Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will face questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday as he seeks confirmation to become the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, taking over from Kristi Noem whom President Trump removed earlier this month.
The nomination comes after a tumultuous period at DHS. An immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota resulted in protests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens, drawing bipartisan criticism of Noem's handling of the department. Following her removal, Trump appointed Noem as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a regional coalition of Latin American countries. Over 100,000 DHS employees are currently furloughed or working without pay as Democrats push for changes to immigration enforcement operations.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats have expressed uniform skepticism about Mullin's nomination, focusing on his lack of committee experience and concerns about his readiness to lead a department in crisis.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement: "Kristi Noem slipped on the outrages of ICE. Will this Oklahoma Senator be any better? We will find out as the Senate exercises its authority under the Constitution to provide advice and consent on this appointment."
Committee ranking member Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is set to deliver opening remarks emphasizing the stakes of the nomination. According to prepared remarks shared with NPR, Peters said: "How the Homeland Security Secretary responds to a crisis sends signals to everyone from the department's own personnel, to the American people, and to the entire world. It's not the role of the secretary to be a cable news commentator in the wake of a crisis."
Peters noted he wants to learn more about Mullin's vision for the department but has "reservations about [Mullin's] readiness to take on such a significant role at such a critical time."
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have largely rallied behind Mullin's nomination, with some pointing to his support for Trump's immigration agenda and his background as a former rancher and businessman.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had criticized Noem over disaster relief spending and immigration enforcement, called Mullin "a great guy and a great choice to lead DHS, restore competence, and refocus efforts on quickly distributing disaster aid, keeping the border secure, and targeting violent illegal immigrants for deportation."
Trump's announcement of the nomination emphasized Mullin's alignment with the administration's priorities. The president's statement said: "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."
Even some unexpected supporters have come forward. Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union — whom Mullin once threatened to fight during a hearing — issued a statement supporting the nomination: "If anyone is willing to stand their butt up to protect America, it's Markwayne Mullin."
What the Numbers Show
Mullin has served over a decade on Capitol Hill, first elected to the House in 2012 and then to the Senate in 2022. He does not sit on either the Homeland Security or Judiciary committees, the two panels that deal most directly with immigration policy.
According to Capitol Trades, which tracks politicians' financial transactions, Mullin's latest disclosures include the purchase of stock in UnitedHealth Group and sales of shares in AutoZone and Intuit Inc. Mullin is a frequent stock trader, and some lawmakers have advocated for banning stock trading by politicians to increase accountability in Congress.
DHS is currently experiencing a partial shutdown with over 100,000 employees — including TSA officers and FEMA workers —furloughed or working without pay as Democrats demand changes to immigration enforcement. The agency has seen significant upheaval following the Minnesota immigration enforcement operation that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
Mullin has echoed DHS claims that death threats against ICE agents are up 8,000%, though the department has not corroborated this figure with specific data sets.
The Bottom Line
Mullin's confirmation hearing will test whether Senate Republicans can unite behind another Trump DHS nominee after Noem's troubled tenure. While Republican support appears solid, Democrats are expected to press Mullin on his response to the Minnesota deaths, his stance on mass deportations, and his financial disclosure practices.
The Senate could hold a final confirmation vote as soon as next week. Key questions remain about how Mullin would handle the department's current crisis, manage over 100,000 employees facing pay uncertainty, and balance Trump's immigration enforcement priorities with oversight responsibilities.
Watch for developments on whether Senate Democrats can extract concessions from Mullin during questioning, and whether any Republican defections emerge that could complicate his path to confirmation.