Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin will face senators Wednesday as he seeks confirmation to become the Department of Homeland Security’s next secretary in the Trump administration.
President Trump nominated Mullin after removing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the post and naming her Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a proposed regional coalition of Latin American countries. Noem’s departure follows criticism of her management amid a turbulent period at DHS.
The agency has been under scrutiny after an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota that sparked protests and was associated with the deaths of two U.S. citizens. Lawmakers raised concerns about the department’s actions, spending, immigration oversight and disaster-relief management. Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave the administration in Trump’s second term.
DHS is currently largely shut down as Democrats press for changes to immigration enforcement practices. More than 100,000 DHS employees are furloughed or working without pay, including workers at agencies not directly tied to immigration, such as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Mullin is expected to be questioned about how he would handle the recent turmoil, his views on mass deportations, and plans for internal oversight and accountability at DHS. Committee top Democrat Sen. Gary Peters said the secretary’s response to crises sends signals to department personnel, the public and international partners, and warned the role should not be used primarily as a cable news platform. Peters said he wants to hear Mullin’s vision but has reservations about his readiness for the post at a critical moment.
The White House framed Mullin’s nomination as a continuation of a tough approach to immigration. Trump’s announcement said Mullin would work to secure the border, stop criminal crossings, fight illegal drugs and “make America safe again.”
Mullin has been in Congress since 2012, serving in the House before winning a Senate seat in 2022. His nomination has attracted support from some labor and Republican figures: International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Sean O’Brien praised Mullin’s willingness to defend the country, and Sen. Thom Tillis called him a strong choice to restore competence at DHS and refocus efforts on disaster response, border security and targeting violent illegal immigrants.
Democrats have mostly opposed the pick. Sen. Dick Durbin questioned whether Mullin would perform better than Noem and emphasized the Senate’s constitutional duty to advise and consent on the appointment.
Mullin’s financial disclosures are also likely to draw scrutiny. Recent filings show frequent stock trading, including purchases of UnitedHealth Group shares and sales of AutoZone and Intuit holdings. Some lawmakers have pushed for bans on stock trading by members of Congress to reduce conflicts of interest.
Although Mullin does not sit on the Homeland Security or Judiciary committees, he has been an outspoken supporter of the president’s immigration policies. After an ICE officer shot U.S. citizen Renee Macklin Good, Mullin defended ICE agents and suggested the officer faced a dangerous situation. He has accused paid protesters of obstructing federal officers and repeated DHS statements that death threats against ICE agents have risen, assertions that have not been fully corroborated by public data. He has also backed removing Temporary Protected Status for people from Somalia.
The confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET. If the committee advances his nomination, a final Senate confirmation vote could come as soon as next week.