Editorial: The Coast Guard Spent $3.8 Million on a PDF

The Coast Guard’s new credentialing portal promises complete applications and faster processing. One American ship captain tested it. What he found raises serious questions about automation, accountability, and whether Washington understands the problem it’s trying to solve.

By an Anonymous U.S. Merchant Marine Captain

Last April, President Trump signed Executive Order 14269, Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance. It’s a serious commitment to rebuilding the U.S. Merchant Marine, and tucked into Section 13 is an order every American mariner should care about: identify unnecessary or burdensome credentialing requirements and eliminate them.

The White House understands something Washington has forgotten for decades. You can