7th Circuit Upholds Dismissal Over LinkedIn Posts in Coast Guard Uniform

The Seventh Circuit upheld dismissal of Coast Guard Auxiliary officer Wenzler for LinkedIn posts made in uniform.

On June 1, 2026, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court decision to uphold the dismissal of James C. Wenzler from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Wenzler, who joined in 2007 and served as Vice Flotilla Commander and Branch Chief for Human Resources, was disenrolled after posting crass content on LinkedIn while in uniform.

Following a public complaint in May 2022, the Auxiliary investigated and ordered Wenzler to remove the posts. When he refused, the Auxiliary disenrolled him for violating conduct rules.

Wenzler sued, alleging his First Amendment rights were violated and claiming the dismissal was arbitrary under the Administrative Procedure Act. The district court granted summary judgment to the Coast Guard, determining his posts were not constitutionally protected and that the disenrollment was supported by substantial evidence, in a decision documented in the court record.

The Seventh Circuit agreed, reasoning that the Auxiliary’s interest in maintaining discipline and respect outweighed Wenzler’s speech interest. The court stated, “The evidence shows that the Auxiliary’s interests in promoting effective and efficient public services outweighed any interest Wenzler had in making the LinkedIn posts.” This sets a precedent on balancing free speech and codified conduct standards for military-affiliated individuals online.