Mullin survives the critical test and approaches the DHS lead

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., survived a key vote Sunday on his way to becoming the next Homeland Security chief.

Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is one vote away and likely won’t be confirmed until Monday evening.

If he survives a final confirmation vote on Monday, he will replace DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired by Trump following the explosive hearings on the Hill and the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during an immigration operation in Minnesota.

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Sunday’s vote, which was largely party-based without Senion. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who was the key vote to remove his colleague from the committee earlier in the week, comes after his impeachment hearing earlier in the week.

Mullin was angered by both Democrats and Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mullin once called him a “snake” and charged that his assault in 2017 was “justifiable.” During the hearing, Mullin did not back down from his earlier statements.

“I’m not perfect. I’m not saying I’m not perfect,” Mullin said. “I make mistakes like everyone else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move on. And I will commit to you.”

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Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, during a hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in Washington, DC, US, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

If successful Monday, Mullin will take over the now-shuttered agency. Senate Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., have blocked DHS funding five times in their effort to get tough reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Mullin appeared to be in favor of making changes at the agency during his hearing.

Congressional Democrats have demanded, among other things, that ICE agents obtain judicial warrants to enter a home or business in the field rather than administrative warrants. And when asked by Seni. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on whether he would commit to seeking judicial warrants for ICE agents to search homes and businesses, Mullin appeared to testify.

“Warrants will be used to enter homes, businesses, unless we’re following the person entering that area,” Mullin said. “I haven’t mixed words with that, and I haven’t changed my opinion on that.”

Meanwhile, what with the blackout incident that ended earlier this week, when Senate Democrats made a motion to veto DHS demands at the White House after two weeks of radio silence.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

That prompted back-to-back meetings on the Hill, with Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Katie Britt, R-Ala., and border chief Tom Homan, sitting with a group of Senate Democrats. The third meeting was supposed to take place on Saturday, but was canceled at the last minute.

The shutdown is currently on track to become the longest in history, unless either side can come to an agreement to fund the agency. Mullin’s appointment to lead DHS has so far not swayed Senate Democrats, despite their calls for Noem to be fired.

Whether the two sides meet again at the weekend remains up in the air.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., accused Senate Democrats of believing that closing the office was “politically convenient.”

“It is not good politically for anyone to have tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people unemployed and the important jobs of our government that can be done every day and the jobs that are important to the security of our country and the security of our country,” said Thune.