Senate Committee Set to Vote on Mullin for DHS Secretary After Heated Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON — The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is expected to vote Thursday morning on President Donald Trump's nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, following a confirmation hearing on Wednesday that produced sharp exchanges over the nominee's temperament, immigration enforcement policy, and unverified claims about overseas military experience Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and former mixed martial arts fighter, would replace Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month amid mounting criticism of her leadership at the department. If confirmed, he would inherit an agency at the center of the administration's immigration enforcement agenda — and one currently operating without routine funding as Senate Democrats withhold appropriations in a standoff over how immigration officers conduct operations Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

A Hearing That Started With a Fight

The confirmation hearing opened with an unusually confrontational exchange between Mullin and the committee's own chairman, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul pointed to comments Mullin had made after a funding dispute earlier this year, when the Oklahoma senator reportedly called Paul a "freaking snake" and suggested he understood why a neighbor had physically attacked Paul in 2017 — an incident that left Paul with multiple broken ribs Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Paul questioned whether someone who had appeared to condone violence against a political opponent was suited to lead an agency that had faced sustained criticism over its use of force. Mullin did not apologize. He acknowledged the two senators simply do not get along but insisted the personal friction would not affect his ability to do the job Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Paul told reporters after the hearing that he would not vote for Mullin's confirmation. With Republicans holding an 8-to-7 majority on the committee, Paul's opposition means Mullin would need at least one Democratic vote to advance. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who sits on the committee, has publicly stated he would vote in favor of the nomination DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

Policy Signals: Warrants, FEMA, and Enforcement

Beyond the fireworks with Paul, the hearing produced several notable policy commitments from Mullin. He told the committee that under his leadership, federal immigration officers would require a warrant signed by a judge before forcibly entering a home or business to make an arrest — a potential departure from the approach under Noem, when officers relied on administrative warrants that critics argued circumvented constitutional protections Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Mullin also said he would not send DHS law enforcement to polling places for the purposes of voter intimidation, responding to concerns that followed Trump's call last month to nationalize elections. He told senators officers would only be present at polling sites if a specific security threat had been identified DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

On the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mullin said he would seek to restructure FEMA rather than abolish it — a notable distinction given that Trump has publicly floated eliminating the agency altogether. Mullin also committed to revoking a Noem-era policy that required the secretary's personal approval for all contracts above a certain threshold, a bottleneck that had delayed disaster reimbursements to states for months Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Asked about a potential daily quota of 3,000 immigration arrests, Mullin said no such target had been communicated to him and that he would take direction from the president on enforcement priorities Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

The Pretti Retraction

One of the hearing's most closely watched moments came when Mullin addressed his earlier comments about Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis ICU nurse and federal employee who was shot and killed by immigration enforcement officers earlier this year. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Mullin had publicly described Pretti as a deranged individual — echoing language used by Noem before any investigation had been completed Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Mullin acknowledged on Wednesday that the characterization had been premature. He told the committee he should not have made the remark and that as secretary he would exercise more restraint before commenting on active investigations. The shooting of Pretti, along with the death of another Minneapolis resident named Renee Good at the hands of federal agents, has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Questions Over a Classified Trip

Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the top Democrat on the committee, pressed Mullin on statements he had made on Fox News about having firsthand experience of war. Mullin, who has never served in the military, described on the network how he had smelled and tasted the reality of armed conflict DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

When Peters asked for specifics, Mullin said he had participated in an official overseas trip in 2015 while serving in the House, one that required specialized training qualifications. He repeatedly described the details as classified and declined to elaborate. Peters noted that the FBI's background check on Mullin's nomination had turned up no record of the trip Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

Paul and Peters subsequently requested a classified briefing, and committee members relocated to a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility after the public hearing to receive additional information from Mullin DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

Bipartisan Support, Within Limits

Despite the friction with Paul and sustained Democratic criticism of the administration's immigration policies, Mullin entered the hearing with a visible show of bipartisan backing. He was flanked by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a moderate Democrat from New Jersey. Seated directly behind him was Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, the union leader with whom Mullin had nearly come to physical blows during a 2023 Senate hearing — and with whom he has since become friends DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

Sen. James Lankford, Mullin's fellow Oklahoma Republican, described him as someone with a rare ability to build relationships across the aisle DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

Yet critics have questioned whether a change in DHS leadership will produce meaningful policy shifts as long as Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, continues to shape the administration's approach to immigration enforcement DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin gets Senate hearing Wednesdaycnbc.com·SecondarySen. Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said he would require judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses, signaling a potential policy shift from his predecessor Kristi Noem. "We will not enter a home or a place of business without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the individual that runs into a place of business or a house," Mullin, R-Okla..

What Comes Next

If the committee approves Mullin's nomination on Thursday, the full Senate could take up the confirmation vote as early as next week, ahead of a scheduled two-week recess. The timing underscores the urgency with which the administration is seeking to install permanent leadership at a department that has been without a confirmed secretary since Noem's dismissal — and which continues to operate under a partial government shutdown that has left TSA screeners and other essential personnel working without pay for weeks Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearingapnews.com·SecondaryMarkwayne Mullin faced questions Wednesday from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The early part of the hearing grew testy when the committee head, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, sought to challenge Mullin’s fitness for the job. Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator John Fetterman revealed to reporters whether or not they think Markwayne Mullin should be confirmed as the next homeland security secretary, after a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday..

The outcome of Thursday's vote will hinge on whether Fetterman's stated support holds and whether any additional Democrats or Republican holdouts emerge. For Mullin, the path from a contentious hearing to a committee vote in less than 24 hours reflects both the political pressure to fill the vacancy and the unusual dynamics of a nomination where the biggest obstacle came from within the nominee's own party.