Markwayne Mullin, Trump's DHS nominee, clears Senate's first hurdle with Fetterman's deciding vote
Amid personal rebukes and endorsements from across the party line, Mullin cleared first hurdle to DHS with a tight vote.
Markwayne Mullin on Capitol Hill
Sen. Markwayne Mullin got the nod from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to take the reins of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Trump's nominee won approval thanks to a yes vote from Democrat John Fetterman, who tipped the scales 8-7.
Mullin garnered one negative vote from the GOP ranks. It was from committee Chairman Rand Paul, who at a hearing the day before rebuked his colleague for comments he had made against him and questioned whether he had the right temperament to lead the department. Mullin had called him a "snake" and reportedly said he understood why a neighbor had assaulted him. The DHS nominee denied that he justified the attack in 2017, and claims he was only trying to explain what happened.
Fetterman and Mullin aside, the other senators voted along party lines. At his confirmation hearing, the White House pick to replace Kristi Noem outlined what his DHS would look like, including a restructuring of the department and a review of recent spending. He also promised more low-key management, assuring that his agency would not aim to grab headlines. "My goal at six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day," he told senators. "My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them."
He also expressed a willingness to require warrants for immigration enforcement operations, a key demand from Democrats in ongoing funding negotiations. His stance could pave the way for a possible bipartisan bill to fund DHS, which has been operating for more than a month now without full funding.
Republican leaders plan to bring the proposal to a vote on the Senate floor as early as next week, where it is expected to fare better than in committee, according to AFP.
Fetterman: 'We need a leader at DHS'
Despite being a political rival, Fetterman gave his approval for Mullin’s confirmation. The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania stated that his close friendship with the nominee and the fact that DHS needed a leader were what motivated him to vote in favor.
“I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind. We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS,” Fetterman said in a post on social media. “My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”
Who is Markwayne Mullin?
As a result, he took over the family business and, together with his wife —with whom he has six children— grew it into a successful company in the region.
His political career is not very extensive. From January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2023, he represented the interests of Oklahoma’s 2nd District in the House of Representatives.
He later joined the Senate to continue representing Oklahoma in Congress. He currently serves or has served on the Armed Services Committee; the Appropriations Committee; the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee; and the Indian Affairs Committee.
As a fun fact, he is a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.
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