Homeland Security
Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary
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The US Senate confirmed Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next secretary of Homeland Security on a 54-45 vote. Mullin replaces Kristi Noem amid a month-long department shutdown and controversy over his past statements. He now faces challenges including resolving the funding impasse, addressing Trump's priorities like the SAVE America Act, and leading agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.
During a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on March 18, 2026, Chairman Rand Paul confronted nominee Markwayne Mullin over past comments justifying Paul's 2017 assault and Mullin's history of violent rhetoric. Mullin defended himself without apologizing and faced questions on a classified trip and remarks about recent shootings. The committee planned a closed briefing and vote soon after.
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Following her dismissal as Secretary of Homeland Security on March 5, 2026—the first cabinet change of Donald Trump's second term—Jonathan Blitzer analyzes Kristi Noem's tenure troubles in The New Yorker. See prior coverage in this series.