The Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary amid government shutdown.
Why this matters
This confirmation impacts DHS leadership during an ongoing government shutdown, influencing U.S. immigration enforcement policies and operations.
The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, following President Trump’s dismissal of the previous Cabinet official. The confirmation vote was 54-45, with two Democrats supporting Mullin.
His appointment comes amid a prolonged government shutdown over immigration enforcement reforms.
Democrats and some Republicans expressed concerns over Mullin’s temperament, citing his support for an individual who attacked Rand Paul and his altercation with Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien during a Senate hearing.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne signed an agreement in Houston to redirect $928 million from offshore wind projects to natural gas initiatives. At the CERAWeek conference, Burgum stated the funds, originally tied to wind farm leases near North Carolina and New York, would now support projects like the Rio Grande LNG plant.
TotalEnergies had four gigawatts of offshore wind projects, including the New York Bight, paused due to licensing uncertainties during the Trump presidency. The Trump administration had halted five wind projects citing national security risks, a decision later reversed by federal courts. Pouyanne noted natural gas is a more affordable energy source compared to offshore wind. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies committed to a letter of intent with Glenfarne for the long-term procurement of LNG from an Alaska project.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen finalized a long-negotiated free trade agreement during talks in Canberra on March 24, 2026. The deal aims to enhance exports and operations amid growing global trade uncertainties. Von der Leyen’s visit, accompanied by Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, underscores the EU’s push to diversify trade in light of challenges presented by the United States and China.
The agreement also includes measures to enhance defense cooperation and secure critical raw materials. Addressing the Australian Parliament, von der Leyen emphasized the shared values between the EU and Australia, highlighting the necessity to reduce dependency on China for essential minerals. “We cannot be over dependent on any supplier for such crucial ingredients, and that is precisely why we need each other,” she stated.
After eight years of negotiations, key obstacles such as Australian labeling of European geographical names and beef exports to Europe were resolved. Australian winemakers can use ‘prosecco’ domestically but must cease its export use in ten years. Some geographical names like feta and gruyere will remain permissible where established usage exceeds five years.
The deal will enable European car manufacturers to benefit as Australia raises the luxury car tax threshold for electric vehicles, allowing 75% of such vehicles exemptions. The EU expects its exports to Australia to increase by a third over a decade. In exchange, the EU will significantly expand the quota for Australian beef imports but still fall short of Australian farmers’ aspirations.
In 2025, EU firms exported goods worth €37 billion ($42.9 billion) to Australia and €31 billion in services in 2024. Australia’s major export markets remain China and the U.S., but it is keen to diversify its markets post-2020 trade issues with China.
The United States and the United Kingdom are partnering to address potential threats posed by underwater drones to ports and critical infrastructures. According to a solicitation by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the countries aim to develop a comprehensive system capable of detecting and neutralizing various types of unmanned underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and semisubmersibles.
The Robotic Exclusion and Engagement Framework (REEF) project focuses on securing ports and harbors from underwater threats of different sizes and complexities, while also aiming to safeguard all U.S. critical waterways. The DIU plans to leverage off-the-shelf technologies, including sensors and artificial intelligence, to create a quick-deploy solution. The anticipated system may utilize fixed components like moored buoys and cables or mobile elements like USVs, UUVs, UAVs, and drifting buoys.
The system is expected to distinguish between hostile drones and non-threatening entities, such as marine life or commercial vessels, providing sufficient time for human decision-makers to respond effectively. It will incorporate both kinetic and nonkinetic methods for neutralization. Nonkinetic strategies may involve deployable nets or bubble curtains, while kinetic options could include acoustic energy or physical coupling devices. The DIU expressed a preference for nonkinetic solutions.
Decoys will play a significant role in the REEF initiative, using signals to mislead adversarial underwater crafts. The system should require minimal training, utilize AI for operational suggestions, and be compatible with existing U.S. command-and-control systems.
Cooperation with the U.K. will be facilitated by a 2024 Department of Commerce rule that permits the sharing of certain controlled items with Britain, allowing British businesses to benefit from export control relief.
An American-operated Patriot air defense system likely fired the missile involved in a March 9 explosion in Bahrain, a U.S. ally, according to research analyzed by Reuters. The blast injured 32 civilians and damaged homes in the Mahazza neighborhood on Sitra island, offshore of the capital Manama. Bahrain and Washington attributed the explosion to an Iranian drone attack. Initially, Central Command stated an Iranian drone struck a residential area, but Bahrain later confirmed a Patriot missile was involved. The Bahraini government said the missile intercepted the drone mid-air, avoiding direct ground impact. However, neither Bahrain nor Washington provided evidence of a drone presence.
The Middlebury Institute of International Studies concluded with moderate-to-high confidence that the suspect missile was launched from a U.S. Patriot battery located southwest of Mahazza. This assessment used open-source visuals and commercial satellite imagery. A video showed the missile on a northeastern trajectory before likely detonating mid-air, contributing to widespread damage. The analysis questioned if the explosion was due to a drone interception or a malfunction in the missile itself.
Both Bahrain and the U.S. use Patriot systems, with Bahrain deploying its own since 2024. The analysis argued the compromised intercept might have endangered civilians, though Bahrain denied any malfunction. Reuters could not confirm the presence of a drone or obtain visual evidence.
Mahazza was struck amid escalating tensions as the nearby oil refinery also came under attack. Bahrain’s role is pivotal in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil supply route.
President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in U.S. airstrikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, citing ‘very good and productive conversations’ with Tehran about resolving regional hostilities. However, Iran claims no direct or indirect talks with U.S. officials have occurred.
Over the weekend, Trump had given Iran 48 hours to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, warning of potential consequences. Despite Iran’s denial, Trump insists discussions are progressing, with ‘major points of agreement’ identified. He noted the talks involved his Middle East envoys and a ‘respected’ Iranian leader, not Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains incapacitated following recent events.
Tehran’s Fars News Agency disputes Trump’s claims, suggesting his statements indicate a withdrawal from aggressive stances. Despite the purported diplomatic efforts, tensions persist, with Iran allegedly planning retaliatory strikes on key U.S. infrastructures, and Iranian armed forces threatening the use of ‘secret weapons.’
