On March 19th, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security by a vote of 8-7, with Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and John Fetterman (D-PA) each crossing party lines to vote no and yes, respectively. During his nomination hearing the day before, Mullin pledged to revoke a policy put in place by outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem that required the Secretary of Homeland Security to personally approve any contracts or grant awards exceeding $100,000. Mullin characterized the policy as excessive micromanagement, stating that he prefers to empower his people to make decisions while still being responsible with taxpayer dollars.
This particular policy drew bipartisan criticism for creating significant delays in disaster relief funding. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) cited that over 1,000 FEMA contracts, grants, and disaster assistance awards were delayed as a result of the policy. On the broader question of FEMA’s future, Senator Mullin told senators that he supports restructuring the agency rather than eliminating it, and he committed to working with lawmakers on any recommended management changes. A FEMA Review Council report on overhauling the agency was pushed from December 2025 to March 25, 2026, though that timeline may shift further due to the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.