WATCH LIVE: Mullin returns to testify on DHS budget before House committee

By — Rebecca Santana, Associated Press Rebecca Santana, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-mullin-returns-to-testify-on-dhs-budget-before-house-committee Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Mullin returns to testify on DHS budget before House committee Politics Jun 3, 2026 9:32 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats hammered Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Tuesday during a heated Senate hearing, calling his threats to pull officers from some airports in so-called sanctuary cities "insane" and accusing his department of recklessly spending billions of dollars. Mullin is scheduled to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. In his confirmation hearing earlier this year, Mullin portrayed himself as a steadying hand for the Department of Homeland Security after multiple controversies roiled his predecessor's tenure. But on Tuesday, Democrats expressed deep skepticism of his ability to change the department, specifically its approach to immigration enforcement and its commitment to the rule of law. WATCH: Senate Democrats challenge Mullin over Homeland Security policies "I want to be very clear, Secretary Mullin, I'm watching closely to see what steps you now take as the new DHS secretary," said Washington Sen. Patty Murray. "Even now, we are seeing some outrageous proposals." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Mullin, who just a few months ago was a senator alongside those criticizing him, defended himself, calling the attacks "outlandish" and "just flat wrong." Watch Mullin's testimony from Tuesday below. Mullin's appearance at the appropriations subcommittee on homeland security comes as the Senate is weighing legislation that would fund immigration enforcement agencies through the end of President Donald Trump's term in a maneuver that would bypass the need for support from Democrats, who have demanded restraints before agreeing to fund the agencies. READ MORE: Travel industry worries after Trump administration reiterates threat to sanctuary city airports The attempt to fund those two agencies for the long term has been stalled over separate Republican opposition to a $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted, a plan that was suspended on Tuesday. Criticism over Mullin's CBP airport threat Murray cited Mullin's threats to pull U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in states that the Trump administration deems "sanctuary cities," meaning they don't cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "Your plan to withdraw CBP officers from airports in cities that don't roll over for Trump, that is insane," Murray said. "It would also spell economic crisis for blue and red states." Mullin