DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defends budget, faces Senate grilling over airport processing and immigration

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to defend the department’s $71.7 billion budget request. Lawmakers pressed him on immigration enforcement, a proposed $1.8 billion settlement fund for Trump allies, and a disputed claim that he had overseen new training standards for DHS agents.

Mullin also addressed growing tensions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where protesters have clashed with federal agents. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered state police to take control of the area, and Mullin said he had a contingency plan to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from Newark Liberty International Airport to assist security there. He later said the plan was not needed because of cooperation with local law‑enforcement.

The secretary warned that he could halt international flight and cargo processing at Newark and at other so‑called sanctuary‑city airports if security cooperation faltered. Airline and travel groups warned that such a move could cost the U.S. economy more than $70 billion and strand millions of passengers, especially as the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, draws millions of visitors.

Democratic senators denounced Mullin’s airport‑withdrawal threat as “insane” and questioned his ability to manage the department after the controversies of his predecessor, Kristi Noem. Mullin is slated to testify before a House committee on the department’s budget later in the week.