Kristi Noem’s replacement at Homeland Security faces a rough road ahead

Markwayne Mullin, the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has officially been sworn into office. Given the recent climate of disarray within the department, he faces numerous challenges that will require decisive and forward-thinking actions, and perhaps even pushback against the demands of an ever-growing chaos coming out of the White House.

What’s more, this must all be done with no funding in place, due to the partial government shutdown that has now dragged on since Feb. 14. The president’s executive order to pay Transportation Security Administration officers only partially alleviates the funding pressure.

There are 16 operational and support components that make up the department. The most visible include the TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all of which have senior officials “performing the duties of the administrator” — not the Senate-confirmed administrators required by law.

This leadership vacuum permitted the previous secretary, Kristi Noem, to overtake policies and strategies at these agencies, rather than rely on more experienced and competent public servants to oversee their operations.

A top priority for Mullin should be to get Senate-approved administrators in place for these agencies.  

The acting administrators may indeed be the right people. Subjecting them to a Senate-approval process provides a wealth of information on their competence, commitment to their agency’s mission and how they will fulfill their responsibilities. For the TSA, being prepared to respond to security breaches and staffing issues (as has occurred during the ongoing shutdown) demands a dedicated and experienced administrator. For ICE, such a person must be held accountable for the tactics used in Minneapolis, which have been viewed unfavorably by a majority of Americans.

The Iran war, of which most Americas disapprove, certainly has implications for homeland security. The possible presence of Iranian sleeper cells within the U.S. means that critical infrastructure may be at risk, including the power grid, data centers and air transportation. Moreover, the ease with which drones and cyberattacks can be unleashed on such targets means that their vulnerability cannot be dismissed. Recent drone attacks on Amazon Web Services data centers in the United Arab Emirates demonstrate the growing vulnerability of the digital economy to kinetic weapons. 

The FBI warnings about drone attacks in California launched by Iranian sympathizers signals elevated domestic risks. The information shared was plausible, given what is occurring in Iran. There was also no evidence that it is imminent, but things can change rapidly, and unexpectedly, which is always the case when a nation has been thrust into what some view as a “war of choice.” 

If Iran is intent on inflicting damage on American soil, it has the luxury of both surprise and time on its side. Consider how swarms of drones have attacked U.S. military bases and diplomatic assets in the Middle East — no defense systems exist that can intercept them all.

The world has become smaller and more accessible. This means that homeland security and global security are now inextricably linked, effectively making all international activities domestic, even when the activities are executed and occur thousands of miles away. The State Department’s travel advisory for all U.S. citizens when traveling internationally is an extension of such risks. 

The new homeland security secretary has his hands full. If he continues the path taken by the previous secretary, which led to Americans being killed and our constitution being ignored, he will find himself under a microscope on Capitol Hill and more broadly. Genuflecting to the president is a recipe for disaster, but failure to bend to the president’s wishes, even if they are illegal, ensures that he will be replaced like Noem and Pam Bondi.   

There is a pathway for Mullin to succeed. He need only fulfill the mission of the department, acting with honor and integrity, safeguarding the American people, and preserving American values. He will then be applauded for not only doing the right thing but also for doing it the right way. What remains to be seen is whether he has the will, courage and integrity to do so, saying “No” to the president when necessary and appropriate. 

Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He applies his expertise in data-driven risk-based decision-making to evaluate and inform public policy.

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