Native News
NCAI on Mullin Nomination to be DHS Secretary
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he is removing embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post and appointing her to a new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.
Trump also said he will nominate loyalist Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Mullin — a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a staunch Trump loyalist — would become the ninth Senate-confirmed secretary of Homeland Security. The department was created in 2003 in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
His confirmation would make him the second Native American to serve in a presidential Cabinet in a secretarial role. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) became the first when she served in the Biden administration.
After Thursday’s announcement, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) issued the following statement:
“The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This role carries significant responsibility for the safety and security of communities across the country, including Tribal Nations.
The nomination of Senator Mullin (Cherokee Nation) to a cabinet-level position reflects the increasing presence of Native voices in national leadership. Representation matters, and the nomination of a Tribal citizen to such a prominent federal position is significant for Indian Country.
During his time in Congress, Senator Mullin has been a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) and engaged with issues affecting Tribal communities. He has supported efforts to strengthen economic development, infrastructure, and opportunity in Indian Country. Tribal leaders have long emphasized the importance of federal officials understanding the government-to-government relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States, as well as the unique public safety and homeland security challenges that many Tribal communities face.
As the nomination process moves forward, NCAI looks forward to hearing more about Senator Mullin’s priorities for DHS and how he plans to work with Tribal Nations. Robust, timely Tribal consultation and sustained collaboration with Tribal governments will be essential as DHS addresses issues such as border security, emergency management, cybersecurity, and infrastructure protection that affect Tribal lands and citizens.”