It certainly is responsible to cut the funding. This has been going on for years and years with the exception of one or two years when there was a special project like the funding of the "deepwater" ship replacement programs.

The problem is that funding cuts to the Coast Guard and other branches of the service do not become recognized until it affects the civilian population and their security. I didn't hear anyone complain when the Coast Guard was sent to Viet Nam without adequate equipment and we physically had to beg and steal from the Navy ships to keep our equipment operational. If it had not been for the Navy giving us their personal parts and supplies we would have gone on patrols without operational equipment.

As the Coast Guard saying goes "We have done so much with so little for so long, we will continue to do everything with nothing forever."