The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday ended a policy that required the secretary’s approval for amounts of $100,000 and above.
The elimination of the policy, which was put in place by former Secretary Kristi Noem, was first reported by CBS News. Getting rid of it is the first major decision by the new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was confirmed to lead the department in March.
“Secretary Mullin re-evaluated the contract processes to make sure DHS is serving the American taxpayer efficiently,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told NOTUS in a statement. “Today, the Secretary rescinded the $100,000 contract review memo. This will streamline the contract process and empower components to carry out their mission to protect the homeland and make America safe again.”
CBS News also reported that Mullin would continue to sign off on spending above $25 million.
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Mullin said during his confirmation hearing that he would “absolutely” end the policy, calling it “micromanaging.”
“I don’t know if the secretary put that in or someone else did. I’m not a micromanager,” Mullin said during the hearing. “We put people in. We empower them to make decisions. What is required to come in to my level, we’ll make decisions.”
During Noem’s tenure, lawmakers from both parties and Federal Emergency Management Agency employees expressed concern that the review process created delays for disaster aid, COVID-19 reimbursements and hazard mitigation grants.
July’s deadly floods in Kerr County, Texas, drew attention to the policy. FEMA employees said that the agency’s response to the floods was delayed due Noem’s approval being required.
Prior to her replacement, members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees expressed frustration with how Noem’s review policy created a bottleneck at the agency. During her last hearing before the Senate, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis blamed Noem for the agency’s declining efficiency.
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