Shuttered Alabama college to celebrate transformation into military training center

A significant transformation is coming to the Birmingham landscape. The former Birmingham-Southern College campus is set to begin its new chapter as a U.S. Coast Guard training facility, a move officially confirmed by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., during a Tuesday budget hearing.

A New Mission for the Campus

Senator Britt, who leads the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, will join Admiral Kevin Lunday on the 192-acre campus this Friday to celebrate the milestone. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the former BSC Coliseum. Alongside Britt and Lunday, Coast Guard Force Readiness Command Director Jennifer Sinclair is expected to be in attendance.

The acquisition of the campus, which officially ceased college operations in 2024, comes as the Coast Guard pushes to expand its force by 15,000 members. As previously reported, the service identified an urgent need for modern training infrastructure to meet its goals.

"To fulfill its mission, increased training capacity is needed now more than ever," Britt stated. "It is paramount we provide resources to train cadets, build vessels, and procure air assets." Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that continuous, high-level training is vital for the branch to counter evolving threats facing American waterways.

DHS Budget Battles

While celebrating the new Birmingham facility, the hearing also highlighted ongoing tensions regarding Department of Homeland Security funding. Britt expressed strong concerns over proposed cuts to the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, which trains state and local law enforcement to combat cybercrime. President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request includes a nearly $27 million reduction for the center.

"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 noted.

The hearing served as the backdrop for a broader legislative push by Senate Republicans to secure $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement and Border Patrol. The move follows a prolonged impasse between the two parties regarding DHS appropriations.

During his first congressional testimony since his March confirmation, Secretary Mullin faced sharp questioning from Democrats. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Calif., criticized the department's current direction, accusing it of failing to comply with court orders—a charge Mullin deflected by noting his view that certain courts have become overly politicized.

Lawmakers also pressed the Secretary regarding reports of abuse at a New Jersey detention center, an issue currently mired in growing controversy. Mullin is slated to continue his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.

For more details on the transition, read the full op-ed from Sen. Britt regarding the campus's future here.