we’ve now demonstrated through multiple boardings, there is no outrunning or escaping American justice — period. Our resolve is unshakeable and our mission coordination has never been better. America&#8217;s Coast Guard remains Always Ready to apply the full force of its unique authorities and specialized capabilities against this threat anywhere, anytime,” she added. 
U.S. Southern Command <a href="https://x.com/Southcom/status/2011798070816612578">said</a> that Marines and sailors assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Spear took part in the seizure after launching from the USS Gerald R. Ford. The task force is focused on disrupting drug trafficking and other illegal activities in the Western Hemisphere. 
“The Veronica is the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean, proving the effectiveness of Operation Southern Spear yet again,” Southern Command said. “The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.”
Trump has promised that American companies will invest billions to rebuild Venezuelan oil fields. 
Last week, the Coast Guard seized a tanker flying a Russian flag that had previously bypassed an American blockade. The ship, the Marinera, had been on the run for two weeks and was set to be escorted by a Russian submarine and warships. 
The operation came a few hours ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The meeting is expected to focus on Venezuela’s future following the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Trump has said he doesn’t expect Machado to have enough support to become Venezuela’s next leader.

MixCollage-15-Jan-2026-11-15-AM-4169

Another Venezuelan-Linked Oil Tanker Seized As U.S. Enforces Trump Blockade

Kristi Noem

Marines

Venezuela

American forces seized another sanctioned oil tanker early Friday morning that had departed Venezuela after dodging a United States blockade, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.
The Coast Guard boarded the Motor Tanker Olina without incident and took control of the vessel, which was believed to be carrying embargoed oil. 
“The world’s criminals are on notice,” Noem said, sharing a video of the operation on X. “Early this morning, the [Coast Guard] executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another &#8216;ghost fleet&#8217; tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The world’s criminals are on notice.
Early this morning, the <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another &#8220;ghost fleet&#8221; tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed… <a href="https://t.co/vvS3u3nrvl">pic.twitter.com/vvS3u3nrvl</a>
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2009628070047604976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The operation was a joint effort between the State Department, War Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this week, the Coast Guard seized two other sanctioned oil tankers. 
“The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem said. “The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate these funding streams for illicit activity including narco-terrorism.”
The ship, which was <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/u-s-forces-board-fifth-tanker-in-campaign-to-track-down-venezuelan-oil-08d1721f?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqc9vJYA4QxW6SYWxg8Msh1lAsHcsTRBmNvfhfVV50U_yX0supI5zFkaCUeMC6U%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69610fed&amp;gaa_sig=KEHiI01OMwEl4YNSpbE__LdVRJLjzijQon3_7UIb17NyYwm0Bzu96d6yxEVHkKHEiYPkJCdUBge-WcpmvkNQRQ%3D%3D">sanctioned</a> for carrying Russian oil, was previously known as the Minerva M.
U.S. Southern Command also posted footage of the seizure, noting that Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear were involved in the operation. The troops were launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford, Southern Command said. 
“The Department of War’s Operation Southern Spear is unwavering in its mission to defend our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere,” Southcom said. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: “there is no safe haven for criminals.”
In a pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS… <a href="https://t.co/1ASoajGVHG">pic.twitter.com/1ASoajGVHG</a>
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2009626517660107010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard seized two additional oil tankers, including one flying a Russian flag that had previously bypassed an American blockade. The ship, the Marinera, had been on the run for two weeks and was set to be escorted by a Russian submarine and warships. 
Russia protested the seizure, claiming that “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in other states’ jurisdictions.” 
The second ship, the Bella 1, was seized after it was sanctioned for transporting oil to Iran.

