Senate Panel Advances Mullin DHS Nomination 8–7 With Fetterman’s Deciding Vote as Democrats Blast DHS Misconduct and GOP Lines Up Kevin Hern for Possible Oklahoma Vacancy
The Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s DHS nomination to the full Senate by an 8–7 vote — largely along party lines except for Republican chair Sen. Rand Paul voting no and Democrat Sen. John Fetterman providing the decisive yes — after a heated hearing that probed Mullin’s past remarks about political violence, unexplained foreign travel (addressed in a classified briefing) and questions about his temperament and candor. The action comes amid a partial DHS shutdown, protests and scrutiny over aggressive immigration enforcement that Democrats say require conduct reforms, strong GOP, union and White House backing for Mullin, and pre‑emptive GOP moves to position Rep. Kevin Hern as a potential appointee to Mullin’s Oklahoma Senate seat if he is confirmed.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump nominated Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; Mullin’s confirmation hearing was held March 18, 2026, and the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee advanced his nomination on March 19 by an 8–7 vote (the panel’s only Democrat to vote yes was Sen. John Fetterman; committee chair Sen. Rand Paul voted no), sending the nomination to the full Senate for a likely floor vote next week. Noem told staff her last day will be March 31 and was reassigned as a Special Envoy for the 'Shield of the Americas.'
- The confirmation hearing was heated and personal: Chair Rand Paul repeatedly pressed Mullin over past comments that appeared to justify a 2017 assault on Paul and called Mullin 'a man with anger issues;' Mullin reiterated he 'understood' the neighbor’s actions in prior remarks, declined a full apology to Paul, but later said he regretted calling Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti 'deranged' and sought to walk back some earlier rhetoric under scrutiny.
- DHS has been operating in a partial shutdown since mid‑February amid a funding impasse tied to aggressive immigration enforcement priorities: more than 100,000 DHS employees have been furloughed or worked without pay (including TSA and FEMA staff), hundreds of TSA officers have quit or called out sick, and travelers and states have faced disruptions and delayed disaster aid.
- Democrats and civil‑liberties groups have used the hearing to press for fundamental DHS reforms in response to controversial enforcement operations (including two fatal ICE‑related shootings in Minneapolis and large, aggressive raids and detentions): Democratic demands include visible badges/identification for officers, bans on masks, mandatory body cameras, clear civil‑law remedies for harm, and other transparency and conduct changes — reforms the administration has not agreed to.
- Mullin’s background and credibility were central issues: he is a former mixed‑martial‑arts fighter, collegiate wrestler, rancher and plumbing‑business owner without a formal law‑enforcement background typical of past DHS chiefs; reporting and committee questioning also spotlighted his claims of prior 'war‑zone' or private security travel overseas (including a 2016 trip he variously described as 'classified'), which he did not fully document and which senators probed in a secure briefing with mixed explanations (classified vs. NDA/whistleblower framing).
- Policy alignment and endorsements: Mullin signaled support for Trump’s hardline immigration priorities — emphasizing removing the 'worst‑of‑the‑worst' and focusing enforcement on criminals — and won endorsements from the National Border Patrol Council, President Trump (who called him a 'MAGA Warrior'), and key GOP leaders who say he will advance the administration’s agenda even as approval for mass‑deportation tactics has slipped nationally.
- Political fallout and downstream stakes: Sen. Fetterman’s deciding committee vote drew intense criticism from many Democrats who say he abandoned party demands for reforms; Republicans are already lining up potential successors for Mullin’s Senate seat if he is confirmed — Rep. Kevin Hern has received endorsements from Senate GOP leaders (including Sen. John Thune, NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott, and President Trump), and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he would quickly appoint a temporary replacement under state law (with an oath that the appointee not run at the next election).
📊 Relevant Data
In 2025, of the 32 deaths in ICE custody, the majority were individuals from Latin American countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, with at least 20 out of 32 decedents originating from these regions, reflecting the overrepresentation of Hispanic/Latino individuals in ICE detentions.
