Markwayne Mullin confirmed as the next secretary of Homeland Security
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next secretary of Homeland Security in a 54-45 vote, making him the second DHS leader during the Trump administration amid a partial government shutdown affecting department employees.
- Mullin pledged to fund DHS quickly, take a softer approach to immigration enforcement, engage with critics, and support judicial warrants for home and business entries, signaling potential concessions to Democrats.
- DHS has aggressively enforced immigration policies under Trump, including border enforcement surges and record-high detentions, with controversies surrounding the previous secretary, Kristi Noem, who faced bipartisan criticism.
- Mullin expressed support for restructuring FEMA, avoided confirming claims about the 2020 election, and faced bipartisan scrutiny over undisclosed foreign travel, with some senators opposing his nomination.
- While some Democrats remain skeptical of Mullin's ability to change DHS policies, a few, including Sen. Martin Heinrich, expressed cautious optimism about his leadership and willingness to find common ground.