MixCollage-09-Jan-2026-08-45-AM-6187

U.S. Coast Guard Seizes Another ‘Ghost Ship’ Trying To Evade American Blockade

Russia

The latest War Department strikes targeting drug boats destroyed three vessels and left multiple suspected smugglers alive.
U.S. Southern Command said Wednesday that it had conducted kinetic strikes targeting “three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.” All three had been destroyed the day before, alongside three alleged &#8220;narco-terrorists.&#8221;
“These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,&#8221; Southern Command said on X. &#8220;Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
On Dec. 30, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… <a href="https://t.co/NHRNIzcrFS">pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS</a>
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2006474817076330557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels,” Southern Command added. 
After the strikes, Southern Command said it notified the Coast Guard to begin a search-and-rescue operation. The Coast Guard <a href="https://x.com/USCGPACAREA/status/2006570397580538098">confirmed</a> it was sending resources to help mariners in distress in the Pacific Ocean after notice from the War Department. 
American officials <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alleged-drug-smugglers-jumped-overboard-latest-boat-strikes-pacific-us-military/">told</a> CBS News that there were approximately eight survivors of the strikes and that they occurred in the Eastern Pacific. 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Since the Trump administration began targeting alleged drug boats in September, more than 100 suspected drug traffickers have been killed in strikes targeting more than 30 boats. Previous survivors have been repatriated to their home countries and referred for drug trafficking prosecution. 
In an escalation, American forces last week took out a drug facility at a Venezuelan port allegedly used to load narcotics onto smuggling vessels.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said Monday. “We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area… it’s the implementation area. That’s where they implement, and that is no longer around.”

MixCollage-02-Jan-2026-11-42-AM-9014

Latest Pacific Strikes Destroy Drug Boats, Leave Multiple Suspected Traffickers Alive

Department of War

drug trafficking

narco-terrorism

Pacific Ocean

The Coast Guard said Thursday that it encountered a Russian military vessel just outside of American territorial waters near Hawaii last month. 
The incident took place on October 29, after the Coast Guard detected a Russian vessel 15 miles off the coast of Oahu. Territorial waters extend 12 miles out from the shore, meaning that the Russian ship was within three miles of U.S. territorial waters. 
In response to the ship, the Coast Guard said that it conducted “a safe and professional overflight and transiting” near the Russian vessel involving an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point and the William Hart, a Coast Guard cutter. 
“The U.S. Coast Guard routinely monitors maritime activity around the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific to ensure the safety and security of U.S. waters,” said Captain Matthew Chong, the chief of response for the Coast Guard Oceania District. “Working in concert with partners and allies, our crews monitor and respond to foreign military vessel activity near our territorial waters to protect our maritime borders and defend our sovereign interests.”
The Russian vessel was an intelligence ship <a href="https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Vishnya_Class_%28Project_864_Class%29_Russian_Intelligence_Collection_Ship">built</a> in 1986 for the Soviet Union and was equipped with close-in weapon systems and surface-to-air missile launchers.
The Coast Guard said that it was “monitoring the Russian vessel’s activities near U.S. territorial waters to provide maritime security for U.S. vessels operating in the area and to support U.S. homeland defense efforts.”
Tensions have been elevated between Russia and the United States in recent weeks after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sounds-alarm-china-and-russia-conducting-secret-nuke-tests">directed</a> the military to conduct new nuclear weapon tests. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that upcoming U.S. testing would involve systems checks, not nuclear detonations. 
Trump said last week that the reason for the move was because of secret tests by Russia and China, suggesting that they may be conducting tests underground. 
“Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it. You know, we’re an open society. We’re different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it, because otherwise you people are going to report,” Trump said. “We’re going to test, because they test and others test.”
Russia has denied Trump&#8217;s allegations and <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-warning-russia-us-vladimir-putin-marco-rubio-11041023">said</a> that it would “respond in kind” if the U.S. moved forward with nuclear testing.

