Five things to watch as Mullin takes helm of DHS

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▪ Mullin’s priorities at DHS

▪ Iran bolstering defenses

▪ Landmark ruling against Meta, YouTube

▪ Democratic lawmaker’s ethics hearing

Markwayne Mullin is hoping to turn the page at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now that he’s officially installed as its secretary, but he faces significant hurdles in the midst of a partisan battle over funding and reforms.

Taking leadership of the third largest federal department in the government, Mullin started his tenure earlier this week with no clear way out of a DHS shutdown now in Day 41. The department’s employees have gone without pay for more than a month, airport lines keep growing and immigration enforcement remains a political liability for the GOP.

All eyes will now be on Mullin, and how his approach to the role differs from that of his predecessor, Kristi Noem.

Here are five things to watch as the former senator settles into his new post.

Handling the shutdown

Just as Mullin was set to be confirmed by the Senate, arguably the most promising deal on the table to end the shutdown was gaining momentum.

With support from President Trump and Senate Republicans, the proposal seemed to have a chance of passing before lawmakers were scheduled to head out of town at the end of the week. But that was quickly snuffed out as Democrats and conservative Republicans came out against it.

Mullin already started taking a role in negotiations, as he was present at the Monday evening meeting in which Senate Republicans convinced Trump to back the proposal.

Though that deal fell through, Mullin remains in a prime position to play dealmaker as key member of the administration with strong relationships with many of his former colleagues in the Senate.

“My first priority is to end the partisan fighting and reopen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a matter of national security,” Mullin said in a post on the social platform X.

The deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at more than a dozen airports has added more tension to the standoff, with Democrats slamming the agency’s expanded use.

ICE has been sent to assist badly understaffed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who are increasingly dealing with their coworkers calling out and long wait times for travelers. Officials have said ICE officers won’t be involved in security screenings themselves, but their deployment hasn’t sat well with Democrats who don’t trust the agency and are demanding changes to its operations.

Trump praised ICE in a Wednesday post on Truth Social, writing,  “The Public is loving ICE, so the Democrats, unwittingly, did us a favor.”

If White House border czar Tom Homan’s prediction of protests at airports against ICE comes true, Mullin could face an early and telling test of his philosophy leading DHS.

Relations with Tom Homan

Having a strong relationship with Homan may be crucial to Mullin’s success, as his predecessor’s poor relations with the border czar seem to have contributed to her rocky final weeks.

Homan has been a key figure in efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and battle illegal immigration. While a hard-liner on immigration, Homan seems to be a more pragmatic force than top Trump adviser Stephen Miller and retiring Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino.

The rapport between Homan and Noem declined so much throughout the past year that the two reportedly barely spoke by the end of 2025.

“[Noem] and Tom don’t get along,” the president told an adviser, Axios reported in December.

A key moment came earlier this year when Homan was brought in to oversee the situation in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration enforcement agents. That came after widespread pushback against Noem’s oversight and characterization of the incidents, which were ultimately viewed as the beginning of the end of her tenure.

Mullin’s confirmation hearing saw the then-senator face tough questions from both sides of the aisle, particularly Democrats who wanted him to commit to significant policy changes from Noem.

Mullin’s responses ultimately disappointed many of his former colleagues hoping for comprehensive change at the agency. But he did agree to change some controversial practices.

He said he would end Noem’s oft-criticized policy of reviewing all Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expenses of more than $100,000, which was blamed for holding up billions of dollars in emergency assistance. He also seemed to support the idea that ICE officers need judicial warrants to arrest and deport someone rather than DHS-issued administrative warrants that have sometimes been used.

Still, Mullin has been known as a strong supporter of Trump’s immigration polices, and the president made clear he expects that to continue at Mullin’s swearing-in ceremony.

“He has been a close and vital partner in helping us secure the border, stop migrant crime, end the scourge of illegal drugs and make America safe again and make America great again,” he said of Mullin.

Managing public relations

Even if Mullin’s leadership doesn’t ultimately bring many policy changes, Republicans are widely eager for a new face to lead the department after the controversies that surrounded Noem her tenure.

Noem’s most recent public controversy before Trump ousted her was her defense of comments that she made accusing Good and Pretti of trying to commit “domestic terrorism,” despite video evidence showing they weren’t attacking officers before being shot.

She also faced backlash from across the aisle for controversial decisions including the more than $200 million spent on ads that critics said were mostly focused on self-promotion.

Mullin has said his goal is for DHS to no longer make front-page news and pursue its mission without drama. If he can follow through, that will be welcome relief for Republicans in a mid-term year.

▪ The Hill: Dems worry about centrists breaking on DHS shutdown.

▪ The Hill: Second GOP-only bill faces new flash points.

Smart Take with Blake Burman

TSA agents are just a day away from missing another paycheck as long lines persist at major airports across the country. In a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the head of TSA warned lawmakers that the current shutdown could result in a “dire situation” for travelers during this summer’s FIFA World Cup. I asked acting TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl how that could be the case.