2025 was ICE's deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 people who died in custody — The Guardian
As of 2025, Hispanic or Latino employees comprise 22.8% of the DHS workforce, compared to 18.9% in the U.S. population, indicating an overrepresentation that could amplify the economic impacts of DHS shutdowns on this group.
EEO Management Section — Department of Homeland Security
A 2025 study found that body-worn cameras reduced police use-of-force incidents by nearly 50% in participating departments, with decreases in citizen complaints and arrests.
New Paper Finds Body-Worn Cameras Can Reduce Police Use-of-Force Incidents by Nearly 50% — University of Chicago Crime Lab
Since 2020, at least 24 ICE employees and contractors have been charged with crimes, including corruption and misconduct, with 37 investigations conducted in 2025 alone, though specific outcomes like conviction rates are not publicly detailed.
Several ICE agents were arrested in recent months, showing risk of misconduct — Associated Press
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Quinceañeras and Republican tumult
"A critical commentary arguing that Republican attempts at cultural outreach (evoked by 'quinceañeras') ring hollow amid DHS turmoil and a hard‑line deportation agenda that undermines trust with Latino communities and exposes the party’s internal dysfunction."
📰 Source Timeline (32)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 20, 2026
3:23 PM
"He needs to go": Fetterman's fellow Democrats rage over his vote on Mullin for DHS
New information:
- Axios names Sen. John Fetterman as the Democrat who crossed party lines and cast the deciding vote to advance Markwayne Mullin’s DHS nomination, confirming he voted with Republicans while committee chair Rand Paul and the other Democrats opposed.
- Multiple Democratic officials, including Rep. Brendan Boyle and Rep. Pat Ryan, publicly attack Fetterman over the vote, with Boyle saying on X, 'He needs to go' and labeling him 'Trump's favorite Democrat,' and Ryan accusing him of abandoning his constituents.
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan tells a town hall that she has 'more success' working with Republican Sen. Dave McCormick than with fellow Democrat Fetterman, sharpening local intra‑delegation criticism.
- Former Rep. Conor Lamb and other Democratic figures outside Congress join the backlash, with Lamb deriding Fetterman as a 'vigilante' and a former candidate apologizing to donors for having shared his donor list with Fetterman’s 2022 campaign.
- Fetterman issues a public statement defending his vote as an 'open‑minded' decision based on a 'strong committed, constructive working relationship' with Mullin and arguing that 'We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS.'
2:49 PM
Trump-backed Senate hopeful gains momentum with top GOP endorsements before Mullin DHS shift
New information:
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune has formally endorsed Rep. Kevin Hern for U.S. Senate, calling him a 'proven conservative leader and fighter for Oklahomans.'
- NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott has also endorsed Hern, saying Republicans are 'excited to welcome him to our Republican majority as Oklahoma’s next Senator.'
- President Donald Trump issued a 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Hern for the seat in a Truth Social post.
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt publicly reiterated on X that, once Mullin is confirmed as DHS secretary, he will quickly appoint a temporary replacement but state law requires any appointee to swear they will not run when the seat next appears on the ballot.
March 19, 2026
4:12 PM
WATCH: Senate Homeland Security advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination for DHS
New information:
- Confirms the committee vote as 8–7 and reiterates that it sends Mullin’s DHS nomination to the full Senate, which could vote as soon as next week.
- Reaffirms that Rand Paul, the Republican chair, voted no and John Fetterman, a Democrat, voted yes, and includes fresh quote language on Fetterman saying his vote was rooted in a committed working relationship on security.
- Adds AP framing that Mullin "signaled support for Trump's immigration priorities" and links that stance to the ongoing DHS funding lapse tied to those policies.
2:03 PM
Mullin’s DHS nomination clears committee by 1 vote, heads to Senate
New information:
- Confirms the Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced Markwayne Mullin’s DHS nomination on March 19, 2026, by an 8–7 vote, with Sen. John Fetterman providing the deciding vote.
- Details that Committee Chair Rand Paul joined most Democrats in voting against Mullin after Mullin refused to apologize for calling Paul a “freaking snake” and saying he understood why Paul’s neighbor assaulted him in 2017.