MixCollage-14-Nov-2025-09-07-AM-8503

Coast Guard Spots Russian Spy Ship Just Miles From American Waters

Donald Trump

Hawaii

Military

Nuclear Weapons

Coast Guard security personnel fired at a U-Haul truck that ignored &#8220;multiple verbal commands&#8221; and approached the entrance to Coast Guard Island Alameda in California late Thursday night.
Video of the incident posted by CBS News Bay Area shows the U-Haul backing up toward Coast Guard security personnel who had formed a line on a road that leads to the entrance to the base. As the truck approaches the security team, numerous shots are fired, and the driver stops before speeding away.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Video from KPIX photojournalist Rick Villaroman shows a U-Haul driver backing up toward a line of officers outside US Coast Guard base Alameda before officers opened fire. This was hours after almost all protesters dispersed. Awaiting an update from police <a href="https://twitter.com/KPIXtv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KPIXtv</a> <a href="https://t.co/UPrc3CDT3l">pic.twitter.com/UPrc3CDT3l</a>
— Sara Donchey (@SaraDonchey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaraDonchey/status/1981607870325014602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The shooting happened as anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters gathered near the entrance of the military installation. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-immigration-enforcement-coast-guard-island-05d4c04c4936e85205e4c2320a5be945">arrived</a> at the Coast Guard base as part of the federal government&#8217;s illegal immigration crackdown.
Earlier on Thursday, federal agents and California Highway Patrol officers clashed with protesters outside of the Coast Guard base, as civilian employees left the base located on a small island on San Francisco Bay. The base has only one entrance, reached by a bridge. The Coast Guard security personnel were positioned on the bridge as the protests continued late into the night.
The Coast Guard said in a <a href="https://x.com/USCG/status/1981669551264715196">statement</a> on Friday morning, &#8220;When the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and security personnel, law enforcement officers discharged several rounds of live fire.&#8221;
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="http://dailywire.com/Subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
Two men arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds after the shooting, Mercury News <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/24/coast-guard-shooting-oakland-immigration-protest/">reported</a>. One of the men is believed to be the driver of the U-Haul, while the second man&#8217;s identity was unclear. The rental truck was later found by law enforcement.
The Trump administration said earlier this week that it planned on surging federal law enforcement officers to San Francisco as the president cracks down on illegal immigration and violent crime in American cities. President Donald Trump, however, said on Thursday that he was backing off those plans after some of his friends in San Francisco urged him to give Democratic San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie more of a chance to clean up crime in the city.
“I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-warns-california-democrats-arresting-ice-agents-is-a-criminal-conspiracy?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Admin+Warns+California+Democrats%3A+Arresting+ICE+Agents+Is+A+%E2%80%98Criminal+Conspiracy%E2%80%99">wrote</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;I told him I think he is making a mistake, because we can do it much faster, and remove the criminals that the Law does not permit him to remove.”
The Justice Department also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-warns-california-democrats-arresting-ice-agents-is-a-criminal-conspiracy?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Admin+Warns+California+Democrats%3A+Arresting+ICE+Agents+Is+A+%E2%80%98Criminal+Conspiracy%E2%80%99">warned</a> California Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Thursday of potential charges, after Pelosi suggested that federal immigration agents could be arrested by state and local police.
“We urge you and other California officials to publicly abandon this apparent criminal conspiracy, to stop threatening law enforcement, and to prioritize the safety of your citizens,” U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a letter to the Democrats. “In the meantime, federal agents and officers will continue to enforce federal law and will not be deterred by the threat of arrest by California authorities who have abdicated their duty to protect their constituents.”

Coast Guard Island Alameda

Coast Guard Opens Fire On U-Haul Truck That ‘Posed A Direct Threat’ During Anti-ICE Protests

Coast Guard Opens Fire On U-Haul Truck Driving Toward Base Entrance During Anti-ICE Protests

California

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

San Francisco

Trump Administration

In a fiery show of force echoing the new Trump Doctrine on narco-terror, the U.S. Coast Guard over the weekend captured, burned, and sank a suspected drug boat in the Eastern Pacific — just days after the U.S. military obliterated an alleged cartel-run vessel from Venezuela.
As part of Operation Pacific Viper, the USCG Cutter Stone conducted three separate drug interdictions in one night, seizing nearly 13,000 pounds of cocaine and capturing seven suspected traffickers, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday.
DHS added a viral flair to its announcement, posting on X, “ASMR: @USCG  captures, burns, and sinks a drug boat.&#8221;
“ASMR” stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, which is a pleasurable, tingling sensation on the scalp and back of the neck that can spread through the body.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
ASMR: <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> captures, burns, and sinks a drug boat.
Over the weekend, as part of Operation Pacific Viper, the <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> Cutter Stone conducted three interdictions in a single night—seizing nearly 13,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehending seven suspected drug smugglers. <a href="https://t.co/wHRGUGYtTw">pic.twitter.com/wHRGUGYtTw</a>
&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1965514384803061765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The video, which quickly gained traction online, showed the dramatic takedown of the vessel, engulfed in flames and repeatedly shot at. It’s the most visually striking moment yet in Operation Pacific Viper, a rapidly escalating Coast Guard effort that has already seized more than 40,000 pounds of cocaine since its launch last month.
The Coast Guard said the operation involves a &#8220;surge&#8221; of cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams working with international partners to interdict drug routes from South America. The weekend strike came just seven days after a separate, unprecedented move: a U.S. Marine Corps strike team sank another suspected drug boat in the southern Caribbean Sea, which officials say was operated by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan narco-gang.
That September 2 military strike — personally confirmed by President Donald Trump — marked the first direct lethal action against an alleged cartel vessel under Trump’s renewed war on narco-terrorism.
Speaking from the White House, Trump declared: “We just, over the last few minutes, shot out a drug-carrying boat … These came out of Venezuela. And there’s more where that came from.”
He added that the action followed a top-level briefing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and warned of more strikes to come. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the statement, confirming the strike and noting the vessel was operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.”
With tensions rising between Washington and Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has deployed at least eight U.S. Navy warships to the region, ramped up military authority via cartel terror designations, and increased the bounty on Maduro to $50 million, citing his government’s alleged ties to drug cartels.
This double blow — military precision by sea and tactical interdictions by the Coast Guard — signals a new era in U.S. drug enforcement policy.
One thing is clear: the Trump administration isn’t just interdicting drugs — it’s sinking the whole ship.

