Markwayne Mullin moves closer to DHS confirmation with boost from Fetterman

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Mar 19, 2026

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin won a committee vote to become the new Homeland Security secretary by a narrow 8-7 margin with a boost from Democratic Sen. John Fetterman.

The nomination of Mullin, who has a bitter feud with Republican colleague Sen. Rand Paul, advanced to the full Senate after Fetterman broke ranks with the rest of his party to advance Mullin’s confirmation.

Paul, the committee chair, voted against the Oklahoma lawmaker, whom he accused of having “anger issues” and backing political violence in an unusually bitter spat stemming from the attack on Paul by an angry neighbor.

“My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security,” Fetterman tweeted, explaining his vote.

The confirmation will now proceed to the Senate floor where it could get final approval next week as Mullin prepares to replace controversial fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Republican supporters, along with Fetterman, say they hope Mullin can figure out a way to end the partial government shutdown that has roiled air travel by forcing airport screeners to work without paychecks for about a month.

Lines at security checkpoints have stretched out the door at airports in some spring break hot spots and have topped an hour at some times at New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

Noem was fired after a tumultuous tenure marked by perceived policy and public relations missteps, especially her handling of President Trump’s mass deportation effort that led to the killings of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Democrats have refused to fund all of DHS without significant reforms to the immigration crackdown.

Mullin vowed to take a less confrontational and partisan approach, which could soften Democratic opposition to funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

Mullin retracted his remarks blaming protester Alex Pretti for his own killing on the streets of Minneapolis in January and said immigration agents should generally get warrants from judges before entering private homes.

He also said he would reverse Noem’s policy of requiring personal approval of all DHS payments of more than $100,000, which he branded “micromanagement.”