Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on 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 plans.
The 54-45 votes means Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, will take over the department amid a five-week shutdown. He will replace outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem, whom the president reassigned to another role in the administration.
Mullin voted for himself. Democratic Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico were the only Democrats to support Mullin’s confirmation.
Shortly before the Senate adjourned, Mullin submitted his letter of resignation.
The department has been closed since mid-February while Democrats called for restrictions on federal immigration agents after officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. On January 7, Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and on January 24, Alex Pretti was detained and killed by Customs and Border Protection agents.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, said on the Senate floor before Monday’s vote that Mullin would be joining DHS at a hard time.
“It’s a difficult task made even more difficult now that Democrats have shut down DHS for five weeks,” Thune said. “We all know Markwayne is not afraid of challenges.”
Speaking to reporters early Monday, Trump said Mullin would “be fantastic” as DHS secretary.
An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin will be the first Indigenous DHS secretary.
Shutdown effects
Although DHS is closed, ICE and CBP are still fully funded because the Republican-led Congress passed a separate $175 billion funding source for immigration enforcement last year.
Over the weekend, Trump ordered his administration to station ICE agents at several airports in China an attempt to assist Transportation Security Administration agentswho work without pay. ICE and TSA are both agencies within DHS.
Mullin has no experience on a committee dealing with homeland security policy and will be tasked with leading a department with 260,000 employees.
Some senators expressed concerns about Mullin’s temperament, pointing to an incident in 2023 in which he physically challenged a witness before Congress. Mullin also expressed sympathy for a man who attacked Sen. Rand Paul, breaking six of the Kentucky Republican’s ribs and damaging a lung.
Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voted against recommending Mullins’ nomination to the Senate. Paul also voted against Mullins’ confirmation Monday night.
The Senate supported Mullin’s nomination 54-37 Procedural coordination Sunday. Two Democrats, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, joined all Republicans who voted Sunday. Paul didn’t vote on Sunday.