- Reports that Mullin claimed a 2016 foreign trip was classified, later briefed senators in a secure room, and Sen. James Lankford now believes the trip was not classified but may have been covered only by a nondisclosure agreement.
- Notes DHS has been shut down since Feb. 13 due to a funding lapse, with TSA agents missing a full week of pay and airport lines stretching to hours as the shutdown drags on.
- States that Mullin is expected to clear the 50-vote threshold in the full Senate but faces an “uphill battle” leading DHS amid partisan fights over aggressive immigration enforcement.
1:52 PM
Mullin scores committee approval to head DHS
New information:
- Confirms the homeland security committee vote was 8–7 with Sen. Rand Paul voting no and Sen. John Fetterman voting yes, aligning with earlier reporting but from an additional source.
- Highlights that it is unusual for a Cabinet nominee to advance to a floor vote without support from the chair of the committee of jurisdiction.
- Notes that if Rand Paul ultimately votes against Mullin on the Senate floor, he would be the only senator in modern history to oppose a fellow senator nominated by a president of his own party.
- Adds fresh quotes and color from the March 18 hearing, including Paul’s on‑camera challenge to Mullin to justify his past comments about the assault that broke Paul’s ribs and to explain why the public should trust someone accused of anger issues.
- Includes Democratic criticism that Mullin’s testimony did not move the needle on resolving the DHS shutdown or on statutory ICE/Border Patrol reforms, with a quote from Sen. Richard Blumenthal saying his nomination does not increase the likelihood of compromise.
1:50 PM
Mullin survives bruising hearing with Dem help, inches one step closer to becoming next DHS chief
New information:
- Fox explicitly reports that Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to vote to advance Mullin and that his vote was decisive.
- Fetterman is quoted explaining his support, saying he came with an open mind, is not interested in 'gotcha moments,' and that Mullin has been 'consistent and professional' in his experience.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is quoted saying he will not support Mullin’s nomination on the floor and arguing that problems at DHS, especially ICE and CBP, 'run far deeper than just who is in charge.'
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune is quoted predicting that once out of committee Mullin will have 'broad support across the Senate,' despite the contentious hearing.
- The article underscores that the nomination will now go to the Senate floor and require only a simple majority vote, while noting that ongoing conflict over the DHS shutdown may cost Mullin several Democratic votes.
1:48 PM
Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination for DHS secretary
New information:
- Confirms committee tally as 8–7, with Rand Paul the only Republican opposing advancement and John Fetterman the only Democrat supporting it, allowing the nomination to move forward.
- Adds detailed account of the heated exchange in the confirmation hearing, including Paul confronting Mullin over allegedly calling him a "freaking snake" and saying he understood why a neighbor attacked Paul in 2017, and Paul’s argument that someone who "applauds violence" may not be fit to lead DHS.
- Clarifies that the disputed overseas trip Mullin initially described as classified was addressed in a secure briefing to senators, with Sen. James Lankford saying it involved a nondisclosure related to a whistleblower and dismissing it as "mountain, molehill stuff."
- Includes on‑the‑record criticism from Committee ranking Democrat Gary Peters, who says Mullin has not been "forthright and transparent" and lacks the experience and temperament to restore trust in DHS.
- Notes Trump’s recent praise of Mullin as a "MAGA Warrior" who will advance the "America First" agenda, and Mullin’s own framing of his leadership style as "empowering people" and bringing back confidence in DHS.
1:42 PM
Homeland Security Nominee Clears Key Hurdle
New information:
- The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 8–7 to send Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead DHS to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
- Committee support broke along party lines except that Republican Chair Rand Paul voted no and Democrat John Fetterman voted yes, providing the margin Mullin needed.
- Paul threatened to hold up the vote unless Mullin elaborated in classified session on an overseas trip he has described as experiencing a war zone despite having no military background; Paul says he will vote against confirmation.
