A federal judge has blocked the closure of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Newport Air Facility, ruling that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s actions were arbitrary and illegal. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued a temporary restraining order after a Newport nonprofit supporting commercial fishermen, along with Lincoln County, filed a lawsuit seeking the return of a rescue helicopter before the upcoming Dungeness crab fishing season.
Judge Aiken noted that the lack of rescue coverage posed significant safety risks. She found that the Secretary failed to notify Congress or hold public meetings, violating legal requirements prior to the facility’s operational changes. Aiken ordered the Coast Guard to restore the helicopter to Newport with full operational capacity.
The ruling came before the federal government’s response to the lawsuit, and it reflects the importance of the facility’s operations, particularly during the hazardous fishing season. Oregon also filed a lawsuit, emphasizing that public safety must be prioritized and that the government needs to adhere to legal procedures.
The Newport Air Facility, established in response to a fishing boat tragedy in 1985, had been significantly reducing operations before this ruling, with plans to move the helicopter 110 miles south to North Bend, which would extend emergency response times. Concerns have also arisen about potential plans for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center at the Newport airport, further complicating local government dynamics.
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