Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin is preparing to take the helm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the agency grapples with a deepening staffing crisis and an ongoing government shutdown.
President Donald Trump announced on 5 March 2026 that Mullin will replace outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem, effective 31 March 2026. The transition comes as internal data shows that 305 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees separated from the agency between 14 February and 9 March, driven by financial strain from working without pay, CBS News reported. With nearly 50,000 screeners currently essential but unpaid, the structural integrity of US aviation security is facing its most significant challenge since the 2024 funding lapse.
