The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Monday night in a 54-45 vote. Two Democrats, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, joined Republicans in supporting Mullin’s nomination. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against Mullin’s nomination.
“I’ve depended on Markwayne as a colleague and friend during his 3 years here in the United States Senate. And I’m profoundly sorry to lose him, but the Senate’s loss is the Department of Homeland Security’s gain,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said on the floor ahead of the confirmation. “I want to thank Markwayne for his service here in the Senate and wish him the very best as he continues to serve our country at DHS. And I hope whoever gets assigned to his security detail is ready to keep up.”
Upon nominating Mullin, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that “current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
President Trump called Mullin the “only Native American in the Senate” who is a “fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities.” The senator “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. Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
