The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Markwayne Mullin as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security continues to grapple with what lawmakers say is an “endless” funding standoff, with Democrats seeking to withhold funding from one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. The most expensive agency.
Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, former mixed martial arts fighter and plumbing business owner, was confirmed on a 54-45 vote. Two Democrats, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-Minnesota), sided with Republicans in supporting his confirmation.
The head of the new government agency will be Policy direction It was established by President Donald Trump and emphasizes stricter immigration controls. These include proposals to support immigration officials at polling places and to cut funding to so-called “sanctuary cities.”
Marin replaces Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month after being widely scrutinized during two days of congressional hearings on Capitol Hill.
During the hearing, Noem faced intense questioning about her response to several crises, including the shooting deaths of two Americans by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis and a $220 million Border Patrol ad campaign that featured her riding a horse near Mount Rushmore amid riots. Largest federal workforce reduction in U.S. history; and the federal government’s response to large-scale natural disasters such as the Texas floods in July 2025 and Hurricane Helen in 2024.
Noem previously drew criticism for a series of South Dakota policy decisions that broadly focused on restricting the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In 2023 she signed House Bill 1080; Prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. She also spoke about laws and executive orders restricting trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports, as well as state “Religious Freedom Restoration Act;Additionally, the state terminated contracts related to LGBTQ support services, including suicide prevention and medical navigation programs; $300,000 settlement with trans advocacy group; Transformation project.
Despite being removed from DHS, Noem will remain in the Trump-Vance administration as a special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. promote U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere, This includes efforts to counter cartel networks, reduce Chinese influence, and manage immigration.
The new DHS secretary has served in both houses of Congress since 2013. While Mr. Marin is a senator and serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee; vocally criticize policies aimed at expanding LGBTQ inclusion;. He led a group of lawmakers in urging the Department of Community Living to rescind rules requiring states to prioritize elder law services based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They argue that this policy may have unintended consequences.
Mullin also made history as the first Native American and Cherokee Nation to lead the Department of Homeland Security. So was he Among the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election He announced the results despite no evidence of widespread wrongdoing and appeared on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on January 6.
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