Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Homeland Safety secretary, testifies earlier than a Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 18, 2026.
Evan Vucci | Reuters
The Senate on Monday confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to steer the Division of Homeland Safety.
The Oklahoma Republican was chosen by President Donald Trump earlier this month to interchange Kristi Noem, who attracted a flurry of scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans alike for her management of the division and her use of taxpayer {dollars}.
The Senate voted 54-45 to verify Mullin.
“My purpose in six months is that we’re not the lead story each single day. My purpose is for individuals to grasp we’re on the market, we’re defending them and we’re working with them,” Mullin mentioned final week at his affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Two Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico — voted with most Senate Republicans in favor of Mullin’s appointment. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who publicly feuded with Mullin at his affirmation listening to, was the lone Republican to vote no.
Mullin now takes over a DHS that is shut down as Democrats proceed to withhold assist for a funding bundle over considerations about immigration enforcement insurance policies. Trump, in the meantime, is attempting to jam by means of an unrelated voter-ID invoice and has advised Republicans to carry off on a DHS funding take care of Democrats till the SAVE America Act is handed.
Funding lapsed for the company in February, the month after federal immigration brokers in Minneapolis killed two U.S. residents throughout an enforcement surge.
Mullin is usually well-regarded by his Senate colleagues on each side of the aisle, and at his affirmation listening to he signaled he was open to shifting the route of the company.
He advised the panel he would require immigration brokers to acquire judicial warrants to enter personal property and mentioned he want to see ICE turn into a “transport greater than the entrance line” in immigration enforcement.
“That is going to shock some individuals, however I take into account Markwayne Mullin a buddy. We’ve a really trustworthy and constructive working relationship,” Heinrich mentioned in an announcement on Sunday after supporting Mullin in a procedural vote.
“I’ve additionally seen firsthand that Markwayne isn’t somebody who can merely be bullied into altering his views, and I sit up for having a secretary who would not take their orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich continued, referring to the White Home deputy chief of employees and homeland safety advisor, whom Democrats say referred to as the pictures throughout Noem’s tenure.
Regardless of the cross-party camaraderie, many Democrats on the Senate panel pressed Mullin on his shut ties to Trump, his hard-line stances on immigration and a visit he mentioned he took overseas whereas a member of the Home that he mentioned was “categorized.”
Mullin additionally received in a spat with the committee chair Paul, whom the Trump nominee not too long ago referred to as a “freaking snake.” Earlier than incomes the DHS nomination, Mullin additionally reportedly mentioned he may “perceive” why Paul’s neighbor assaulted the Kentucky Republican in 2017.
Mullin didn’t apologize when confronted by Paul within the listening to room.
“I simply surprise if somebody who applauds violence in opposition to their political opponents is the suitable particular person to steer an company that has struggled to just accept limits to the correct use of power,” Paul mentioned.
