DHS Secretary Touts New Contract Review Policy

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is moving to clear a backlog of delayed contracts after rescinding a policy that required his office to approve agreements worth $100,000 or more, a change he said is critical ahead of hurricane season.

“Getting rid of this backlog means prioritizing the most pressing issues forward … We have to start looking at [these contracts] and what’s on the backlog to build and move them forward so we aren’t entering hurricane season behind,” Mullin said during a visit to North Carolina last week.

Mullin’s remarks came as he met with state and local officials alongside Sen. Ted Budd to discuss disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. Budd said the new policy has already eased a “log jam” of approvals, including for the state’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

“Sec. Mullin’s been in office for two weeks, and he has already helped western North Carolina get $134 million in public assistance,” Budd said. “Our taxpayers deserve that, but eliminating waste, fraud and abuse still needs to happen. But it doesn’t always have to happen at the secretary’s desk.”

Prior policy had centralized contract approvals within the secretary’s office. Some experts said the process slowed disaster response and routine operations across the agency.

“The policy added unnecessary layers of approval for routine reimbursements and purchases, delayed contracting, and created uncertainty for FEMA and its state, local, tribal and territorial partners,” International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) USA Council President Josh Morton told GovCIO Media & Research.

According to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, more than 1,000 contracts, grants or disaster assistance awards through the Federal Emergency Management Agency were delayed or denied between July and September 2025 under the policy. The report cited lapses in a call center contract during a Texas flash flooding event and funding gaps in FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

A former DHS senior official told GovCIO Media & Research that FEMA contract approvals typically take just two to three days, but the additional review layer doubled or tripled timelines.

“Those dollars and approval needed to happen immediately, and when you have a process where you’re pulling that artificially into headquarters for the approval, you’re not going to have the agility that you need,” the official said.

Mullin had previously pledged to eliminate the requirement during his March 18 confirmation hearing, calling it “unrealistic” while emphasizing the need to balance speed with accountability.

“We will have a very clear line of communication with every one of our agency’s heads on their authority,” Mullin said at the hearing. “But we’re also going to be very responsible with taxpayer dollars.”