- Mullin is expected to face a full Senate confirmation vote next week and would take over DHS at what the article calls a ‘sensitive moment’ in Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
10:48 AM
Sen. Blumenthal discusses reforming DHS and his concerns about the war in Iran
New information:
- Blumenthal says Mullin failed in the hearing to establish meaningful policy differences from ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
- He specifies the core reforms Democrats are seeking: visible badges and identification for DHS officers, bans on officers wearing masks, mandatory body cameras, and a clear right for people to go to court when officers harm them illegally.
- Blumenthal states that 'so far, the administration has failed to agree to' these basic reforms, framing them as similar to standards many U.S. police departments already face.
9:30 AM
'Tell me to my face': Top moments in Mullin's heated confirmation hearing to be Trump's next DHS chief
New information:
- Article details Paul’s opening confrontation in which he accuses Mullin of lacking the courage to tell him to his face that the 2017 assault was justified, and Mullin responds by saying he previously told Paul he could "understand" why the neighbor attacked him.
- The piece quotes Mullin explicitly acknowledging that his prior description of Minnesota ICE‑shooting victim Alex Pretti as a "deranged individual that came in to cause max damage" was a mistake, saying, "Those words probably should have been retracted" and that he "went out there too fast" without facts.
- It notes that Committee Chair Rand Paul plans to oppose Mullin’s nomination and that without Democratic support on the panel, Mullin’s confirmation could be substantially slowed despite Trump’s March 31 deadline.
March 18, 2026
11:00 PM
Sen Rand Paul says Trump’s DHS pick, Markwayne Mullin, is 'unfit' for the job after heated hearing exchange
New information:
- In a Fox News 'America Reports' interview, Sen. Rand Paul explicitly called Markwayne Mullin 'unacceptable and unfit to hold office' and said he will vote against his confirmation as DHS secretary.
- Paul detailed that his 2017 neighbor attack caused six broken ribs, lung damage, partial lung removal, and two bouts of pneumonia, arguing that anyone who 'readily' understands or justifies that violence is unfit to lead law enforcement.
- Paul quoted Mullin as saying he could 'understand' why Paul's neighbor attacked him and criticized Mullin’s past references to dueling and caning in the Senate and a quote that 'men will settle their differences by you punching them in the mouth,' portraying this as evidence of a violent temperament.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune is quoted reaffirming that, despite their 'personal history,' he still believes Mullin is the 'right person' for the DHS job, and Paul conceded Mullin is likely to be confirmed absent an apology.
10:40 PM
Mullin grilled on past remarks in tense DHS confirmation hearing
New information:
- PBS piece emphasizes that much of the hearing’s heat centered on senators grilling Mullin over his past comments, not just his unexplained foreign travel or security‑work claims.
- The report highlights senators pressing Mullin on how his leadership and enforcement posture would differ from ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s, framing the hearing around continuity vs. change at DHS.
- The segment underscores that exchanges became "heated and emotional" at multiple points in the hearing, adding color and confirming the contentious tone already reported elsewhere.
10:06 PM
One 'freaking snake' and no apologies: How the Mullin hearing went off the rails
New information:
- Details of a fiery, on‑the‑record clash between committee chair Sen. Rand Paul and nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin, including Paul’s opening challenge to Mullin to justify earlier remarks that appeared to condone the assault that left Paul with broken ribs.
- Direct quotes in which Mullin reiterates past comments that he could "understand" why Paul’s neighbor attacked him, calls Paul a "freaking snake," and explicitly refuses to apologize during the hearing.
- Color and context around how Mullin leaned into a 'fight, fight, fight' posture aligned with Trump’s political style, with GOP colleagues and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy visibly backing him in the hearing room, highlighting both his loyalty to Trump and the intra‑GOP rift over his nomination.
8:52 PM
Markwayne Mullin’s ‘super secret’ travel suddenly gives senators some pause
New information:
- During the March 18, 2026 hearing, Mullin told senators that his past 'smell of war' comments referred to 2015–2016 foreign trips he described as 'classified,' even though he has no military service and had not disclosed such travel to the committee.
- Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Gary Peters publicly questioned whether Mullin had in fact been on any 'super secret mission,' noting his travel was with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, not Intelligence or Armed Services.
