US Coast Guard renames geographic operational districts
The US Coast Guard will rename its operational districts from numerical to geographic designations, according to a press release published on Thursday, July 3.
The coast guard said the change, directed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 21, 2025, aims to more accurately indicate the regions the districts serve and represent.
Renaming operational districts revises a numbered system established during World War II, when the coast guard operated as part of the US 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.
The coast guard said updating operational districts to regional names will more clearly align districts with their areas of responsibility, facilitate collaboration with inter-agency partners, and ensure the American public and maritime stakeholders can easily find and understand the districts in which they live and operate.
The new geographic names, approved by the Department of Homeland Security, are as follows:
District One: USCG Northeast District
District Five: USCG East District
District Seven: USCG Southeast District
District Eight: USCG Heartland District
District Nine: USCG Great Lakes District
District Eleven: USCG Southwest District
District Thirteen: USCG Northwest District
District Fourteen: USCG Oceania District
District Seventeen: USCG Arctic District
The coast guard said this change will not impact operations or change existing geographical district boundaries.
To memorialise 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.
