Senate panel advances Mullin’s DHS nomination

The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 8–7 on Thursday to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin's (R-OK) nomination to be Homeland Security secretary to the Senate floor.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the panel's chair, voted against the nomination after clashing with the Oklahoma Republican during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted in favor.

The nomination will next be considered by the full Senate, possibly as early as next week, where Sen. Mullin is expected to receive support from almost all Republicans.

If confirmed, Sen. Mullin would replace Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Trump fired earlier this month and is expected to leave her post atop the Homeland Security Department by the end of March.

The Homeland Security Department has been without funding since Feb. 14, as Democrats demand reforms to immigration enforcement operations following the January killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

At his confirmation hearing, Sen. Mullin signaled he would pursue changes to how the department operates, particularly on immigration enforcement, including requiring judicial warrants and working more closely with state and local governments.

Sen. Mullin also faced pointed questions about his temperament, past statements, and a trip he took abroad while a member of the House that he repeatedly told senators was "classified."

"Throughout the nomination process, he has failed to be forthright and transparent," Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the panel's top Democrat, said at the start of the committee meeting Thursday. "Sen. Mullin also showed that he doesn’t have the experience or the temperament to lead this critical department."

No other members of the panel, including Sen. Paul, delivered formal remarks before the vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor.

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