- After a closed‑door classified session, Democratic senators said they remained unsatisfied with Mullin’s explanation, and Mullin ally Sen. James Lankford suggested the trips may have been covered by a non‑disclosure agreement rather than formally classified activity.
- Lankford, Peters and Sen. Maggie Hassan all told reporters they did not know whether the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would still vote on Mullin’s nomination on Thursday as Paul had previously indicated, injecting fresh uncertainty into the confirmation timeline.
- Lankford characterized the dispute as "mountain‑molehill stuff" and said the overseas trip involved a whistleblower, framing the issue as much smaller than the committee fight suggests.
8:18 PM
Mullin faces sharp criticism as DHS nominee – and tests softer immigration tone
New information:
- Frames the hearing explicitly against a five‑week partial DHS shutdown and a months‑long DHS leadership crisis, with Mullin pledging to 'bring confidence back to the agency.'
- Details a sharp, personal clash with Committee Chairman Rand Paul, including Paul’s question about trusting 'a man with anger issues' and Mullin’s acknowledgment he said he 'understood' Paul’s 2017 assault.
- Reports Mullin’s specific policy stance that FEMA should be 'restructured, but not scrapped.'
- Adds that Mullin affirmed support for judicial warrants before forcibly entering homes 'unless we’re pursuing someone,' indicating some distance from a DHS policy introduced last year.
- Notes his stated willingness to examine local impacts of new immigration facilities amid community backlash.
- Captures a more complete, hedged expression of regret over calling Minneapolis victim Alex Pretti 'deranged,' with Mullin admitting he spoke 'without the facts' but stopping short of a full apology, saying he would apologize to the family only 'if proven wrong' after an investigation.
- Highlights Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ concern that Mullin’s account of past official travel 'seems to keep changing,' raising specific questions about his candor and transparency requirements for the nomination process.
- Includes supportive testimony from GOP Sen. James Lankford describing Mullin as a hands‑on problem solver based on a 2013 Oklahoma tornado disaster scene anecdote.
7:43 PM
Watch: Markwayne Mullin says he regrets calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual"
New information:
- During the confirmation hearing, Sen. Gary Peters questioned Markwayne Mullin about international trips he has taken while serving in Congress.
- Mullin stated on the record that he regrets calling Alex Pretti a 'deranged individual' after Pretti was shot and killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis in early January.
- The clip confirms Mullin is now attempting to walk back at least some of his earlier rhetoric about the Minneapolis killing while under confirmation scrutiny.
5:22 PM
"Tell me to my face": Paul a "no" on Mullin after heated hearing
New information:
- Committee chair Sen. Rand Paul said after the hearing that he will vote against reporting Markwayne Mullin’s DHS nomination out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
- Paul opened the hearing by challenging Mullin to "tell me to my face" why comments Mullin made about an assault that left Paul with broken ribs were justified, and accused Mullin of having "anger issues."
- Mullin directly confronted Paul in his opening, accusing him of fighting Republicans more than working with them, defending his prior remarks as criticisms of Paul's "gimmicks" and saying he would not apologize for "pointing out your character."
- Despite his opposition, Paul told another outlet he has agreed to allow an "expeditious vote" on Mullin’s nomination in committee.
4:46 PM
WATCH: Sen. Paul asks DHS nominee Mullin if he believes violence can resolve political differences
New information:
- PBS provides verbatim exchange where Rand Paul asks Mullin if he believes political disputes can be resolved by violence and Mullin responds, “I don't believe in political violence. I've made that very clear.”
- Paul confronts Mullin with his past references to historical ‘precedence’ for resolving political differences through caning and dueling and corrects Mullin’s claim that dueling is still on the books, saying it has been illegal for 170 years.
- The article notes Paul cited Mullin’s prior CNN interview where Mullin said he had “no regrets” about a near-brawl with a witness at a 2023 Senate hearing, sharpening the line of criticism about Mullin’s suitability to model use-of-force limits as DHS chief.
