GAO report finds Coast Guard housing access gaps persist

The Government Accountability Office's latest assessment notes that nine of its recommendations aimed at improving affordable housing for Department of Defense and Coast Guard personnel remain open as of July 2026. The findings apply to Coast Guard service members, 40 percent of whom rotate to new duty stations each year, and their families.

Around 41 percent of Coast Guard units are located in remote or high vacation-rental areas, where limited housing supply and high cost-of-living challenge the basic allowance for housing, a major component of military cash compensation. Seventy-six percent of Coast Guard personnel rely on private-sector housing, and many report affordability and availability problems.

The Coast Guard launched a Nationwide Housing Satisfaction Survey in Fall 2025 to collect service-wide feedback, but has not yet used the results to shape housing policy. It has designated 46 critical housing areas that affect 400 of its 2,490 family housing units. DOD issued interim guidance on housing responsibilities in March 2026 and plans to publish a comprehensive list of critical housing areas by May 2027.

Coast Guard officials indicated that adopting additional DOD statutory housing authorities could lower costs. The service submitted one legislative proposal to obtain such an authority in June 2026 and expects to submit three more proposals by the end of 2026.

GAO stresses that fully implementing its recommendations would improve housing affordability, availability, and morale for Coast Guard members and their families.