The Senate voted to confirm Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin late Monday as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He will succeed former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who had led the agency since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The Senate approved Mullin in a bipartisan 54-45 vote. Every Republican with the exception of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul voted for Mullin. Democrat Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also crossed the aisle to join Republicans in confirming Mullin.
Mullin is a businessman-turned-politician who built his career in both the private sector and public service. He attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship. Before entering politics, he owned and operated Mullin Plumbing, growing it into one of the largest service companies in Oklahoma. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, where he served five terms representing Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District.
In 2022, he won election to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Native American U.S. senator from Oklahoma in over a century (Mullin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation). Throughout his congressional tenure, Mullin was known for his focus on small business issues, energy policy, and a strong conservative approach to border security and national defense.
Several prominent Republicans celebrated Mullin’s confirmation to his new role. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott stated that Mullin will be a great leader for the agency moving forward.
“Congratulations to my friend and colleague, Senator Markwayne Mullin, on his confirmation to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security!” Scott said in a Facebook post. “We’ll miss him in the Senate, but I have no doubt he’ll lead DHS with the utmost commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our nation.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also congratulated Mullin.
“Congratulations to my friend Markwayne Mullin on his bipartisan confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security,” Johnson said in a post on X. “I look forward to continuing our important work with you and President Trump to put America First — keeping our border secure, our communities safe, and our country strong. While Democrats block paychecks for law enforcement and prioritize criminal illegal aliens — Republicans are fighting to support the 260,000 American heroes who serve at DHS and protect the American people.”
Mullin will assume leadership as the agency continues to suffer from an extended shutdown. Back in February, Democrats threatened to shut down the entire federal government by weaponizing the filibuster to block a funding bill unless the Trump administration backed down from its strict enforcement of immigration law. Republicans ultimately passed a funding bill that did not include DHS, leading to the prolonged shutdown that has now stretched to 39 days.
Republicans need at least seven Democrats to join them to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold to fund DHS. But liberals are still demanding controversial ICE changes for passage, such as banning ICE agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from wearing masks and banning so-called “roving patrols.” In total, Democrats have made more than a dozen demands despite being in the minority.
The lack of funding has caused chaos in the nation’s airports. Over the course of this past weekend, Americans have waited three or more hours in major cities just to reach security checkpoints as TSA agents go unpaid and, in some cases, do not show up or simply quit. On March 17, the DHS reported that more than 360 TSA officers had left the force. The agency deployed ICE agents to airports on Monday to assist in processing people through security lines quicker as the issue escalates.
Mullin has called on his former colleagues to fund DHS as quickly as possible and embraced the challenge of leading the agency. “My goal in six months is that we’re not in the lead story every single day,” he said during his confirmation hearing. “My goal is for people to understand we’re out there. We’re protecting them, and we’re working with them. My goal is to make every one of you guys proud.”
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
I’m pinching myself. Am I to understand that the Senate actually got something done for a change?
Congratulations Mr.Mullin.
The democrats are twisting themselves into poison pretzels. They want the president to stop enforcing immigration laws, or they threaten to shut the government down, while inconveniencing thousands of passengers at airports and opening up the possibility of terrorism on the nation. If the President agreed to their foolish demands and there is a terrorist attack on our nation would the democrats then impeach the president for not enforcing the laws they demanded he not enforce? This is so twisted.
I have been impressed by Sen. Markwayne Mullin during the hearings. I hope he has a very successful tenure.
As far as I am concerned, all of this posturing by the Democrats in Congress is just an attempt to get a “do-over” after the Big Beautiful Bill passed. When will they grow up?
Congratulations to Mr. Mullin. It’s a WIN WIN. First win: he’s a no nonsense guy and will get the job done. Second win: It really ruins the day, week, month, and possibly the year for backstabbing RINO Rand Paul.
Regarding the DemoRAT government shutdown, the VERY FIRST THING that should happen whenever DAMNoRATS in CONgress shuts down the government is that ALL THEIR PAY AND BENEFITS (Salaries, Travel, BS perks, etc.), should IMMEDIATELY BE STOPPED, AND NOT TO BE REIMBURSED WHEN GOVERNMENT REOPENS.
Such COMMON SENSE actions would guarantee a very short shutdown, if any at all.
And the DAMNoRATS have NEVER shutdown the government to ‘help’ We the People. They shut it down because they love illegals, love, criminals, and hate America and law abiding citizens. They also suffer from SERIOIUS TDS.
