S. 1857 would change Coast Guard policy to retain enlisted members who are close to retirement eligibility. Specifically, the bill requires the Coast Guard to keep regular enlisted members on active duty until they qualify for retirement if they have completed 18 or more years of service but fewer than 20 years and would otherwise be discharged or denied reenlistment. For Coast Guard Reserve members in active status facing similar circumstances, the bill prevents their discharge or transfer without consent, though it provides some flexibility by allowing discharge after either 20 years of service is reached or after 2-3 additional years (depending on current service length). The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines beyond these service-based benchmarks. Introduced by Senator Blumenthal in May 2025, the legislation aims to protect service members' retirement benefits by ensuring they can reach the 20-year vesting point that qualifies them for military retirement pay.