DHS Secretary Announces Changes to Department Seal Reflecting Ongoing Threats

<p>Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on "The Sunday Briefing" that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is changing its seal. The current seal features an eagle holding a palm leaf in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. The new design will depict the eagle facing the arrows instead of the palm, a change Mullin stated symbolizes the department’s ongoing efforts against threats to the country.</p><p>As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Mullin remarked that the department is "at war every single day" against various threats to the United States, including Islamic terrorists and drug cartels.</p><p>Mullin explained that the direction the eagle faces is significant; looking toward the palm symbolizes peace, while facing the arrows signifies war. He connected this change to the evolving threat landscape, which includes terrorism, drug cartels, cyberattacks, drones, and violence against public officials.</p><p>Mullin identified terrorism as the leading threat to the homeland, noting that it has evolved. He stated, "It's still terrorists, but the terrorists have joined with the cartels," highlighting that fentanyl overdoses have resulted in more American deaths than the Vietnam War. He commended President Donald Trump for designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.</p><p>Mullin noted the collaboration between Islamic terrorists and Mexican cartels, stating they are utilizing resources to target the U.S. He also mentioned the emerging threat of drone attacks, indicating that the department has had to adapt its security measures to include aerial threats.</p><p>Reflecting on the upcoming campaign season, Mullin discussed the risks faced by political candidates, emphasizing the need for a peaceful discourse. He stated, "The American people have to realize that we do have a republic, and the republic has different opinions. And it's okay to have different opinions, just when you cross the line and say that that different opinion needs to be silenced, needs to be silenced through violence — that's where Homeland comes into place, that's where we're going to stop that violent act."</p><p>Mullin also addressed cyber threats, identifying actors from Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia as significant sources of cyberattacks, which occur in the hundreds of thousands weekly. He stressed the importance of agility in responding to the changing risk environment.</p><p>"Every single day, I get a briefing. Every single day we have new threats, and every single day the threats are changing," Mullin stated. "Every time we stop a threat, a terrorist act or a criminal activity that's taking place, they also change their tactics. We have to be constantly moving from cyber to sea to air and to land."</p>