Sir Keir Starmer visit to Washington DC

WATCH: Drug Boat Obliterated In Fiery Blaze As Trump Expands War On Narco-Terror

Crime

Drugs

World

Authorities said on Friday that there are no survivors after finding a Bering Air Cessna Caravan with 10 people on board that crashed on sea ice after going missing over the Norton Sound in Alaska on Thursday.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, rescuers looking for the missing aircraft spotted the wreckage from a helicopter, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-aircraft-alaska-search-10-people-eb496188285ed54c9a527f658d4ff70a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The Cessna Caravan, which is a single-engine propeller plane, left Unalakleet, Alaska, at 2:37 p.m. local time and was supposed to land in Nome, Alaska, which is a short flight across the Norton Sound. At around 4:00 p.m., Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue, and authorities began search operations.
The Coast Guard said that at 3:18, the airplane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed.&#8221; Visibility was poor at the time of the crash as the area experienced light snow and fog.
All 10 people onboard the flight, which included nine passengers and one pilot, were adults, Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said, according to the AP. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services. Since the sea ice is unstable, authorities are trying to move fast to recover the bodies and any parts of the plane that will aid officials in their investigation into the crash.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> (1/2) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USCG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USCG</a> has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. <a href="https://t.co/XndzBYHdCE">pic.twitter.com/XndzBYHdCE</a>
&mdash; USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGAlaska/status/1888023010877260283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“They are on the ice as we speak,” said Nome Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim West. “The conditions out there are dynamic, and so we’ve got to do it safely and the fastest way we can.”
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski addressed the crash during a press conference, saying, “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss.” Nome Mayor John Handeland added, “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident.&#8221;
The crash is the third on U.S. soil in 2025. Last month, an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

USCG Alaska

Missing Alaska Plane Found; Authorities Say There Are No Survivors

Airplane

Airplane crash

Alaska

A plane with 10 people aboard went missing while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, on Thursday, sparking a search and rescue operation from state and federal authorities.
The Bering Air Caravan airplane with one pilot and nine passengers left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. local time, and Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue in Nome, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-missing-alaska-10-on-board-nome/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&amp;linkId=740695350" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The plane appeared to be traveling over the Norton Sound when it potentially encountered near-whiteout fog. FlightRadar <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n321ba#39086384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> showed a Bering Air Caravan plane last reporting data at 3:16 p.m.
&#8220;U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard,&#8221; U.S. Coast Guard Alaska <a href="https://x.com/USCGAlaska/status/1887733606472388886" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available.&#8221;
The Bering Air Cessna Caravan is a single-engine propeller plane. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services.
Due to low visibility, the search plane flew over the water and along the shoreline with equipment that could help locate the missing aircraft. Authorities told people not to form their own search parties due to the weather. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department said, &#8220;We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located.&#8221;
In an update at 12:30 a.m. local time on Friday, the fire department said the plane was still missing.
&#8220;We do not have any updated information on the location of the missing aircraft. Crews are still searching on the ground, canvassing as much area as possible,&#8221; the fire department <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NVFDAlaska" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> added. &#8220;The National Guard C-130 reported they found nothing found so far. The Airforce also sent a C-130 resumed the search and also have reported no visuals, and have one hour of flight search time remaining. If nothing further is reported, the next update will be at 9am.&#8221;
The incident comes after an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

