by Andi Shae Napier
Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin on Thursday morning took a leap towards becoming the next Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) during a turbulent time for the agency.
The Oklahoman’s nomination passed the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee vote 8 to 7, with Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul voting down President Trump’s nominee and Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman voting in support. The vote comes on the department’s 34th day of a partial shutdown as airports across the nation slow amid lack of funding for the Transportation Security Agency.
“In January, I called on the president to fire Noem — and he did. I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind,” Fetterman posted to social media following the vote. “We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”
The committee hearing and vote are the most expedited in history for a DHS nominee, as Paul remained committed to giving Mullin a quick path to receive approval from his colleagues. Still, Paul slammed Mullin on Wednesday over his refusal to apologize for his comments about an attack Paul faced from his neighbor in 2017 that left him severely injured.
“We’re in the midst I think of a crisis where there needs to be more direction from the top and a guy who brawls, a guy who can’t even say he’s sorry about wishing violence on me, really applauding the attack on me,” Paul told reporters Wednesday, “I don’t know how he could from my point of view be a leader of ICE or border patrol.”
Mullin’s nomination now moves to the Senate, where he could face a confirmation vote as soon as next week. The ongoing debate on the Senate floor over the SAVE America Act will be paused to allow lawmakers to vote on advancing Mullin.
The senator will be walking headfirst into a struggling DHS if confirmed. Democrats have withheld their votes to fund the department for weeks as they continually demand sweeping reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
The nominee gave support for one of the Democrats’ key asks on Wednesday, saying he would enforce the law to require DHS to use judicial warrants to enter private property unless they are in an active chase and someone enters a home.
The Oklahoma lawmaker also said if he were to front the Department, he would not have federal law enforcement agents near sensitive locations, such as polling sites, unless there was an active threat.
For now, Mullin’s nomination moves to the full Senate, where he is poised for confirmation with a simple majority in the GOP-controlled chamber (53-47). Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated Thursday that floor consideration could begin as early as next week, with the SAVE America Act debate paused briefly to accommodate the vote. Thune described Mullin as the right fit despite the committee friction, emphasizing the need for steady leadership at a department mired in shutdown and controversy.
Unlike legislation, Cabinet nominations such as this one are not subject to the filibuster following longstanding Senate rule changes. The 2013 and 2017 “nuclear option” precedents lowered the cloture threshold to 51 votes for executive branch posts, allowing Republicans to advance Mullin without needing Democratic support on the floor. This streamlined path has been a hallmark of recent confirmation battles and reduces the leverage Democrats hold beyond the ongoing funding impasse over ICE and CBP reforms.
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Andi Shae Napier is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network Christina Botteri contributed to this report.