4:15 PM
Trump highlights Border Patrol union's endorsement of Sen Markwayne Mullin to helm DHS
New information:
- President Trump publicly highlighted the National Border Patrol Council’s endorsement of Sen. Markwayne Mullin to be DHS Secretary, reposting the union’s letter and social media support on Truth Social.
- NBPC President Paul Perez sent a March 17, 2026 letter to Senate Homeland Security Committee chair Rand Paul and ranking member Gary Peters, formally endorsing Mullin and urging the committee to 'swiftly' advance his nomination.
- The NBPC amplified its endorsement on X, calling Mullin its choice to lead DHS and praising Trump’s 'tremendously successful leadership' on border issues.
- Kristi Noem told DHS employees in an internal message that her last day as Secretary will be March 31, 2026, and described her new role as Special Envoy for the 'Shield of the Americas' initiative focused on dismantling drug cartels alongside other cabinet officials.
3:29 PM
Paul calls Mullin a "man with anger issues" in confirmation hearing
New information:
- Rand Paul, as committee chair, explicitly labeled Markwayne Mullin a 'man with anger issues' during Mullin’s DHS confirmation hearing.
- Paul recounted his 2017 yard assault in detail at the hearing, described his injuries, and directly accused Mullin of justifying and celebrating that attack in prior comments.
- Mullin responded that he could 'understand' why Paul’s neighbor assaulted him because of Paul's behavior, reiterated calling Paul a 'snake in the grass,' and did not apologize, leading Paul to ask that the record reflect Mullin’s 'lack of contrition.'
- Paul tied Mullin’s 2023 attempt to start a physical fight with Teamsters President Sean O'Brien in a Senate HELP hearing to concerns about whether Mullin can model proper use-of-force limits for 250,000 DHS personnel.
3:11 PM
Sen Rand Paul grills Mullin on past comments on assault: 'Tell it to my face'
New information:
- Rand Paul used his opening statement as committee chair to accuse Markwayne Mullin of excusing the 2017 neighbor assault on Paul and challenged him to repeat those past remarks ‘to my face’.
- Mullin responded by saying that in a prior private conversation he told Paul he could ‘understand’ why Paul’s neighbor did what he did, and acknowledged calling Paul a ‘snake in the grass.’
- Mullin told the committee he is ‘blunt and direct,’ said he can ‘set aside’ personal animosity if Paul will, and pledged as DHS secretary to protect all states, including Kentucky, despite their feud.
11:22 AM
Trump DHS pick Markwayne Mullin will appear before senators for his confirmation hearing
New information:
- Confirms Mullin’s hearing is the first opportunity for lawmakers and the public to hear directly from him about how he plans to run DHS.
- Provides additional White House framing via spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, emphasizing Mullin will focus on 'removing the worst-of-the-worst criminal illegal aliens' in line with Trump’s agenda.
- Includes advance excerpts of opening remarks from Sen. Gary Peters, who says he has 'reservations' about Mullin’s readiness and calls for 'straightforward' reforms to align DHS officers’ conduct with police rules.
- Reiterates and contextualizes that intense enforcement operations in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis — including controversial tactics and two protester shooting deaths in Minneapolis — are a central backdrop for questioning Mullin.
- Stresses that the public mood has soured on mass‑deportation tactics and that Democrats are refusing to fund DHS until conduct reforms are made.
10:00 AM
Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing set for today
New information:
- CBS specifies that Mullin’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee is set for 9:30 a.m. today and will be live‑streamed.
- The article reports DHS has been shut down for more than a month due to a funding impasse over immigration enforcement operations.
- It adds that hundreds of TSA officers have quit and many are calling out sick as they work without pay, creating significant staffing headaches at U.S. airports.
- CBS notes Democrats attempted unanimous‑consent funding for most DHS agencies (blocked by Republicans), while Republicans pushed a temporary full‑DHS funding bill (blocked by Democrats), detailing the latest failed maneuvers on the Hill.
- The piece emphasizes Mullin is considered on a 'glidepath' to confirmation, with the committee potentially voting as soon as Thursday and Republican leaders expecting some Democratic support.
