Senate Confirms Sen. Markwayne Mullin as New DHS Secretary

Mullin takes over agency amid immigration crackdown and partial government shutdown

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:05am

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The Senate has voted to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem. Mullin, a first-term Republican senator and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, will take over the agency with little prior homeland security experience. His confirmation comes amid ongoing backlash over DHS's immigration policies and a partial government shutdown affecting the department.

Why it matters

Mullin's appointment as DHS Secretary comes at a critical time, as the agency faces scrutiny over its immigration enforcement tactics and a partial government shutdown that has impacted key DHS agencies like the Transportation Security Administration. His lack of homeland security experience raises questions about his ability to effectively lead the department and address these pressing issues.

The details

During his confirmation hearing, Mullin said he would work to 'earn the respect' of DHS employees and reduce the agency's prominence in daily news coverage. However, he faced questions about his initial response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement, in which he echoed controversial statements from outgoing Secretary Noem. Mullin later acknowledged those words 'probably should have been retracted.'

  • The Senate is set to vote to confirm Mullin on Monday night.
  • Mullin was nominated by President Trump earlier this month to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary.
  • Noem was removed from leading DHS operations in Minnesota following scrutiny over her handling of ICE operations there.

The players

Sen. Markwayne Mullin

A first-term Republican senator and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, who has been nominated to serve as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who was removed from leading DHS operations in Minnesota following scrutiny over her handling of ICE operations there.

President Donald Trump

The President who nominated Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, after firing Kristi Noem from the position.

Tom Homan

The Border Czar who was sent in to take over DHS operations in Minnesota following the scrutiny over Noem's handling of the Renee Good and Alex Pretti killings.

Gary Peters

The Democratic Senator who questioned Mullin about his initial response to the Good and Pretti killings during the confirmation hearing.

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What they’re saying

“I'll work beside them every single day to not just secure a homeland, to bring peace of mind and confidence to the agency. My goal in six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day. My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them, and we're working with them.”

— Sen. Markwayne Mullin, DHS Secretary Nominee

“We talk every day, if not several times a day. I think he's the right guy, the right time and the right job. I think he's going to come in and you can work across the aisle, and I think, I think we got a lot of good things coming in the near future.”

— Tom Homan, Border Czar

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Mullin's confirmation as DHS Secretary comes at a critical juncture, as the agency faces scrutiny over its immigration policies and a partial government shutdown. His lack of homeland security experience raises concerns about his ability to effectively lead the department and address these pressing issues, though supporters like Border Czar Tom Homan express confidence in his ability to work across the aisle.