There are plenty of questions about how big of a change Markwayne Mullin would be as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security compared to his outgoing predecessor, Kristi Noem.
But in one area, addressed during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, Mullin was unequivocal.
“Absolutely,” Mullin said when asked if he would revoke Noem’s policy that she personally review all DHS awards over $100,000.
“That’s called micromanaging,” Mullin continued. “I don’t know if the secretary put that in or someone else did. I’m not a micromanager. We put people in, we empower them to make decisions. What is required to come into my level, we’ll make decisions.”
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Noem instituted the policy in a July 2025 memo. DHS said it was aimed at rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.
But the policy was reportedly at the center of delays to disaster aid, cybersecurity contracts, transportation security technology and even Trump administration priorities, like border wall construction. The policy drew bipartisan criticism, including at a contentious Senate hearing with Noem in February.
Mullin, who is currently serving as the junior senator from Oklahoma, agreed with Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) that the $100,000 review policy constitutes “red tape” at DHS.
“We will have a very clear line of communication with every one of our agencies’ heads on their authority that you gave to them within their parameters, and we’ll discuss, but we’re also going to be very responsible for the taxpayer dollars,” Mullin said.
DHS did not respond to a request for comment on the review policy.
Mullin used the hearing to pitch himself as as steady hand for a department that’s been at the center of controversies over the past year. He also called on lawmakers to end the ongoing DHS shutdown.
As of Wednesday evening, Mullin’s path to confirmation was murky. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he can’t support Mullin’s nomination.
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But Paul also said he would hold a committee vote on the nomination Thursday morning. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa). is expected to join all other committee Republicans in voting yes, which would give Mullin’s nomination enough votes to advance to the Senate floor.
FEMA cuts
While much of the nomination hearing focused on immigration enforcement, Mullin was asked multiple times about the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Trump early in his second term suggested his administration could “get rid of” FEMA. Noem took to saying FEMA “should be eliminated as it exists today.” A FEMA Review Council draft report, which suggests major changes and staffing cuts at FEMA, has been delayed since December.
Over the last year, FEMA has lost thousands of staff. Further potential cuts are on hold due to an ongoing court case.
“I think it needs to be restructured, not eliminated,” Mullin said when asked about his approach to FEMA.
However, Mullin did not rule out further FEMA staffing cuts when pressed on the issue.
“I’m pretty sure that you guys set the policies and the mission for FEMA,” Mullin added later. “So for any serious changes, it may take actual policy changes, and I will be in your office talking to you.”
Mullin also agreed that FEMA should have a permanent, Senate-confirmed administrator. Trump has not yet nominated a FEMA administrator. The agency has been led by a series of acting leaders since last January.
“We are already looking at some” candidates for FEMA administrator, Mullin said.
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Kim also raised the issue of FEMA staff who were put on administrative leave after signing the so-called “Katrina Declaration,” a public letter that warned changes under the Trump administration are making FEMA less ready to handle a major disaster.
Kim asked if Mullin would adhere to whistleblower laws and ensure that employees don’t face retaliation for protected disclosures.
“There’s already laws in place to protect whistleblowers, and I’ve said multiple times I’ll work within the law and the requirements of me as secretary,” Mullin responded.
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