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By Dan Gooding and Peter Aitken
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Only two senators on the Senate Homeland Security Committee broke party lines as the committee voted 8-7 to advance Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma's nomination for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to a wider vote.
President Donald Trump handpicked Mullin to lead the department beginning at the end of March to replace Kristi Noem, whose tenure at DHS has been riddled with controversy amid the administration’s heightened immigration enforcement.
Mullin met with senators on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing. If confirmed, Mullin will lead one of the most prominent agencies responsible for immigration and border security, a key cornerstone of Trump’s political agenda.
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Who Voted for Markwayne Mullin?
While most Republicans voted "yea" and Democrats voted "nay," Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, voted against Mullin's nomination, and Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, voted in favor.
Paul joined Democratic Senators Gary Peters of Michigan, Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan in opposing Mullin's nomination.
Fetterman took to X after the vote, saying a leader was needed at DHS.
"In January, I called on the president to fire Noem—and he did. I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind," Fetterman posted. "We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security."
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Did Markwayne Mullin Get Confirmed?
While senators on the Homeland Security committee voted to advance Mullin's nomination, this does not mean he is the secretary of Homeland Security just yet. The final decision lies with the full Senate, which would need to vote to approve his nomination. A vote could take place as early as Monday, depending on the chamber's scheduling.
Trump handpicked Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, to lead the department beginning at the end of March to replace Kristi Noem.
During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Mullin appeared to attempt to distance himself from Noem's management style, promising he would own any mistakes he made, but also stopping short of apologizing for comments he made in the wake of Border Patrol agents shooting and killing U.S. citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January.
Following the vote Thursday, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal posted on X: "I’ll hold Senator Mullin to his word that ICE agents will no longer be instructed to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant."
What Did Markwayne Mullin Say About Rand Paul?
Paul, the Republican chair of the Homeland Security Committee, clashed with Mullin on Wednesday over past comments the nominee had made after Paul was assaulted in 2017, as well as recent remarks around funding.
According to Oklahoma conservative talk show host David Arnett, who wrote about the remarks on his Substack, Mullin recently called Paul, "a freaking snake. And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did. And I told him that to his face.”
"I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force?” Paul said during the confirmation hearing.
Mullin accused him of using gimmicks.
“I don’t believe in political violence, I’ve made that very clear," Mullin said, accusing Paul of seeking to carry out a “character assassination.”
Mullin challenged Paul's claim that he was a liar and said they could work together despite their differences.
“For you to say I’m a liar, Sir, that’s not accurate,” Mullin said. Referring to Paul, Mullin said, “We just don’t get along.”
Does Markwayne Mullin Have Children?
Mullin has six children, whom he referred to multiple times during his Wednesday hearing. The senator names his children on his website: Jayce, Jim, Andrew, Larra, Ivy, and Lynette, and he has often spoken about his dedication to his role being driven by his family, including his wife, Cristi.
On Wednesday, he spoke of the close bond he said Trump shared with his son Jim, following a brain injury in January 2020. Trump, Mullin said, had remained in close contact with the family following the accident and had offered his private plane to help them access health care.
"So, when you want to say why he's a friend. Yeah, we were acquaintances before that. We've been friends ever since," Mullin said at the hearing.
Update 3/19/26, 10:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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