Snarled airports and frozen funding test the new DHS secretary

The Economist
26 Mar 2026

“My goal in six months is that we’re not in the lead story every single day.” Markwayne Mullin, confirmed as boss of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 23rd, wants to soften its image. Over the past year it has become the spearhead of Donald Trump’s mass-deportation campaign. Its officers have killed two American citizens and, critics say, beaten up many more. Mr Mullin, a former senator, suggests  US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should act more like a “transport” service than a front-line force. He agrees that agents should obtain judicial warrants before entering private property, and has described the administration’s fight with unco-operative cities as a “misunderstanding”.

His first test, however, is more mundane. For over a month Democrats have refused to fund the DHS unless the bill includes new restrictions on ICE officers. Many of the department’s staff are deemed essential and therefore required to keep working without pay. That has caused hardship and resentment. More than 450 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit during the standoff. On March 23rd nearly 11% of TSA officers called in sick, says the department, leading to hours-long queues at airports...

Snarled airports and frozen funding test the new DHS secretary - The Economist - 26 Mar 2026