Markwayne Mullin Confirmed by the US Senate to Lead Homeland Security

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has been confirmed by the United States Senate to become the ninth secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He will succeed Kristi Noem, who was reassigned by President Donald Trump on March 5, 2026.

The 54–45 vote took place Monday evening, largely along party lines. Senators John Fetterman (D‑PA) and Mark Heinrich (D‑NM) both voted in favor of Mullin.

As a current U.S. senator, Mullin was able to vote for himself and did so in the affirmative.

When sworn in, Mullin will become the second Native American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet in a secretarial role. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo),  currently a gubernatorial candidate in New Mexico, was the first when she served as Secretary of the Interior in the Biden administration.

The Senate fast-tracked Mullin’s nomination vote to accommodate Noem’s departure on March 31. President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Mullin on March 5, on the same day he reassigned Noem.

The Secretary of  DHS is a cabinet-level agency created in 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Its core mission is to safeguard the United States from a wide range of threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and border-related risks. Formed through one of the largest reorganizations in federal history, DHS combined 22 separate agencies into a single department tasked with coordinating national security, emergency response, and infrastructure protection efforts.

The department oversees a broad network of operational agencies and components that carry out its mission. Major agencies under its umbrella include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Transportation Security Administration; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Coast Guard, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

Together, these agencies manage responsibilities ranging from airport security and disaster response to immigration services and cybersecurity defense.

Today, DHS is one of the largest federal departments, employing more than 260,000 people across the country and around the world. Its annual budget is substantial—more than $100 billion, with recent figures around $110 billion in fiscal year 2025—making it one of the most heavily funded civilian agencies in the federal government. 

Born in Tulsa, Mullin grew up in the small town of Westville, Okla., located in the northeastern part of the state near the Arkansas border. He left college to run his family’s plumbing business after his father became ill, and he expanded it into a successful company. His background as a small business owner has been central to his political identity.

Mullin was first elected to Congress in 2012, representing Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District in the House from 2013 to 2023. During his time in the House, Mullin focused on economic development, energy policy, and reducing federal regulation. He was also known for his alignment with conservative policies and his loyal support of President Trump.

In 2022, Mullin was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding retiring Senator Jim Inhofe. In the Senate, he has continued to advocate for business-friendly policies, energy independence, and a strong national defense.

Mullin’s tenure in Congress has at times drawn national attention, including for his outspoken style and involvement in high-profile political debates. As the Native American in the Senate, his role carried particular significance in discussions affecting Indigenous communities, though his policy positions have sometimes sparked debate within those communities. He is a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Last week, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate’s Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, Mullin promised to require federal agents to obtain judicial warrants, signed by a judge, to enter private homes or businesses, marking a shift from reliance on administrative warrants.

This promise is a reversal of the Trump administration’s policy to enter homes without warrants. He stated he would reverse the policy allowing ICE to enter homes without such warrants, except in cases of “hot pursuit” of a suspect.

Mullin will lead the DHS is facing heightened criticism right now in part because of two separate fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by DHS agents, which critics say reflect deeper problems in how the agency operates:

• Killing of Renée Nicole Good
  In January 2026, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent (an agency within DHS) fatally shot 37‑year‑old American citizen Renée Good in Minneapolis during a federal enforcement operation. Local officials and activists dispute the federal self‑defense narrative and argue her death was unjustified — sparking protests and lawsuits against DHS.
• Killing of Alex Pretti
  Shortly after Good’s death, DHS agents also killed Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse, during a confrontation. Available footage and civil rights groups say he did not pose a threat when agents shot him, leading to widespread outrage and further protests.

Mullin is cognizant of the criticism. 

“My goal in six months is that we’re not the lead story every single day. My goal is for people to understand we’re out there, we’re protecting them and we’re working with them,” Mullin said last Wednesday at his confirmation before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

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