JUST IN: Senate Votes To Verify Markwayne Mullin As DHS Secretary
The U.S. Senate on Monday voted to confirm Markwayne Mullin as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Mullin was confirmed by a vote of 54-45, which largely broke down along party lines. Two Democrats — Senators John Letterman (D-PA) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) — broke with the rest of their conference in voting to confirm.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the lone Republican to vote against. The senator had previously indicated that he would oppose the nomination due to comments Mullin made about a 2020 incident when Paul was assaulted by a crazed neighbor.
President Donald Trump nominated Mullin on March 5 after the reassignment of the previous secretary, Kristi Noem. Trump removed Noem from the position earlier in March and reassigned her as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.
In this new capacity, Noem will lead a regional security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.
Mullin speaks during his confirmation hearing on March 18, 2026
Mullin has served in the Senate since January 2023, having been elected in 2022 to succeed Senator Jim Inhofe. Prior to that, he represented Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 2013 to January 2023, giving him more than 13 years of congressional experience.
During his Senate tenure, Mullin has held assignments on four committees: Appropriations, Armed Services, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Indian Affairs.
In his prepared statement to the Senate committee and during his March 18 hearing, Mullin described his approach to leading the department. He outlined three primary focuses if confirmed: protecting the homeland for everybody, applying a commonsense approach, and enforcing the law consistently without selecting which statutes to follow.
He further stated that the department “is bigger than any political party” and that he would work to safeguard families regardless of political views.
Mullin referenced the administration’s record on border security, including efforts to deport violent criminals and prioritize American interests. He committed to requiring judicial warrants for most property entries by officers unless agents are actively pursuing a suspect inside.
The incoming secretary also expressed intent to stabilize the agency, address operational challenges such as funding needs for its workforce, and ensure preparedness against threats from adversaries at home and abroad.