Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin will answer questions from senators Wednesday as he seeks confirmation to become the second secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in this Trump administration.
President Trump tapped Mullin earlier this month after announcing he would remove DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the post and name her Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a proposed regional coalition of Latin American countries.
The leadership change follows a turbulent period at DHS. An immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota led to protests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens, drawing bipartisan scrutiny of the department’s actions. Noem faced criticism over her handling of those deaths, broader immigration oversight, department spending and disaster-relief management; she is the first Cabinet secretary to leave the administration in Trump’s second term.
The agency is currently shut down amid Democratic demands for changes to immigration enforcement practices. More than 100,000 DHS employees are furloughed or working without pay, including workers unrelated to immigration such as staff at the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
At his confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security Committee, Mullin is expected to be questioned on how he would respond to recent turmoil, his stance on mass deportations and plans for internal oversight at DHS. Sen. Gary Peters, the committee’s top Democrat, said in prepared remarks shared with NPR that how the secretary reacts to crises sends signals to department personnel, the public and the world, and cautioned that the role is not to be a cable news commentator. Peters said he is interested in Mullin’s vision but has reservations about his readiness for the job at a critical time.
Trump’s announcement of Mullin’s nomination echoed Noem’s tough approach to immigration. “Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” the president posted.
Mullin has served on Capitol Hill for more than a decade, winning election to the House in 2012 and the Senate in 2022. His nomination has drawn support from some quarters, including International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Sean O’Brien, who praised Mullin’s willingness to “stand…up to protect America.” Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who previously criticized Noem on disaster relief and immigration, called Mullin “a great guy and a great choice to lead DHS,” saying he would restore competence and refocus efforts on disaster aid, border security and targeting violent illegal immigrants.
Democrats have largely criticized the nomination. Sen. Dick Durbin questioned whether Mullin will do better than Noem and said the Senate will exercise its constitutional role in advising and consenting on the appointment.
Mullin is also likely to face questions about his financial disclosures. Recent filings include purchases and sales of stock — such as buying UnitedHealth Group shares and selling AutoZone and Intuit holdings — and he is a frequent trader. Some lawmakers have pursued bans on stock trading by members of Congress to increase accountability.
Although Mullin does not serve on the Homeland Security or Judiciary committees, he has been a vocal supporter of the president’s immigration policies. After an ICE officer shot U.S. citizen Renee Macklin Good, Mullin defended ICE agents as performing a difficult job and suggested Good used her car as a weapon. He has accused paid protesters of obstructing federal officers and echoed DHS claims — not corroborated by specific public data — that death threats against ICE agents have surged. Mullin has also backed stripping Temporary Protected Status for people from Somalia.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, and a final confirmation vote could occur as soon as next week.