Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary in 54-45 vote as two Democrats break ranks

WASHINGTON, DC: The Senate signed off on Monday, March 23, on President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), confirming Markwayne Mullin in a 54-45 party-line vote with a couple of eyebrow-raising defections.

Mullin steps into the role after Kristi Noem's exit, which followed a public backlash over the administration’s hardline immigration enforcement and deportation push.

The new chief inherits a department already under strain. Funding for the DHS has been frozen since February 14, leading to chaos at US airports as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have increasingly called out rather than report to work without pay. 

At the center of it all is immigration policy. Democrats have been pushing for changes after the deaths of two US citizens during protests earlier this year in Minneapolis. But Trump has rejected their latest proposal outright, leaving negotiations stalled and the department in limbo.

Markwayne Mullin's journey from MMA to DHS

Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and a longtime Trump ally, cast himself as a stabilizing force during his confirmation process.

His resume is rather unconventional. Before Washington, Mullin ran a family plumbing business and spent time as a mixed martial arts fighter and collegiate wrestler. On Capitol Hill, he’s known for leading early-morning workouts in the House gym and building relationships across party lines.

Still, immigration hasn’t exactly been his calling card. He’s not viewed as a central figure on the issue, even as he takes over one of the government’s most scrutinized agencies.

What he does bring, critics say, is loyalty to Trump. Mullin was an outspoken supporter of the president’s immigration agenda and ICE operations long before landing the nomination. That allegiance is widely seen as the key reason he got the job.

“I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland I’ll be protecting everybody,” Mullin said during his confirmation hearing.

DHS funding fight and a fractured Senate

Mullin's first order of business would be to fix the funding mess. Democrats have tied any agreement to a list of demands aimed at reining in immigration enforcement. Among them are requiring officers to identify themselves and ditch face coverings, avoiding operations near schools, churches, and hospitals, mandating body cameras, and securing judicial approval before entering private property.

Those conditions have been non-starters for the Trump administration so far.

Mullin’s confirmation hearing last week didn’t exactly smooth things over. In a heated exchange, Rand Paul, the Republican chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, openly questioned Mullin’s character and temperament. Paul ultimately voted against Mullin, both in committee and on the Senate floor.

Still, Mullin got over the line thanks in part to two Democrats who crossed the aisle, namely John Fetterman and Martin Heinrich. Their votes helped push the nominee past the finish line, even as most of their party remained opposed.

Most Republicans, however, rallied behind him. “Markwayne Mullin is ready to lead,” said John Barrasso, the chamber’s No. 2 Republican. He added that Mullin will “serve with seriousness and character. He will be a leader who makes our country safer.”