Senator Markwayne Mullin’s Lack of Qualifications for Leading DHS and Its Nine Agencies, Including a Weakened FEMA
On March 18, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee is set to conduct a confirmation hearing for Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, who has been chosen by President Trump as the nominee for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A vote is expected the following day, and by all accounts, he is likely to be confirmed despite being uniquely unqualified to manage the third-largest federal department, which includes a workforce of half a million employees, nine agencies such as ICE, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, and a budget of approximately $100 billion.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) strongly opposes Senator Mullin’s nomination and urges committee members to rigorously assess his qualifications and vote no on Thursday.
If confirmed, Senator Mullin would join what has been described as an unqualified cabinet under President Trump. He is anticipated to continue the same detrimental leadership as his predecessor, Kristi Noem, who was dismissed and has been labeled “the worst DHS Secretary since the agency was established.” Under Secretary Noem, harsh and deadly immigration policies were instituted, and she advocated for dismantling FEMA, leaving the agency in chaos. This is a scenario we cannot afford to repeat.
It is crucial for senators to thoroughly evaluate Senator Mullin’s qualifications for leading DHS and to scrutinize him about the adverse impact of his predecessor’s destructive policies.
Senator Mullin’s Lack of Qualifications for Leading DHS
Senator Mullin represented Eastern Oklahoma in the US House of Representatives from 2013 until 2023 when he was elected to the US Senate. He has minimal professional experience qualifying him to be Secretary of DHS, and it is unlikely he would manage the department in a manner benefiting the public. He lacks experience in national security, immigration policy, or emergency management and does not serve on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
Key Questions Senators Should Pose to Senator Mullin
There are numerous questions to ask Senator Mullin, especially about severe, inhumane, unconstitutional actions by ICE. As a senior climate resilience policy analyst focused on safeguarding communities from climate-related risks, I am particularly concerned about how he would manage FEMA’s disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
Last year witnessed 23 separate billion-dollar extreme weather and climate-related disasters. Recent reports indicate that global warming is accelerating, manifesting as more frequent and severe flooding, extreme heat, and wildfires. Secretary Noem is leaving FEMA unprepared for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane season starting in June.
Here are the questions I hope members of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will ask Senator Mullin, reflecting my top concerns regarding FEMA:
Will you continue to pursue President Trump and former Secretary Noem’s goal to dismantle FEMA, or will you implement necessary measures to ensure FEMA fulfills its vital role and functions?
One year ago, former Secretary Noem advocated for FEMA to be eliminated and later suggested dismantling the agency. Noem significantly achieved this by reducing staff by 20%, depleting expertise at FEMA headquarters, and planning 41% cuts in the CORE team, resulting in bottlenecks in spending approvals and delays in disaster assistance, creating a hostile environment. Based on Senator Mullin’s record, I am doubtful he will defend FEMA against President Trump’s attacks on the agency.
The Union of Concerned Scientists submitted comments to the FEMA review council suggesting five key reform areas the council should consider, including: 1) Strengthening FEMA and its internal systems; 2) Enhancing FEMA’s disaster response and recovery role; 3) Restoring resilience programs; 4) Advocating for modernization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program; and 5) Restoring climate and equity considerations to all FEMA standards, programs, and guidance. Strengthening FEMA requires hiring and rehiring staff, elevating FEMA to a cabinet-level agency and appointing a qualified FEMA administrator.
If confirmed, Senator Mullin’s first action must be to revoke former Secretary Noem’s requirement to review expenditures over $100,000, a measure unpopular with members across the aisle who wish to expedite funding allocations to aid community recovery and resilience efforts.
Unfortunately, this will not necessarily alter current policies requiring state and local governments to shoulder more disaster response and recovery costs. This could result in fewer disaster declarations, negatively impacting states and local governments with the least resources and those facing consecutive disasters. The effects of such policies could be widespread, but historically disadvantaged communities, rural areas, people with disabilities, and the elderly would suffer most.
FEMA has hindered Congress’ oversight duties by failing to respond to congressional information requests. Will you ensure transparent and prompt responses to congressional oversight of DHS and FEMA?
Earlier this month, Senator Welch co-authored a letter to the DHS inspector general (IG) with four other Senators requesting the IG investigate all complaints against FEMA. The letter highlights how FEMA whistleblowers have faced retaliation and the absence of a Senate-confirmed FEMA administrator is “fueling widespread employee uncertainty and policy whiplash.” Last summer, widespread concerns led former and current FEMA staff to sign a letter to Congress titled the Katrina Declaration, raising alarms that many safeguards established by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 were not being upheld.
How will you manage political standoffs like the current DHS budget impasse given the urgent need to fund FEMA and other agencies as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches?
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is running low and embroiled in a DHS-specific shutdown. Typically, FEMA can weather these funding fluctuations, but these are not normal times. The Trump administration has delayed and denied disaster assistance as communities continue recovering from the record 2024 wildfires and hurricanes. With the Atlantic Hurricane season nearing, it is crucial to protect FEMA’s mission, ensuring concerns over FEMA funding do not justify continued DHS funding without significant reform. The DHS budget conflict and issues with former Secretary Noem highlight why FEMA should be re-established as an independent, cabinet-level agency and underscore the overdue need for the president to appoint a FEMA administrator with the necessary emergency management qualifications.
Will you oppose President Trump’s unlawful federal grant cancellations, withholding and delaying FEMA disaster assistance, and continued use of FEMA and other DHS resources to support mass deportations, or withholding them to penalize states and localities that refuse to participate without due process?
The federal watchdog, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that former Secretary Noem violated the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) by withholding or delaying FEMA program funding, including the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the Shelter and Services Program, and the Next Generation Warning System Grants Program.
The Trump administration’s illegal cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program was ordered reinstated for a second time by US District Court Judge Stearns. The administration also rescinded the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which ensured federally funded projects would withstand future flooding, saving taxpayer dollars.
Denials and delays in disaster declaration approvals and cost-sharing with the federal government have created uncertainty in local and state government budget planning, as these officials already face impacts from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed last July.
It is a Catch-22 when states and local governments need to invest in climate adaptation to become more resilient to climate change; however, much of the funding they rely on comes from the federal government. Last year, President Trump issued an executive order shifting the disaster response and recovery burden onto states and local governments. Most state and local governments lack the resources to invest in adequate resilience levels.
Close oversight of the acting FEMA administrator and the new DHS secretary is needed to ensure essential funding in the Disaster Recovery Fund is not diverted to other accounts, as has previously occurred under this administration.
With the accelerating impacts of fossil-fueled climate change, DHS requires a qualified and steady hand at the helm
Congress must ensure the March 18 confirmation hearing is not superficial. Senator Markwayne Mullin lacks the qualifications to lead homeland security, let alone FEMA.
As extreme weather and disasters increasingly impact daily life, communities nationwide need a qualified and steady leader at DHS.
Senator Mullin has pledged to listen to colleagues on both sides of the aisle; however, his actions to date have shown his allegiance to President Trump, which does not bode well for disaster victims awaiting assistance, DHS agency staff not being paid during the budget shutdown, or communities harmed by ICE.
The Union of Concerned Scientists strongly opposes Senator Mullin as the DHS nominee and urges members of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee to vote NO on this nomination.
