Why it Matters

The vote to make Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) the next Department of Homeland Security secretary featured an unusual split: Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) broke with his party to vote against the Trump DHS secretary nominee, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) crossed party lines to vote in favor — effectively rescuing the nomination from dying in committee.

The vote came on March 19, one day after a confirmation hearing that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) described as "a little spicy at times." Thune told reporters a full Senate floor vote would come "hopefully early next week."

How We Got Here

President Trump announced Mullin as his pick for DHS secretary on March 5 via Truth Social, simultaneously firing then-Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem's removal was reportedly linked to her testimony before a Senate panel in which she claimed Trump had personally approved a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign about DHS immigration enforcement — a claim that apparently angered the president.

Trump's post stated that "the Highly Respected Senator Markwayne Mullin will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026," as reported by KOCO 5 News.

What was expected to be a routine confirmation for a sitting senator — typically a collegial affair — turned into something far more contentious because of the deep personal rift between Mullin and Paul.

The Mullin Confirmation Hearing: Paul vs. Mullin

The March 18 confirmation hearing laid bare the animosity between the two Republican senators. According to the New York Post, Paul opened by calling Mullin "a man with anger issues" who "has no regrets about brawling in a Senate committee." Paul accused Mullin of telling the media that Paul was a "freaking snake" and said Mullin "completely understood why I had been assaulted" — a reference to the 2017 attack on Paul by a neighbor — but "never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified."

Paul played video footage of Mullin's 2023 confrontation with Teamsters president Sean O'Brien during a Senate hearing, in which Mullin had threatened to fight O'Brien. Mullin responded by referencing Senate dueling rules: "I was simply pointing out … some of the rules that still apply to this body — for instance, dueling with two consenting adults — is still there."

Mullin was blunt about the relationship in his own remarks: "We just don't get along," he said of Paul, as reported by the New York Post.

Paul also pressed Mullin on a trip he said he took abroad while a member of the House — a trip Mullin repeatedly described as "classified." Ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) sided with Paul on this point, saying: "The letter that we sent you said that we need to have information of any of these activities."

Fetterman's Crossover Vote on the Mullin DHS Nomination

Fetterman, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Management, had signaled his support before the committee vote. According to Jewish Insider, Fetterman told the outlet he would vote to confirm Mullin even before the Senate committee vote on Mullin took place. He had publicly said he was keeping an "open mind" about the nomination.

His vote proved decisive. Without it, the nomination would have failed 7-8 in committee, potentially derailing or at minimum significantly delaying Mullin's path to becoming Department of Homeland Security secretary.

Mullin's Own Words

In his opening remarks, Mullin struck a personal tone before the committee: "I am scared of failure, and so I will work hard each day."

Hill & Administration Take

On the Hill

The Senate committee vote on Mullin now sends the nomination to the Republican-controlled full Senate. Thune has indicated he expects a floor vote as early as next week: March 23.

During the hearing, Mullin was also pressed on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), according to Jewish Insider, specifically in the wake of a violent attack at Temple Israel in suburban Detroit. Senators asked about the need to streamline the program amid persistent challenges including underfunding and delays tied in part to the DHS funding lapse.

On policy substance, Jewish Insider reported that Mullin has been "hawkish on Iran and its proxies" and a "stalwart supporter of Trump," though he has been less involved in discussions related to domestic antisemitism. Mullin indicated he would have been supportive of the Antisemitism Awareness Act and criticized Ivy League presidents who refused to say calling for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment.

From the Administration

The White House published a statement titled "Sen. Markwayne Mullin's Nomination for DHS Secretary Draws Bipartisan Acclaim," compiling endorsements from lawmakers, tribal leaders, law enforcement organizations, and industry groups. The statement described Mullin as "a proven champion of border security, a fierce defender of American sovereignty, and a pragmatic leader with deep experience tackling national security threats… exactly the right person to build upon the Department's record-setting successes in protecting the homeland under President Trump's leadership."

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) was quoted highlighting Mullin's identity as a fellow Native American and his resolve on national security. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) praised Mullin's border security credentials.

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