What Just Changed
Secretary Markwayne Mullin rescinded the memo that forced every DHS contract above $100,000 to sit on his desk for personal approval. The department announced the reversal Wednesday, ending a bottleneck that had delayed 1,034 FEMA disaster awards as of September 8, 2025. Contracts will now flow through component heads; only deals above $25 million still reach the secretary.
The Paper Avalanche
Noem's policy yanked purchasing authority away from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FEMA, and every other DHS arm. Acquisition officers warned from day one that inserting a Cabinet member into thousands of routine buys would paralyze operations. Their fears materialized: the average request sat three weeks before signature, stalling housing inspections, crisis counseling, and aid tied to major events such as the July 2025 Texas floods and Hurricane Helene.
Mullin's First Swing
Mullin, sworn in last week, telegraphed the move during his confirmation hearing. "I'm not a micromanager," he told senators, adding he would "empower" agency heads within clear spending limits. The former Oklahoma senator and plumbing-company owner said he wants "very responsible" stewardship of taxpayer money without turning the secretary's office into a procurement desk.
Warehouse Freeze Still On
While the contract-approval rule is gone, Mullin is keeping the brakes on Noem's $38.3 billion plan to buy 24 immigration-detention warehouses for 92,000 beds. Eleven sites have already cost $1.074 billion in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. A senior DHS official said all existing warehouse purchases are under review; new buys are paused.
The sources also report that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a DHS agency, has started reevaluating plans to convert warehouses into detention facilities for people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
Local Fallout
Communities learned ICE had bought or leased local properties only after deeds were signed; lawsuits are pending in three states. Surprise, Arizona, discovered its planned 1,500-bed facility will now top out at 542 beds because local sewer and water systems cannot handle the load. Mayors, county commissioners, and governors—some Trump supporters—have publicly objected to the lack of consultation.
What Stays the Same
The shutdown fight over DHS funding continues. Democrats have refused full appropriations unless the administration bars federal agents from wearing masks during operations. TSA officers remain unpaid, though CBP and ICE personnel are shielded by billions they received through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
For example, Secretary Mullin inherited a plan to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds by acquiring eight large-scale detention centers, each capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees.