Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on June 2 and the House Committee on Homeland Security on June 3. He submitted identical prepared testimony to both chambers. The following is a factual account of what that testimony said about TSA and what happened during the hearings.
What the Prepared Testimony Says
The budget section of Mullin's prepared testimony contains this sentence:
Those are the administration's words, submitted under oath to both chambers of Congress.
The testimony goes on to describe a legislative proposal that would move all Category III and IV airports into the Screening Partnership Program. It describes TSA's direction as emphasizing oversight, risk-based policy, and technology deployment. Key initiatives listed include enabling real-time data sharing through cloud-based connectivity and enhancing privatized screening programs.
The testimony describes a legislative proposal that would move all Category III and IV airports into the Screening Partnership Program. It describes TSA's direction as emphasizing oversight, risk-based policy, and technology deployment. Key initiatives listed include enabling real-time data sharing through cloud-based connectivity and enhancing privatized screening programs.
What Was Said During the Hearings
When asked about TSA modernization and the SAFEGUARDS Act during the House hearing, Mullin stated:
Deputy Secretary Edgar added:
What Happened During the Hearings
The hearings were dominated by questions about immigration enforcement, detention conditions, and border security. The exchange most likely to be remembered occurred at the House hearing when Secretary Mullin challenged a member of Congress to a physical confrontation on the record after a line of questioning about his conduct at a Senate protest. Chairman Garbarino intervened. Mullin did not back down.
What This Posture Means for TSA Officers
When members of Congress pressed Mullin on whether DHS would comply with federal court orders, he declined to give a direct answer. He said courts are politicized and that DHS enforces the law as it sees it.The TSA collective bargaining agreement currently exists under a federal court injunction. A bench trial is scheduled for September 2026.
What This Means for the Record
Against Giants has been documenting the procurement and policy architecture behind TSA privatization since August 2025. The Secretary's prepared testimony to both chambers confirms what the procurement record established months ago. The program is no longer being developed quietly. It is being described in budget documents submitted to Congress as a current administration priority.
Officers at Category III and IV airports are the primary workforce affected by the SPP expansion proposal. Officers at larger airports are the primary workforce affected by Gold+. Both tracks are active simultaneously.