Homeland Security Unveils New Seal: What Has Changed

The Department of Homeland Security is making a subtle yet significant change to its official seal, replacing an eagle facing an olive branch with one looking towards a bundle of arrows. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the redesign, describing the Department as "at war every single day" against a range of threats such as terrorism, drug cartels, cyberattacks, and drones.

Although the overall design of the seal will remain familiar, this adjustment carries added significance as it is intended to convey a message ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The redesign centers on the eagle, which in the updated design will face the arrows instead of the olive branch. The rest of the emblem, including the shield representing the nation's air, land, and sea domains and the stars symbolizing the organizations combined when DHS was created, is expected to remain largely unchanged.

The redesign is more symbolic than structural, intended to reflect the department's modern mission and security environment. Mullin argued that DHS must adapt to a variety of threats, including terrorism, organized crime, cyberattacks, drone incursions, and other emerging risks. The change comes as the department prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which led to the creation of DHS.