Rand Paul Plans March 18 Hearing on Trump DHS Nominee Markwayne Mullin He Says Once Called Him a 'Snake'
Sen. Rand Paul, as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, plans to hold Markwayne Mullin’s DHS confirmation hearing around March 18 after the White House formally transmitted the nomination, despite Mullin’s February remark calling Paul “a freaking snake.” Mullin has strong GOP backing and some bipartisan praise, but Democrats and even a few Republicans say the fight will focus on DHS policy and reforms — from ICE/CBP practices and oversight to concerns about Stephen Miller’s influence — with leaders like Chuck Schumer urging reforms before considering nominees.
📌 Key Facts
- Sen. Rand Paul, as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is aiming to hold Markwayne Mullin’s DHS confirmation hearing around March 18, 2026, contingent on receiving required paperwork; the White House has formally transmitted Mullin’s nomination to the Senate.
- Mullin publicly said in February that he called Rand Paul 'a freaking snake' (referencing a 2017 neighbor assault incident) and later told reporters he told Paul that 'to his face'; Paul downplayed the insult but said the hearing will be 'interesting' and is reserving judgment.
- Republicans are largely coalescing around Mullin: Sen. John Fetterman (D‑Pa.) has signaled support, GOP senators on the panel are expected to back the nominee, and a letter from 47 House Republicans in the Main Street Caucus — led by Mike Flood and Nick LaLota — formally endorsed Mullin, citing his commitment to border security and backing White House 'border czar' Tom Homan.
- Sen. Chuck Schumer and other Democrats say the debate over Mullin’s confirmation is tied to DHS policy and oversight, with Schumer saying the Senate should not consider any DHS secretary nominee 'until DHS and ICE are reined in.'
- Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Peter Welch urged specific DHS and immigration‑enforcement reforms tied to consideration of the nominee: Kaine called his vote for Kristi Noem a 'big mistake,' warned of Stephen Miller’s outsized influence, and pushed reforms such as no home entries without warrants, body cameras, and no masked officers; Welch praised Mullin as 'competent' and 'respected' but said he wants answers on masked agents, raids on churches/farms/worksites, and threats of election interference.
- House Main Street Caucus members (roughly two dozen) recently met with Tom Homan to discuss immigration enforcement and public‑safety priorities, and the Main Street letter outlined a strategy focused on prioritizing removal of 'the worst criminal offenders' inside the U.S.
- Oklahoma political fallout: Gov. Kevin Stitt said he will appoint a 'strong, small‑government conservative' to temporarily fill Mullin’s House seat who would be barred from running in the special election, and GOP Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern have already signaled interest in running.
- Blue‑state pushback over recent DHS operations continues: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker launched an Illinois Accountability Commission (chaired by retired federal judge Ruben Castillo) to probe Operation Midway Blitz and alleged 'military‑style tactics' in immigration operations; a DHS spokesperson dismissed the panel, underscoring ongoing conflict between the department and state officials.
📊 Relevant Data
In the first year of the second Trump administration, the percentage of ICE arrests involving individuals with criminal histories decreased to nearly 60% from 72% in fiscal year 2024, indicating a shift toward broader enforcement.
Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE in Trump's 1st year back in ... — CBS News
Latinos accounted for nine out of ten ICE arrests during the first six months of the second Trump administration, reflecting a disproportionate impact on this ethnic group in immigration enforcement.
UCLA Report Finds Latino Arrests by ICE Have Skyrocketed Under ... — UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Black undocumented migrants face higher deportation rates compared to other groups, with racial disparities in policing contributing to increased family separations.
Black Undocumented Migrants Face Far Higher Deportation Rates — Capital B News
Immigration lowers the wages of competing native-born workers while raising the return to capital and wages of complementary workers, based on economic analyses of factor price changes.
Benefits of Immigration Outweigh the Costs — George W. Bush Presidential Center
The non-Hispanic White population in the US decreased to 58.9% by 2023, down 4.9 percentage points since earlier in the decade, driven largely by immigration and diverse population growth.
US population by year, race, age, ethnicity, & more — USA Facts
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 10, 2026
4:32 PM
Rand Paul to oversee confirmation hearing of Trump's DHS pick who once blasted him as a 'snake'
New information:
- Rand Paul, as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is aiming to hold Markwayne Mullin’s DHS confirmation hearing around March 18, 2026, contingent on paperwork.
- The White House formally transmitted Mullin’s nomination to the Senate on Monday, as reflected in the congressional record.
- Detailed account of Mullin’s February remarks to Oklahoma voters in which he called Rand Paul 'a freaking snake,' referenced the 2017 neighbor assault incident, and said he told Paul this 'to his face.'
- Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is explicitly noted as supporting Mullin’s nomination, and Republicans on the panel are expected to back him despite the personal rift.
- Paul publicly downplays the insult but teases that the hearing will be 'interesting' and says he is reserving judgment until then.
11:00 AM
Blue-state governors move to keep heat on Noem as DHS fires back
New information:
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker released a video and written statement telling outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem she will 'still be held accountable' and detailing alleged 'military-style tactics' during immigration operations in Illinois, including tear gas use near homes, schools and hospitals.
- Pritzker’s previously announced Illinois Accountability Commission has been explicitly tasked to examine Noem’s and other Trump officials’ conduct around Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago and to maintain public records of federal law-enforcement actions in the state.
- The commission’s Pritzker‑appointed chair, retired federal judge Ruben Castillo, signaled support for the probe, saying in a statement that the 'statements and related actions of parties show motive and intent' in this situation.
- Pritzker highlighted Noem’s contentious Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing moments, including Sen. Dick Durbin’s questions about her labeling some U.S. citizens 'domestic terrorists,' and GOP senators’ questions about her dog shooting and a multimillion‑dollar ad contract.
- A DHS spokesperson, in comments to Fox News Digital, dismissed or 'threw cold water' on Pritzker’s accountability panel, underscoring open conflict between the department and Illinois leadership over the review.
12:00 AM
40+ House Republicans rally behind Markwayne Mullin for DHS, call it a ‘critical moment’ for border security
New information:
- Nearly 50 House Republicans in the GOP Main Street Caucus sent a formal letter to President Trump endorsing Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead DHS after Kristi Noem’s ouster.
- The letter, signed by 47 GOP lawmakers and led by Chair Mike Flood and Rep. Nick LaLota, cites Mullin’s ‘steadfast commitment to border security’ and familiarity with the legislative process.
- The same letter explicitly backs White House ‘border czar’ Tom Homan and outlines a strategy to keep Trump’s immigration crackdown focused on ‘the worst criminal offenders’ inside the U.S.
- The article notes roughly two dozen Main Street Caucus members met with Homan last week to discuss immigration enforcement and public‑safety priorities.
March 08, 2026
5:50 PM
Sen. Tim Kaine says supporting Kristi Noem as DHS secretary was a "big mistake"
New information:
- Sen. Tim Kaine publicly says his vote to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary was a 'big mistake,' citing her lack of independence from Trump aide Stephen Miller.
- Kaine asserts that 'Stephen Miller is calling the shots' at DHS and labels it a 'rogue, renegade department' absent reforms, warning Mullin could repeat Noem’s pattern.
- Kaine lays out specific reforms Democrats want at ICE and CBP — including no home entries without warrants, use of body cameras, and no masked officers — and links those to both Mullin’s confirmation and the DHS funding stalemate.
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, in a separate Sunday interview, also criticizes Miller’s 'outsized influence' and says Miller should go, even as he predicts Mullin will act more independently than Noem.
- Kaine notes DHS immigration enforcement components received an influx of money in last year’s 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' and says 'they’re not running out of money,' arguing negotiations should focus on reform rather than more funds.
March 07, 2026
1:10 AM
Dem Sen. Peter Welch praises Trump's 'respected' pick to replace Noem at DHS, says 'he'll be confirmed'
New information:
- Democratic Sen. Peter Welch publicly praised Markwayne Mullin as 'competent,' 'honest' and 'respected' and said 'he’ll be confirmed.'
- Welch indicated the main debate over Mullin will be about DHS policy direction rather than his personal integrity or qualifications.
- Welch cited specific concerns he wants addressed with Mullin, including masked agents, raids on churches, farms and worksites, and threats of election interference, and noted Sen. John Fetterman has already signaled support.
March 06, 2026
5:35 PM
Mullin promises to earn Dem votes as GOP colleagues pounce on his seat
New information:
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer explicitly says 'The Senate should not consider any DHS secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in,' framing this as a policy, not personnel, dispute.
- Mullin publicly says he wants to 'earn' Democratic votes and is open to talks with Schumer and his caucus, but has so far opposed Democrats’ demands tied to reopening DHS.
- Fox quotes Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statement that he will appoint 'a strong, small-government conservative' to temporarily fill Mullin’s seat and confirms that his appointee will be barred from running in the special election.
- Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern are identified by name as GOP hopefuls already signaling interest in the likely open Oklahoma Senate seat, with Bice issuing a statement that she is 'carefully considering' a run after 'encouragement from every corner' of the state.