Military servicemembers across all branches and components are granted up to 12 weeks of parental leave for the birth, adoption, or long-term foster placement of a child … unless they are members of the Coast Guard Reserve.

It’s the last component left out of this important policy change, which was included in the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and ensures both birth and non-birth parents have sufficient time to care for and bond with new family members.

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When initially implemented, the policy covered active duty servicemembers (including Coast Guard members) along with Guard and Reserve members on active orders for more than 12 consecutive months. The FY 2024 NDAA expanded parental leave for members of the Guard and Reserve components under DoD, but it did not include the Coast Guard Reserve.

This parity issue is complicated by jurisdictional issues. The Coast Guard falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security; in Congress, matters pertaining to the service are not regularly taken up by the Armed Services committees, but are referred instead to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

These committees produce the Coast Guard Authorization Act, but unlike the NDAA, this bill is not passed annually. The last Coast Guard Authorization Act passed during the 117th Congress, as part of the FY 2023 NDAA.

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While there have been other opportunities for Congress to authorize enhanced parental leave for the Coast Guard Reserve, to date, this component has been overlooked.

Fortunately, there’s good news on the horizon. Both versions of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 – one approved unanimously by the Senate in May, the other passed by the House in July – include a provision to expand the extended parental leave policy to USCG reservists.

MOAA will continue to track this legislation as both chambers of Congress work to craft and pass a single version to send to the president to be signed into law.