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The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as the ninth Homeland Security secretary, took the sprint to replace embattled outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.
It also ends a 13-year career in Congress that began in the House and saw Mullin win a seat in the Senate in 2021 where he served as a bridge between both chambers, helping to build trust between the House and Senate during last year’s campaign to pass a “big, good bill.” Before the vote, he arrived surrounded by his family, and he was happy to vote for himself for the last time.
Mullin, who was nominated by President Donald Trump earlier this month to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was confirmed by a caucus vote. Reps. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Martin Heinrich, DN.M., joined nearly all Republicans in championing his nomination.
Heinrich said he pushed his party because he realized that Mullin – who is co-chairman of the Senate Legislative Branch committee – “is not someone who can be manipulated into changing his views.”
MULLIN’S CONFIRMATION SURVIVES MAJOR REVIEW VOTE AS DHS REMAINS SHUTDOWN
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Republican of Oklahoma, speaks to reporters at the US Capitol after being named President Donald Trump’s new nominee to lead DHS, March 5, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“And I’m looking forward to having a secretary who doesn’t take his orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich said.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote for Mullin, citing their frosty relationship and Mullin’s past comments that his 2017 beating was “deserved.”
Mullin’s confirmation also capped a stormy month in which Noem was reinstated after two impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill, and the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
SCHUMER GAMBIT FAILS AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS 36 DAYS AND AIRPORT LINES GROW
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies at her impeachment hearing in Washington in March 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Still, Noem’s firing and Mullin’s rise did little to unseat Senate Democrats. They continue to demand major changes to ICE and have so far blocked funding for the agency five times, as well as several GOP attempts to temporarily extend DHS funding.
The way to end the shutdown proved to be more difficult over the weekend.
The two sides met for the first time during the shutdown, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., describing the talks as “productive.”
However, Trump threw a tantrum in Sunday night’s debate, writing on Social Truth: “I don’t think we should make a deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they vote with the Republicans to pass the ‘SAVE AMERICA ACT.’
GOP SENATOR’S GAMBIT DESTROYES FALSE DEM CLAIMS ABOUT VOTER ID.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on March 23, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. President Trump travels to Tennessee before returning to Washington. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
“In other words, put everything together as one, and VOTE!!! Kill the Filibuster, and stay in DC for Easter, if necessary,” Trump said.
That comes after Thune suggested to the president that Republicans could pull funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection out of the broader DHS package and instead fund those agencies through budget reconciliation.
Canceling an adjournment could be difficult for the upper house, as votes this past weekend were marred by absenteeism. When asked if he would cancel the upcoming two-week vacation, Thune said, “We’ll see.”
Senate Republicans met with Trump ahead of Mullin’s confirmation vote. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told reporters after the meeting that it went “very well.”
When asked if Republicans have a solution to end the shutdown, he said, “We do.”
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Still, Senate Democrats remain united in their opposition to the American Voting Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
“We’re ready to meet with the White House today to continue talking,” Schumer said. “Actually, we were going to meet this morning with Tom Homan. But it’s clear that the White House canceled that meeting because of Donald Trump’s anger. They’re all stabbing over there in the White House. They don’t know what to do.”
