Overview

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who took control of DHS on March 24, 2026 (replacing fired Kristi Noem), ordered a pause on warehouse conversion plans for the Salt Lake City facility and 10 others scattered across the country, pending a review of all Noem-era contracts.

Key Details

• New contract threshold: All contracts exceeding $25 million now require DHS deputy secretary approval
• Scope: Reviewing all contracts signed under Noem
• 11 warehouse conversions paused (including SLC)
• No purchases reversed as of early April 2026
• No money returned to the government
• Warehouse purchases already made are also being scrutinized

Context

The pause came after:

• Significant pushback from local leaders and even some Republican lawmakers concerned about community infrastructure strain
• The DHS Inspector General launching a formal investigation into Noem-era contracts (March 26)
• Lewandowski pay-to-play allegations surfacing through NBC News
• Noem’s ouster — contract handling was “one of the main catalysts”
• $364 million in documented overpayments across 7 properties

What It Does NOT Address

• The structural WEXMAC-TITUS bypass that enabled the overpayments
• The 33 administration members with Blue Owl investments
• The $2B+ diverted from military families
• Whether independent appraisals were ever obtained
• The NDAs with local officials

Sources

• PBS: DHS pauses warehouse purchases
• WaPo: DHS pauses warehouse purchases amid Noem-era contract review
• CNN: Mullin making policy changes at DHS