Shannon Norenberg, the US Coast Guard Academy’s head of sexual assault prevention, has resigned from her position and made explosive allegations about being directed to lie to sexual assault victims and Congress. Norenberg’s claims have come to light ahead of a congressional hearing where Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan is set to testify about the agency’s sexual misconduct scandal. Norenberg stated that she was used as part of a cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, a secret internal probe into decades of sexual assault cover-ups at the academy.
In response to Norenberg’s allegations, the Coast Guard stated that it was a mistake to include talking points about Congress in the information she was given to brief assault victims. Norenberg believes that the Coast Guard misled her and hindered her efforts to help survivors access mental health services and veteran’s benefits. Norenberg expressed that she can no longer remain silent about the injustices she witnessed and participated in.
The Coast Guard’s handling of the sexual misconduct scandal has faced increasing scrutiny, with social media accounts dedicated to exposing mishandled assault cases across the service gaining traction. Commandant Fagan has urged victims to make formal reports, but some have criticized the agency’s response to the crisis. The Coast Guard also faced backlash for delaying the public release of survivor testimonials and for promoting officers accused of misconduct for promotions.
The pressure on Fagan continues to mount as the Coast Guard grapples with multiple investigations into its handling of sexual assault and harassment cases. Congressional lawmakers have expressed frustration with the agency’s lack of cooperation and accountability. Norenberg’s allegations are expected to be discussed at an upcoming Senate hearing, where the Coast Guard’s response and actions will be scrutinized. Victims of sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy are speaking out about feeling forgotten and disregarded by the agency after sharing their traumatic experiences.
