Donald Trump ally Markwayne Mullin has been confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The former Republican senator for Oklahoma will now lead the agency at the centre of the White House’s crackdown on illegal migration.Mr Mullin was confirmed by the Senate on Monday night, less than three weeks after Kristi Noem was removed from the role and reassigned as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas”.He secured confirmation by 54 votes to 45, with Senator Rand Paul the only Republican to oppose him.
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Democrat Senators John Fetterman and Martin Heinrich broke ranks to support his appointment.Mr Fetterman had backed Mr Mullin shortly after his nomination, while Mr Heinrich’s vote in favour came as a surprise.Following the confirmation, the New Mexico senator described Mr Mullin as a “friend” who would not be “bullied into changing his views”.”I look forward to having a secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” he added.During his confirmation hearing, Dr Paul challenged Mr Mullin over past remarks, including calling him a “snake” and saying he “understood” why Dr Paul’s neighbour attacked him in 2017.He also raised a 2023 Senate hearing in which Mr Mullin appeared to challenge a union president to a physical fight.Mr Mullin, a former cage fighter, takes over DHS as a partial government shutdown has left the department without most of its funding since February 14.Democrats have refused to restore funding without reforms, following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice).LATEST US POLITICS:Cuba braces for possible military standoff with Donald TrumpOil prices plunge 14% after Donald Trump delays Iran strikesDonald Trump postpones Iran strikes after ‘very good and productive’ talks with TehranAhead of his confirmation, Mr Mullin argued he would take a different approach to leadership than Ms Noem, and faced scrutiny over his temperament and past allegations of stolen valour.The former plumbing business owner said he intends to adopt a lower-profile style in the role.”My goal in six months is that we’re not in the lead story every single day,” he told the Senate.”My goal is for people to understand we’re out there, we’re protecting them, and we’re working with them.”He also acknowledged past mistakes, saying he was “not perfect” and willing to “own” them.”That one, I went out there too fast. I was responding immediately without the facts. That’s my fault,” he said, referring to comments about Mr Pretti.Despite being a longstanding Trump ally who has backed immigration crackdowns and defended strikes on Iran, Mr Mullin signalled he may shift some Ice policies.He said he would require agents to obtain judicial warrants before entering private property – a key demand from Democrats in funding talks.”I would love to see Ice become more a transport than on the front line,” he said.Mr Mullin has served in the Senate since 2023, succeeding Jim Inhofe.Negotiations over the partial shutdown remain stalled after Mr Trump insisted funding would not be restored until the Save America Act – introducing mandatory voter ID laws – is passed.The Transportation Security Administration, which sits within DHS, has also been affected, leading to long queues at airports.The President has deployed Ice agents to assist TSA staff.A White House official told CNN talks with Democrats had been paused until Mr Mullin’s confirmation.”It seemed appropriate to wait until after his confirmation to allow him to be a full participant in ongoing conversations,” they said.
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