“We saw a 25 percent uptick in attrition immediately following that first shutdown,” Stahl told me. “Folks that are possibly in the pipeline, or they’re considering going and joining the workforce, will be dissuaded because of the lack of job security,” he added.

Lawmakers are scrambling to reach an agreement before their scheduled two-week recess starts this weekend. Absent a deal to fund TSA, airport security lines could continue to plague millions of travelers through Easter weekend, but the impact of this funding fight could have long-term consequences as well.

Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation.

3 Things to Know Today

The Trump administration’s top housing official has issued two new criminal referrals for New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), CNN reported. The attempts at reviving the criminal case against her come months after an indictment was tossed out in Virginia.

The Department of Justice has agreed to pay former national security adviser Michael Flynn $1.25 million as part of a settlement over his allegations that he was wrongfully prosecuted, The New York Times reported. Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to mislead investigators about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador.

An Isreali airstrike targeted Alireza Tangsiri, the Iranian commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy who has been a key figure in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli officials told The New York Times.

Pro-government supporters chant slogans and wave Iranian flags during a rally, in a square in western Tehran, Iran, March 25, 2026. (Vahid Salemi, Associated Press)

FORTIFYING DEFENSES: Iran is reportedly ramping up its defenses of Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf in anticipation of a possible U.S. invasion as indirect talks between the two sides appear to off to a rough start.

CNN reported Wednesday that Tehran has been planting traps and moving additional military personnel and air defenses to Kharg Island in recent weeks. That includes shoulder-fired, surface-to-air guided missile defense systems, multiple people familiar with U.S. intelligence told the outlet.

That raises the risks to U.S. personnel should Trump decide to deploy boots on the ground to seize the strategic oil export hub, in a bid to force Iran to meet American demands to end the war.

Iran rejected an initial 15-point ceasefire proposal from the U.S. on Wednesday and offered its own counterproposal, laying out five main conditions required for the war to come to an end.

The conditions include an end to the acts of “aggression,” ensuring the war won’t recur, a payment of damages and reparations, the end of the war on all fronts involving all resistance groups and Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Discussions in some form appear to be taking place after weeks of no dialogue, but the extent of them remains unclear. The Hill’s Niall Stanage reports Iran has sent a clear message of defiance in the past 24 hours, complicating Trump’s apparent efforts to find an off-ramp out of the war.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night that Trump has told aides he is anxious to wrap up the war in the coming weeks. At the same time, the Pentagon this week sent 2,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East for a potential ground operation.

Trump said Wednesday at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraising dinner that he avoids using the word “war” to describe the conflict in Iran.

“I won’t use the word ‘war’ because they say if you use the word ‘war,’ that’s maybe not a good thing to do,” he told the GOP lawmakers in attendance.

Iranian leaders are also signaling they no longer want to negotiate with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, viewing them as “backstabbing” and unserious about ending the conflict. Instead, they are hoping to work with Vice President Vance, who is seen as more skeptical of the war.

▪ The Hill: Lawmakers want answers as troops sent toward Iran.

▪ The Hill: Iran war threatens chip supply chain.

PLATFORMS LIABLE: A jury found the social media giants Meta and YouTube liable for negligence Wednesday over children’s safety online in a landmark trial.

The case in Los Angeles Superior Court is a consolidation of thousands of lawsuits that individuals, school districts and states have brought against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and YouTube, owned by Google.

The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro reports the ruling marks a major blow against social media companies, with potential implications for hundreds of similar lawsuits against technology companies across the country.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a 20-year-old identified as K.G.M., who alleged she became addicted to social media platforms after starting to use them as a kid. Lawyers for the plaintiff said her social media use caused her to develop worsening depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and suicidality.

Jurors deliberated for more than 40 hours, capping a trial that lasted nearly two months. Ten of the jurors voted in favor of the plaintiffs on all seven counts, while two backed the defense.

The jury ultimately found Meta and Google were negligent in the design or operation of Instagram and YouTube, respectively, and this was a “substantial” factor in harming the plaintiff. They found the companies knew or should have known of the dangers, that their products would likely be used by minors and that they failed to adequately warn of the dangers.

The jury ordered the companies to pay $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta is expected to pay 70 percent of that, and YouTube is expected to cover 30 percent. The total penalty could grow.

“For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said in a statement Wednesday. “Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived.”

A Meta spokesperson said the company “respectfully disagrees” with the verdict and is evaluating its options. A Google spokesperson reportedly said the company plans to appeal, arguing that YouTube is a streaming platform and not a social media site.

The ruling came just a day after a jury found Meta liable in a separate case in New Mexico, ordering it to pay $375 million for compromising children’s online safety.

▪ CNBC: New Mexico seeking changes to Meta’s platform.

▪ The Hill: OpenAI shutting down video generator.

FIRST IN THE HILL: Two Democratic lawmakers are introducing legislation to prevent the Trump administration from using funds for military action against Cuba without authorization from Congress.

The Hill’s Laura Kelly reports Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) introduced the bill, which provides an exception for the president to use force if there is an imminent threat.

