The US Senate on Sunday moved to advance the nomination of Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, voting 54-37 to limit debate on his appointment. A final confirmation vote is expected as early as Monday.
Mullin’s potential confirmation would fill a vacancy created when President Donald Trump dismissed Kristi Noem from the position on March 5th. Trump announced Noem’s removal via social media, simultaneously naming Mullin as her replacement and assigning Noem a recent role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a security initiative slated to be unveiled Saturday in Doral, Florida.
The path to confirmation, while largely assured, encountered resistance even within Trump’s own party. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voted against advancing Mullin’s nomination, citing concerns over allegations that the nominee had encouraged political violence. Paul was joined by six Democrats in opposing the move. The committee ultimately voted to send Mullin’s nomination to the full Senate despite Paul’s opposition.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, crossed party lines to support Mullin’s nomination at the committee level, alongside seven other Republicans. On Sunday, Fetterman and Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also voted to limit debate, joining Republicans in the effort. Nine senators were absent for the vote, including eight Democrats: Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Coons of Delaware, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
If confirmed, Mullin, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, would become the second Native American to serve as a presidential cabinet member. He has publicly stated his focus as Secretary would be to “keep the homeland secure” and acknowledged the significant operate needed within the Department of Homeland Security to better serve the American people. Mullin has consistently aligned himself with Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
Mullin’s nomination comes as the Department of Homeland Security faces intense scrutiny during the first year of Trump’s second term. The agency, the most well-funded federal law enforcement body in the country, has been the subject of ongoing debate regarding its conduct and priorities. Mullin previously signaled he would follow President Trump’s hard-line immigration priorities during a hearing on March 18th.
