Shuttered Alabama college to celebrate transformation into military training center

The former campus of Birmingham-Southern College is set to begin its new chapter as a U.S. Coast Guard training center. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., confirmed the official launch of the facility during a budget hearing on Tuesday alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

A New Mission for the Campus

Britt, who leads the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, announced she will visit the 192-acre campus this Friday alongside Admiral Kevin Lunday. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for 3:30 p.m. at the former BSC Coliseum. Attendees are expected to include Britt, Mullin, Lunday, and Coast Guard Force Readiness Command Director Jennifer Sinclair.

The Coast Guard, which faces an urgent need to expand its force by 15,000 members, identified the necessity for a modern training facility earlier this year. The service subsequently acquired the Birmingham-Southern property following the college's closure in 2024.

"To fulfill its mission, increased training capacity is needed now more than ever," Britt noted during the hearing. "It is paramount we provide resources to train cadets, build vessels, and procure air assets." Secretary Mullin emphasized that consistent, specialized training is vital for the Coast Guard to address threats across American waterways.

Budget Debates and Security Concerns

Beyond the new Birmingham facility, the hearing touched on broader Department of Homeland Security funding challenges. Britt expressed strong opposition to proposed cuts for the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover. President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request suggests reducing funding for the center—which trains law enforcement on combating cybercrime and financial fraud—by nearly $27 million.

"I don’t need to tell you, Mr. Secretary, that computer crimes are only becoming more sophisticated, and that we need more points of security by state and local officials, not fewer," Britt stated.

The hearing arrived as Senate Republicans seek to secure roughly $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement and Border Patrol. This push comes after continued clashes with Democrats over department negotiations. During the session, Democrats questioned Secretary Mullin regarding the department's compliance with court orders and raised concerns about conditions at a New Jersey detention center, which has recently faced intense public scrutiny.

Tuesday marked Mullin's first congressional testimony since his March confirmation. He is scheduled to continue his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.