Senate confirms Mullin to be DHS chief |
Senate confirms Mullin to be DHS chief
The first-term senator and former MMA fighter now takes on one of the most challenging roles in the second Trump administration.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), nominee for Homeland Security Secretary, departs a vote at the U.S. Capitol on March 21, 2026. | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images
The Senate voted Monday to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be the next Homeland Security secretary, thrusting the first-term Republican into the leadership of a department in crisis.
The 54-45 vote mostly fell along party lines. All Republicans except for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted to confirm their colleague. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico voted to confirm Mullin.
Paul’s vote against Mullin was expected, as was Fetterman’s vote for him.