Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol, March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate voted Monday night to confirm Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for implementing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation program.
The 54-45 votes means Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, will take over the department during his five-week suspension. He will replace outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem, who was transferred by the president to another position in the administration.
Mullin voted for himself. Sense. Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico were the only Democrats to support Mullin’s confirmation.
Just before the Senate adjourned, Mullin resigned.
The department has been closed since mid-February, when Democrats called for restrictions on federal immigration agents after officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. On January 7, Renee Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, and on January 24, Alex Pretti was restrained and killed by Customs and Border Protection officers.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told the Senate before Monday’s vote that Mullin would start at DHS at a arduous time.
“This is a difficult task, especially since Democrats closed DHS for five weeks,” Thune said. “We all know Markwayne is not afraid of a challenge.”
Early Monday morning, Trump told reporters that Mullin would be “fantastic” as DHS secretary.
As an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin will be the first Native Secretary of the DHS.
Disabling Effects
Although DHS is closed, ICE and CBP are still fully funded because last year, the Republican-led Congress passed a separate $175 billion funding stream for immigration enforcement.
Over the weekend, Trump directed his administration to place ICE agents at several airports around the country attempting to assist Transportation Security Administration agentswho work without pay. ICE and TSA are agencies within DHS.
Mullin has no experience on the homeland security policy committee and will be tasked with running a department with 260,000 employees.
Some senators expressed concerns about Mullin’s temperament, citing a 2023 incident in which he physically challenged the witness before Congress. Mullin also expressed sympathy for the man who attacked Sen. Rand Paul, breaking six of the Kentucky Republican’s ribs and damaging a lung.
Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voted against supporting Mullin’s nomination to the Senate. Paul also voted against Mullin’s confirmation on Monday night.
The Senate advanced Mullin’s nomination by a 54-37 vote procedural voting Sunday. Two Democrats, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, joined all Republicans who voted on Sunday. Paweł did not vote on Sunday.
