STORY: :: Washington, D.C. / March 23, 2026
:: The U.S. Senate confirms Trump-nominated Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security
:: Sen. James Lankford / (R) Oklahoma
"Mr. President in just a few moments this body will vote for the next Secretary of Homeland Security. It happens to be a friend of mine. His name is Markwayne Mullin."
"On this vote, the ayes are 54, the nays are 45. The nomination of Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be Secretary of Homeland Security is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made laid upon the table. The president will be immediately notified of the Senate's action."
The U.S. Senate on Monday (March 23) confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee for Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, to replace outgoing Kristi Noem, heralding a shift in leadership as public support for Trump's immigration crackdown has fallen.
The vote count was 54-45.
Mullin, a businessman and former mixed-martial arts fighter, backs Trump's hardline immigration view but signaled during a confirmation hearing that he would dial back some aggressive immigration policies, including a directive that said federal immigration officers could forcibly enter private homes or businesses without judicial warrants.
Democrats have blocked funding for the 260,000-person Department of Homeland Security since mid-February in a push to scale back Trump's immigration enforcement tactics. Airport security screeners who have missed paychecks have increasingly been calling out sick, leading to longer lines in U.S. airports.
