U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is reportedly facing growing tensions and annoyance from Trump administration officials just four months into his tenure, according to an NBC News report. Sources cited by the outlet include a senior administration official and a senior figure within Homeland Security.
Mullin's initial misstep, according to the report, was pausing vehicle stops by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers following two fatal shootings. President Donald Trump publicly reversed this decision, stating on his Truth Social platform that the traffic stop is a critical crime-fighting tool that would not be abandoned under his watch.
"We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands," Trump wrote. "The Radical Left Democrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen under my watch."
An administration source told NBC News that Mullin approved the pause without White House approval, deeming it a "100%" bad decision. The president indicated his awareness of the situation through his social media post the day after multiple media outlets reported on the ICE pause.
Further complicating Mullin's early tenure, he reportedly stated in a CNN interview that 350,000 immigrants from Haiti and Syria could be eligible for legal status in the U.S. This statement came after the Supreme Court had ruled against temporary protected status for immigrants from those specific countries, a comment a senior DHS official described as "annoying" to some within the administration.
Mullin also drew criticism for reportedly advocating for Lance Schroyer to be appointed ICE director. Some within the administration, including border czar Tom Homan, expressed concerns that Schroyer, a former incident commander at the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, lacks adequate experience for the role.
Mullin assumed the role of DHS Secretary in March, replacing Kristi Noem, whose time in office was marked by scandals. Despite the reported internal friction in his first four months, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that Mullin is focused on implementing the president's immigration enforcement agenda and will continue to enforce federal immigration law effectively.