BOTTOM LINE: THE DEMOCRATS AND ALL THE DEMOCRAT VOTERS ARE TULY AMERICA’S ENEMIES WITHIN. They have the blood on their hands from the thousands of innocent Americans murdered by illegal SCUM. Also, they are responsible for all the victims that have been raped, children molested, victims of human traffickers, victims who have died from illegal drugs brought in by illegals, arsonists setting victims on fire, and violent gang bangers beating, torturing and murdering their victims, just to name a few of these sadistic bastards.
ALL THIS EVIL HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO AMERICA BY DAMNORAT POLITICIANS, WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND SUPPORTED BY EVIL DAMNORAT VOTERS.
He is a real native American unlike Pocahontas.
Take DHS out of the Governments Control, make them a private entity with the same goals that they have now, same rules and regs., Get around the Communist’s, make sure that the Head of the DHS is always a Patriot thru deep diving vetting.
Fetterman has some sense; what was Heinrich’s reason? It’s a shame that Paul had to throw a hissy fit!
Congratulations Secretary Mullin. I knew you would be going places in our country. You are a true patriot, a wonderful family man and someone who will put American citizens first. God bless you as you take on this big responsibility. You will do great.
These weak Republicans, including Thune have got go! We have the Senate and the ability to exact the Talking filibuster but Thune refuses, the second that the Dems rake back the house and Senate, they will end the filibuster and take total control of the Government for Time and Memorial! Sellouts everyone.
I’m really happy he was confirmed for DHS. Congratulations Mr Markwayne Mullin.
Congratulations! Our prayers will be with you in this difficult time Office. Stay strong & serve with Honor.
Don’t expect any more productive action by Congress. They’re salivating over the upcoming recess.
The democrats just castrate anyone they don’t like in president Trump’s cabinet. They will do to Mullin what they did to Noem. They don’t want any protection for the citizen of this country. Naturalized citizens are scared to death that the democrats will pass laws to kick us out. They never have received so much hatred from the American citizens as now. The democrats don’t want us neither. They want only the illegals because they think that they will always vote for them. That is BS. These people will leave this country as soon as they have the riches they came for. And those that don’t reach that goal will be in the cartels and army to overthrow the govt. Schumer talks like that every day. He doesn’t want Trump to make the citizens prosperous because then they won’t stay loyal to the dems and won’t vote for them. They don’t understand yet the people are not taking their negativity the democrats spread around the country. Trump is succeeding in everything he has undertaken. The dems don’t like it because they want to keep the masses poor and uneducated in order to control them. No thinking needed they say we will do that for you. Don’t go to work we will support you. How many young people are sitting at home and living off the taxpayers for their existence. How widespread is the fraud in this country and the democrats do nothing about it. Blame Trump for the things they don’t want to do anything about. Because this country has to be destroyed. It’s not that he is winning in Iran they are upset they never took that position and kept Americans under Iran’s control for 444 days and that is all okay with them. Like the marines that lost their lives in Beirut. They dismiss it as nothing. Like the people that have been killed by the criminal illegals in this country. Wrong place wrong time is their reaction on a daughter being killed in Chicago. You know that safe place Pritzker said was an hallucination of Trump. Killings go on there every day and more on the weekend but we are fine. Of course the politicians are fine they live in gated communities and have police protection. The average Joe that lives where all the criminals live are not so lucky. The democrats have no heart, no love only hatred and no soul. They are busy overthrowing this country.
Hooray Victory now lets get moving
Why hasn’t the Senate acted as quickly in voting on all of President Trump’s appointments? NY has been without an “approved” US attorney for more than 1 year.
Can someone please vote Rand Paul out of office. This is no time for RINO’s. I would like to replace Markwayne Mullin and promise I will vote with President Trump on every issue, every time. That is not too much to ask with the polarization in Washington. When you run as a republican and then vote with the Democrats you should be impeached.
“Back in February, Democrats threatened to shut down the entire federal government by weaponizing the filibuster to block a funding bill ***unless the Trump administration backed down from its strict enforcement of immigration law.***”
This pretty much says that dumbocraps don’t believe in the laws Congress has inacted. Go figure.
Hope he works out since its a done deal, but I will not respect a guy who hid under his seat, then hugged Ashley Babbitts murderer on Jan. 6
Hopefully it isn’t true that Mullins actually believes that Capitol killer Byrd was justified in killing Ashley Babbit? That’s what’s going around the Internet and if true then Mullins is a not a serious person, just another govt tyrant
Other than being a successful businessman what qualifications does this person have to lead this agency?? Law enforcement, armed service, law degree? Anything!!? Also how does one become a member of an American Indian community?? There has to be someone better qualified!????????????