Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as Trump’s DHS secretary
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead the Department of Homeland Security amid a growing crisis within the agency over immigration enforcement, which has resulted in a partial shutdown of the department and chaos at airports across the country.
The Senate backed Mullin by a vote of 54-45with Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joining all but one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, in favor of his confirmation.
Trump tapped Mullin, a first-term senator, to replace Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary earlier this month after bipartisan outrage over Noem’s tenure at DHS, including a scandal-plagued $220 million self-promotion ad campaign. Trump himself was he said he was angry with Noem after she testified before Congress that the president had personally approved her ads.
Mullin promised to take a different approach during her confirmation hearing last week, pledging to work across the aisle and implement a “softer tone” on immigration in the wake of Noem’s often violent crackdown on immigrants in Minnesota and other parts of the country.
“My goal in six months is for us to not be in the main story every day,” Mullin told his Senate colleagues, promising to “put aside the partisan side” to address pressing issues, including funding for DHS.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File
However, the hearing became tense and confrontational when Mullin they collided with Paul, the chairman of the homeland security committee, over disparaging comments Mullin had made about Paul’s physical assault by his neighbor in 2017. The assault left Paul with broken ribs and long-term health problems. Paul questioned whether Mullin, a former MMA fighter, was suitable for the job, given that he had also once threatened to fight a witness at a Senate committee hearing.
“You told the media that I was a ‘fucking’ snake’ and that you completely understood why I had been attacked,” Paul said Mullín. “I wonder if someone who applauds violence against his political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits on the appropriate use of force.”
Paul voted against Mullin’s nomination in committee, but it advanced to the Senate floor thanks to Fetterman’s vote for the Oklahoma Republican.
Mullin also got a surprise Democratic vote from Heinrich, who said he considered Mullin a friend because of their close working relationship on Capitol Hill.
“I have also seen firsthand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a secretary who does not take orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich said in a statement last week, referring to Trump’s top political adviser, known for his anti-immigrant views.
Mullin will have her hands full replacing Noem next week. Many DHS staff, including Transportation Security Administration agents, have been working without pay since the department’s shutdown began on February 14. 3,400 TSA workers They called in sick within a day and many quit altogether, leading to long security lines at airports and frustration for travelers.
In Oklahoma, Republican Rep. Kevin Hern has emerged as the favorite to replace Mullin in the Senate next year. The legislator has received the support of both Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.).
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that all Republicans voted in favor of Mullin’s confirmation.