Scott, Wilson push for Beaufort as new Coast Guard training base

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) have urged the Department of Homeland Security to select Beaufort, South Carolina, as the location for a new U.S. Coast Guard training base, sending a letter January 12, 2026 to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Beaufort is among several locations under consideration after the Coast Guard issued a request for information late last year seeking potential sites for an additional training facility, officials said. The new base would support the service’s projected growth in training needs amid expanding missions and personnel demands.

In their letter, Scott and Wilson described Beaufort as a “reliable and mission-ready military community” with existing infrastructure that could support Coast Guard families and operations. They noted the region already hosts Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, which train and graduate thousands of service members annually. “The city’s location places it between two of the nation’s most strategically important ports, Charleston and Savannah,” the lawmakers wrote. “Located less than two hours away, Charleston will soon host the Coast Guard’s largest homeport, while the Port of Savannah consistently leads the East Coast in container volume.” Scott and Wilson said Beaufort’s housing, schools and infrastructure are already in place to support a Coast Guard training community. They also highlighted the area’s regional connectivity and proximity to key military installations as advantages for the service’s mission readiness.

The proposal includes a plan to use part of the former Naval Hospital Beaufort site in Port Royal as the training facility, according to a Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation submission. That site, officials said, has existing facilities and security infrastructure that could allow the center to be operational within about a year of acquisition.

According to a press release, the initiative is supported by the Beaufort County Council, Town of Port Royal, City of Beaufort, Town of Bluffton, Town of Hilton Head, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Beaufort County Military Enhancement Committee.

The Coast Guard has not yet made a final decision on the site selection process. The department will review submissions and consider factors such as community support, infrastructure, access to training resources and strategic positioning before issuing a formal designation.