The Trump administration has canceled most pending Department of Homeland Security contracts approved during former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's tenure, according to current Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Testifying before Congress this week, Mullin said DHS reviewed contracts that had not yet been finalized and decided to terminate the majority of them.
"We did go through and cancel most of those," Mullin told lawmakers.
The move follows months of controversy over spending and procurement decisions made under Noem, including a reported $220 million border security advertising campaign that prominently featured the former secretary.
The contract review could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, but it may also delay projects involving immigration detention facilities, technology upgrades, consulting services, and operational support as contracts are rebid or restructured.
Mullin also announced that DHS will restore the traditional 72-day training program for ICE recruits beginning July 1, reversing a shortened training schedule that had been implemented to speed up hiring.
At the same time, DHS Inspector General investigations into several Noem-era contracts remain ongoing. According to reports, more than $9 billion in DHS business was awarded through less-than-fully competitive contracting methods during her tenure.
The administration has also reversed a policy that required the secretary's personal approval for contracts above $100,000, a rule critics said created delays in disaster relief, border security projects, and FEMA operations.
