Springfield, Va., September 25, 2025 – In a letter sent to Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, today, Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) expressed extreme concern on behalf of millions of recreational boaters nationwide over news that the U.S. Coast Guard will not be providing any recreational boating safety grants to organizations in FY2025. This user-pay/user-benefit trust fund, a system where people who use a specific service or resource pay for it, and those payments are used to fund improvements of that same service or resource, is the foundation of boating safety programs across the nation, making this funding vital to keep boating a safe activity for millions. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 lives have been saved in the past 50-plus years because of boating safety programs. In fact, 2023 saw the lowest number of recreational boating deaths since the keeping of such records began.

The BoatUS letter says in part:

Cutting off support for recreational boating nonprofit organizations such as National Association of Boating Law Administrators, Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation, and the American Boat & Yacht Council will stop or curtail many vital programs including:

• Training state and local on-water law enforcement for multiple safety and homeland security roles.
• Promoting uniform state boating laws.
• Setting boat safety design standards that are emulated worldwide.
• Ensuring substandard foreign built vessels cannot be registered in the United States.
• Supporting safety recalls.
• Updating boating accident reporting systems to allow more efficient targeting of boating safety enforcement efforts.
• Tracking and validating vessel hull identification numbers to reduce boat theft. Note: Stolen boats are often used for trafficking drugs and people.”

BoatUS calls upon Kristi Noem to strongly reconsider this decision and restore these grants. Boating safety must remain a priority for the U.S. Coast Guard and is essential for reducing injuries and deaths on the water.

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About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 740,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS^® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 660 vessels and 330-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe and our waters clean. Visit BoatUS.com.