Authorities Begin Search And Rescue Operation After Plane Goes Missing In Alaska

Air and Space

U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard is &#8220;immediately&#8221; deploying more assets to the nation&#8217;s maritime borders to prevent migrants from illegally entering the U.S.
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders to clamp down on illegal immigration. Within hours of taking office, Trump also fired Coast Guard Adm. Linda L. Fagan, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/us/politics/admiral-fagan-fired-coast-guard.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partly</a> for her “failure to address border security threats.&#8221;
In a <a href="https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4035591/coast-guard-announces-immediate-action-in-support-of-presidential-executive-ord/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Tuesday, Coast Guard Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said the military branch would swiftly act in support of Trump&#8217;s executive orders.
“The U.S. Coast Guard is the world’s premiere maritime law enforcement agency, vital to protecting America’s maritime borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty,&#8221; Lunday said. &#8220;Per the President’s Executive Orders, I have directed my operational commanders to immediately surge assets — cutters, aircraft, boats and deployable specialized forces — to increase Coast Guard presence and focus &#8230;&#8221;
Lunday then listed six &#8220;key areas&#8221; where the Coast Guard will deploy more assets to carry out Trump&#8217;s plans. The statement also acknowledged Trump&#8217;s directive to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on all federal maps and communications.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
According to the Coast Guard, the areas of focus include: &#8220;The southeast U.S. border approaching Florida to deter and prevent a maritime mass migration from Haiti and/or Cuba; The maritime border around Alaska, Hawai’i, the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; The maritime border between the Bahamas and south Florida; The southwest maritime border between the U.S. and Mexico in the Pacific; The maritime border between Texas and Mexico in the Gulf of America; and Support to Customs and Border Protection on maritime portions of the southwest U.S. border.&#8221;
&#8220;Together, in coordination with our Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense teammates, we will detect, deter and interdict illegal migration, drug smuggling and other terrorist or hostile activity before it reaches our border,” the statement added.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopROeWZY2MrAmxRZMySZ-6kDoJNZdFQY4Wez-S-ac_7h_MADWH7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-862531 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-1-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
The Coast Guard&#8217;s new emphasis on cracking down on illegal immigration comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have begun carrying out Trump&#8217;s deportation operation. Trump&#8217;s border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News on Tuesday that ICE officers have been ordered to &#8220;go make arrests&#8221; of illegal immigrants with criminal records.
&#8220;[S]o they’re out there right now looking for the most serious public safety threats throughout the country,&#8221; Homan said.
Among the numerous executive orders signed by Trump on Monday night, the president declared a national emergency at the southern border, reinstated the &#8220;remain in Mexico&#8221; policy, and ended the CBP One app that allowed migrants to set up appointments in the U.S. to claim asylum. Trump also signed an order to end birthright citizenship, a move that has already received <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-attorneys-general-sue-trump-over-birthright-citizenship-exec-order" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushback</a> from 22 states with Democrat attorneys general who argue that it violates the 14th Amendment.
Homan called the executive orders “game-changers,” adding that they would lead to the “most secure border in my lifetime.”

Coast Guard ‘Immediately’ Ramps Up Illegal Immigration Deterrence Following Trump’s Orders

Coast Guard 'Immediately' Ramps Up Illegal Immigration Deterrence Following Trump's Orders