9:00 AM
Mullin faces Democrat grilling in first hurdle to lead DHS amid shutdown fight
New information:
- Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee explicitly plan to use the hearing to extract Mullin’s commitments to 'far‑reaching and fundamental' reforms to DHS immigration enforcement.
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal is quoted calling Mullin’s past 'incendiary statements' disqualifying unless he retracts them and warning Mullin should be 'defeated and rejected' if he refuses deep reforms.
- The article underscores Mullin’s 'icy' personal relationship with Committee Chair Sen. Rand Paul, who declined to preview how the hearing will go, saying only, 'Come tomorrow, and you’ll find out more.'
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune says GOP leaders have not formally whipped votes but notes Mullin has 'good, strong relationships' with Democrats and frames the nomination as giving Democrats the leadership change they demanded when Kristi Noem was removed.
- Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat on the committee, is identified as an early public supporter of Mullin’s nomination and says he is in ongoing talks with Mullin about DHS reforms and has a planned pre‑hearing meeting.
- The piece reiterates Trump’s desired timeline: he wants Mullin installed and Noem out by March 31, adding urgency to the confirmation push despite Democratic resistance.
9:00 AM
Markwayne Mullin’s offer on DHS: The same Trump agenda, a new hardline leader
New information:
- Confirms Mullin will face his Senate colleagues in a confirmation hearing on Wednesday in the same type of committee room where former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure began to unravel.
- Details that DHS remains shut down and under scrutiny for two fatal ICE shootings in Minneapolis, which have sparked protests and questions about agency tactics.
- Reports that Mullin publicly defended the January shooting of Renee Good as “justified,” saying, “If you don’t want to be in harm’s way, don’t get in the way of police officers from doing their job.”
- Includes Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s on‑record support for Mullin, with her critique of Noem’s management and her call for “more engagement with the Congress” from DHS leadership.
- Quotes Sens. John Kennedy and Thom Tillis outlining what they want from Mullin on FEMA disaster relief and on Operation Charlotte’s Web, with Tillis saying Mullin should “come clean” about the ICE surge in North Carolina that led to detention of U.S. citizens.
9:00 AM
Sen. Mullin faces confirmation hearing to lead Homeland Security Department
New information:
- NPR confirms the hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and will be before the Senate Homeland Security Committee (with live stream).
- Reports that Kristi Noem becomes the first Cabinet secretary to leave Trump’s second-term administration and has been reassigned as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a regional coalition of Latin American countries.
- Details that an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota led to protests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens, a key factor in Noem’s bipartisan criticism and removal.
- States that over 100,000 DHS employees are currently furloughed or working without pay due to the partial DHS shutdown, including TSA and FEMA workers who are unrelated to immigration enforcement.
- Provides excerpts of prepared opening remarks from Senate Homeland Security Committee ranking Democrat Gary Peters, including his concerns about Mullin’s 'readiness' and his warning that the DHS secretary should not be a 'cable news commentator' in crises.
- Notes that Mullin’s nomination has drawn support from Teamsters president Sean O’Brien, despite Mullin having previously threatened to fight him in a Senate hearing, with O’Brien now calling Mullin willing to 'stand their butt up to protect America.'
- Reiterates Trump’s posted rationale for choosing Mullin, including his pledge that Mullin will 'Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country' and 'MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.'
8:50 AM
Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past
New information:
- Axios reports that Markwayne Mullin has privately told colleagues he did dangerous private security work in Middle East war zones, including Afghanistan, before running for Congress, though there is no public record of such work.
- Multiple former House colleagues say Mullin has described spending extended periods overseas 'protecting our country' in a non-military role, and Mullin himself told a radio show he did 'special assignments outside of DoD' working 'alongside' those under military contract.
- Mullin refused to answer Axios’ questions directly, saying, 'Brother, you know that I can't talk about any questions like this,' while his spokesperson framed his pre‑Congress work as Christian 'mission work' and mentorship for U.S. troops, not confirming the war‑zone security claims.