The bill’s introduction comes as Trump has openly mused about wanting to “take” Cuba. The U.S. and Cuban governments have been engaged in talks, but hard-line conservative lawmakers have been pushing for the administration to overthrow the regime.

Read more from Kelly’s reporting here.

▪ The Hill: Venezuelan, Cuban hard-liners call for regime change.

INSULIN DEAL: A bipartisan group of senators have reached a deal to place a cap on the cost of insulin for people using private insurance at $35 per month.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John Kennedy (R-La.) on Wednesday introduced the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act, which would waive deductibles and limit cost sharing to $35 or 25 percent of the list price every month for people with diabetes.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which former President Biden signed into law in 2023, included a $35 monthly cap on insulin for Medicare Part D enrollees, and it was later expanded to include Part B enrollees.

The Hill’s Joseph Choi noted these moves, along with voluntary price cuts from insulin manufacturers, have been credited with lowering the cost of the drug in recent years.

But placing a cap on the cost for those with private insurance would potentially lower it even more. If signed into law, the legislation would go into effect in 2027.

▪ The Hill: Group floats ‘Medicare by Choice’ as Dem health care alternative.

The president will participate in executive time at 8 a.m. He will participate in a Cabinet meeting at 10 a.m. He will deliver remarks at a Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House at 4 p.m. and participate in signing time at 5:45 p.m.

The House will convene at 10 a.m.

The Senate will meet at noon.

Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick listens during a rally in support of the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants before it expires on February 3, Jan. 28, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Lynne Sladky, Associated Press)

ETHICS PROBE: Democrats are in a tough spot as they evaluate serious charges of ethical and legal violations against one of their own members.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) has been accused of stealing $5 million from FEMA to use for her first successful run for Congress in 2021. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denounced them as politically motivated against her by Trump’s Department of Justice.

But Cherfilus-McCormick is set to face a hearing consisting of her colleagues Thursday in a rare public meeting of the House Ethics Committee. The hearing could be critical to her political future.

Democrats have mostly held off from denouncing her and calling on her to resign, arguing that she has the right to due process. They maintained that in January after the committee found “substantial reason to believe” Cherfilus-McCormick violated several laws, regulations and standards of conduct.

But The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Emily Brooks report rank-and-file Democrats are warning against House Democratic leadership’s blanket defense of her, saying it could send a message that Democrats are viewing criminal justice through a partisan lens.

Democrats strongly supported expelling former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) after the Ethics Committee found he committed campaign finance violations but before he was convicted of breaking any law. Some say the party should be willing to do the same with Cherfilus-McCormick if the facts suggest it would be appropriate.

The hearing itself will be historic, as the committee hasn’t held a public hearing to consider allegations against a member since 2010.

▪ Axios: Dems face impending dam break on Cherfilus-M

Florida State Rep.-elect Emily Gregory speaks with the Associated Press from Palm Beach, Florida, about her special election win where she flipped a district that is home to President Trump’s estate, Mar-a-Lago, March 25, 2026. (AP)

FLORIDA WARNING: Two Democratic upsets in Florida are boosting Democrats and raising more warning signs for Republicans as the midterms draw closer.

On Tuesday, Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a state House district that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with support from national groups who saw the race as a direct and symbolic rebuke of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Democrat Brian Nathan flipped a state Senate seat vacated by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R).

Both races’ results add to Democrats’ continued overperformances throughout the past year compared with their results in 2024.

The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports Republicans noted the electorate in the November general elections will be much different from special elections like Tuesday’s races, but it still should be taken as a warning for the GOP. Others brushed off the results, arguing the race saw low turnout and multiple factors were at play.

But Democrats are feeling bullish as these two seats are just the latest to flip in their favor, while Republicans haven’t flipped any state legislative seats this cycle.

▪ The Hill: Five takeaways on Dems continuing their winning streak.

▪ The Hill: Key figures who will and won’t be at CPAC.

Trump repeats the mistakes of Afghanistan: Why are we funding the enemy, again? Micah Ables writes in The Hill.

Is AI conscious? It depends what consciousness is, Stephen Hawley Martin writes in The Wall Street Journal.

Travelers wait in a TSA line, March 25, 2026, at LaGuardia Airport in New York. (Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press)

And finally … It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for the weekly news quiz!

It’s been quite a news week, so this quiz will test to see how closely you’ve been paying attention and know the background behind the week’s stories.

Be sure to email your responses to jgans@thehill.com — please add “Quiz” to your subject line. Winners who submit correct answers will receive deserved newsletter fame on Friday.

ICE officers have been deployed to various airports throughout the country to help overwhelmed TSA employees. How many airports were they sent to in the initial deployment?

Noem is the first of Trump’s second-term Cabinet members to leave their role, but replacing Cabinet heads was much more common during his first term. How many different DHS secretaries served during Trump’s first term, including those who served in an acting capacity?

The week started with Trump threatening to destroy Iran’s power plants if it didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz before he changed course after announcing talks had begun. How much time did he give Iran to comply?

The DHS shutdown will set a new record for length this weekend if lawmakers don’t reach a deal before then. As of today, how many days has there been a funding gap for some part of the federal government during Trump’s second term?

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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