border security

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

A documentary film is in the works about the ill-fated <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/oceangate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OceanGate</a> Titan submersible, and it promises to tell the story behind the headlines about the underwater craft that imploded, killing all five of its passengers in June 2023.
The film is directed by Aron Arngrimsson, who was the last person to see the Titan crew alive before the small crew set out on its doomed fatal trip to see the remains of the Titanic on June 18, 2023, the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/titan-submersible-implosion-documentary-in-works-1236088385/?taid=6761ae58a1361c00013e3066&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Hollywood Reporter</a> reported.
“He [Arngrimsson] exclusively tells the emotional experience of five Titan crew members, revealing the family stories behind the media headlines and exposing the painful consequences of an exploration gone wrong,” a synopsis from the producers read, per THR.
The documentary, currently in post production, comes from <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/titan-submersible-disaster-documentary-being-made-1236251341/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arngrimsson&#8217;s Dirty Dozen Productions</a> and RadicalMedia, the outlet noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Titan submersible disaster has inspired a new documentary from Aron Arngrimsson, who was the last person to see the crew alive. <a href="https://t.co/VXODAjQErb">https://t.co/VXODAjQErb</a>
— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1869052434657734988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
“The unprecedented access Aron had to the Titan crew, their families and this story, was remarkable,” Stacey Reiss, executive producer at RadicalMedia, said.
“He was there, first-hand, experiencing all of this in real time,” she added. “It was extremely important to us to tell this story authentically, given the tremendous media attention it received.”
The movie will include actual first-hand footage taken by Arngrimsson of the Titan submersible heading out on its fatal expedition.
“We are committed to telling this important story with the thoroughness it deserves, through exclusive interviews with the Titan crew members and in the aftermath with the families,” Arngrimsson said in a statement about the project.
After the ship lost contact with Titan in June 2023, a four-day rescue mission from the United States and Canada ensued including using airplanes, boats, and submersibles in the attempt to find and save the crew, <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/titanic-submersible-oceangate-movie-1235740084/">Variety</a> noted.
On the fourth day, the United States Coast Guard <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGNortheast/status/1671907901542211584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1671907901542211584%7Ctwgr%5Ecbfebb9adb1227d0cfd8b029851173bec1af7999%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.dailywire.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D574887action%3Dedit">announced</a> that a remotely operated underwater vehicle had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/titanic-sub-rescue-effort-cost-millions-and-oceangate-likely-wont-be-paying-for-it">found debris</a> from the Titan near the Titanic.
“A debris field was discovered within the search area by an ROV near the Titanic,” USGC Northeast said in a statement. “Experts within the unified command are evaluating the information.”
“A debris field implies a break-up of the submersible … that really sort of indicates what is the worst-case scenario, which is a catastrophic failure and generally that’s an implosion,” marine scientist and rescue expert David Mearns told <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/debris-field-discovered-within-search-area-near-titanic-us-coast-guard-says-12906735">Sky News</a>.
“The only saving grace is that it would have been immediate — literally in milliseconds — and the men wouldn’t have known what was happening,” Mearns added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-photo-released-shows-titanic-submersibles-final-resting-spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Photo Released Shows Titanic Submersible’s Final Resting Spot</a>

OceanGate

Documentary Film About Tragic Titan Submersible Is Happening

Disasters

Documentaries

movie

Titan

Titanic

The mayor of Newport Beach, California, blasted California lawmakers after a boat of illegal aliens arrived in his town and were apprehended by the Coast Guard.
The boat of 21 illegal aliens, including one Russian, two Uzbeks, and 18 Mexicans, was apprehended roughly a mile off the coast of the Orange County city late last week.
“When you have people from Uzbekistan of all places coming in through the southern border, something is broken,” Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/coast-guard-apprehends-more-than-20-migrants-boat-off-newport-beach-coast">said in an interview</a>. “We are told that our local authorities are prohibited from working with federal authorities to stop people like this.”
He specifically cited <a href="https://apps.sdsheriff.net/PublicDocs/SB978/Law%20Enforcement%20Services%20Bureau/Field%20Operations%20Manual/POLICY%2015_CA%20Senate%20Bill%2054.pdf">Senate Bill 54</a>, which prevents state and local resources or personnel from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;Get your act together, figure this out, because we’re having real problems affecting real people, in your cities all across California,” he added. “You cannot continue to treat every city in California like a border city.”
It isn’t the first time that illegal aliens have attempted to enter Newport Beach by boat. Roughly 20 suspected migrants were caught on camera arriving at Newport Harbor before scattering in the spring of this year.
One resident expressed her concern following the attempted illegal entry, indicating that she’s worried about the toll that illegal immigration takes on public, taxpayer-funded services.
The incident is part of a broader trend of illegal alien smugglers entering the United States by boat. The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-coast-guard-suspects-migrant-landing-in-malibu-second-in-weeks-on-california-coast">exclusively reported</a> that the United States Coast Guard was investigating a potential maritime human smuggling operation in Malibu, California last December after a boat was found on the shore.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Exclusive: Coast Guard Suspects &#8216;Migrant Landing&#8217; In Malibu, Second In Weeks On California Coast <a href="https://t.co/O77rCA9UXy">pic.twitter.com/O77rCA9UXy</a>
— Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerLndqst/status/1737594353135030614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That potential landing occurred just weeks after video footage <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/12/02/news/migrant-boat-lands-near-celebrity-mansions-in-malibu/">captured</a> a boat of roughly two dozen illegal aliens landing on the shore of Malibu, over 100 miles north of the United States border with Mexico.
Maritime smuggling operations are also notoriously dangerous. The Department of Justice recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/migrant-smuggler-pleads-guilty-to-maritime-smuggling-operation-resulting-in-11-deaths">convicted</a> one Dominican human smuggler after he attempted to bring 48 migrants to the United States illegally by boat before it capsized, killing  11.

Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill

California Mayor Blasts State Lawmakers After Illegal Aliens Attempt To Enter Newport Beach By Boat

Border

Menu