March 17, 2026
6:02 PM
Trump's security pick Mullin poised to inherit a DHS beset by challenges
New information:
- AP details that Mullin would "walk into" DHS with immigration enforcement at a crossroads, delayed disaster aid angering states, and frustrated travelers facing long TSA lines due to a monthlong funding battle in Congress.
- The article specifies that outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s social‑media‑driven management style contributed to her downfall and that Mullin is expected to follow White House policy priorities while being seen in the Senate more as a de facto spokesman for Trump than a legislator.
- It reports that approval of Trump’s immigration approach has fallen since the start of his second term, with most Americans now saying he has "gone too far," raising pressure on Mullin to recalibrate how mass deportations are carried out.
- Former acting ICE Director John Sandweg is quoted warning Mullin will need to decide whether enforcement focuses on "numbers or quality"—mass arrest sweeps versus more targeted operations—and that he will face internal pressure to keep deportation numbers high.
- Sen. John Kennedy, R‑La., is quoted saying DHS has "serious management problems" and that he told Mullin a full audit of the department is needed.
10:00 AM
Mullin wins backing from China, Cuba hawks — and some Democrats — as critics question fitness to lead DHS
New information:
- Sen. James Lankford, a Homeland Security Committee member from Oklahoma, publicly calls Mullin 'the right man at the right time' and says he expects Mullin to 'turn FEMA around.'
- Rep. Carlos Gimenez, the only Cuban‑born member of Congress and a leading Cuba hawk, strongly endorses Mullin, tying his support to expectations of a 'dramatic transition in Cuba' and saying he trusts Mullin to implement a 'course‑correction' at DHS.
- Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, says he will vote to confirm Mullin, citing agreement on border security and 'rounding up and deporting criminals' while criticizing Kristi Noem’s Minneapolis operation.
- Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, also on the Homeland Security Committee, goes on record as a hard 'no,' framing Mullin’s confirmation as a referendum on Trump’s immigration enforcement and FEMA performance and saying the administration resists needed reforms.
- Trump has publicly floated the idea that Cuba’s regime could collapse 'pretty soon,' with backers suggesting Mullin is suited to manage DHS during potential upheaval there.
9:00 AM
Wrestler, senator, tribal citizen: Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s pick to lead DHS?
New information:
- Confirms that Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin is President Trump’s nominee to replace fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and that his Senate confirmation hearing is set for Wednesday.
- States that DHS has been in a partial shutdown for about five weeks, leaving thousands of employees unpaid while the department faces heightened risks from the Iran war and pressure to execute mass deportations.
- Details Mullin’s background as a former mixed martial arts fighter, collegiate wrestler, rancher, and plumbing company owner, and notes he lacks a formal law-enforcement background, which is typical for DHS secretaries.
- Reports that Trump publicly labeled Mullin a 'MAGA Warrior' and that Mullin responded by praising Trump for having 'the most secure U.S. border in American history' and pledging to 'defend the homeland.'
- Includes on‑the‑record support from GOP Sen. John Boozman, who calls Mullin well liked on both sides of the aisle and predicts he will have little trouble being confirmed.
March 16, 2026
3:00 PM
Trump's mass deportation agenda is at a crossroads as DHS changes leadership
New information:
- Confirms timing and framing of Kristi Noem’s departure and Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s upcoming DHS confirmation hearings as the immediate ‘crossroads’ for Trump’s immigration agenda.
- Reports that the White House political director, at a retreat at Trump’s Florida golf club, urged Republicans to emphasize enforcement against people with criminal records, while the White House press office insists the overall mass‑deportation agenda is unchanged.
- Quotes House Speaker Mike Johnson calling the aggressive deportation sweeps a political “hiccup” and promising a “course correction,” even as operations continue and ramp up.
- Highlights civil‑liberties concerns from the ACLU’s Sarah Mehta, who says the public is now seeing what “mass detention and mass deportation” look like and describes DHS as “really going forward with some of the cruelest policies.”
- Includes pro‑deportation advocate Rosemary Jenks arguing that now is an “opportunity” to increase deportation numbers amid internal GOP talk of backing away from Trump’s campaign‑trail mass deportation promise.