Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s pick for homeland security secretary, will appear before the Senate for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday (March 18), where he will face questions about his vision for the department amid the administration’s push for mass deportations.
Mullin, a senator from Oklahoma with 13 years in Congress, is a close ally of President Trump. If confirmed, she will replace Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month following growing criticism of her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Mullin is a former mixed martial artist and owner of a plumbing business. He has previously expressed support for immigration enforcement operations and is expected to work closely with Trump’s agenda.
Senate questions focus on immigration enforcement
The confirmation hearing marks the first opportunity for lawmakers and the public to hear directly from Mullin about running the Cabinet’s third-largest department, which has roughly 260,000 employees. DHS responsibilities range from protecting the president to disaster recovery and deporting illegal immigrants.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement: “Whether it’s protecting the homeland from bad actors, stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into American communities, or removing the worst criminal illegal aliens, Senator Mullin will work tirelessly to implement the President’s agenda.”
But Democrats are expected to press Mullin on how he plans to balance law enforcement with civil liberties.
He calls for reforms from the Democrats
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, emphasized the need for “direct reforms” to the rules governing police departments. He said the department needs someone with a “steady hand.”
Peters also expressed reservations about whether Mullin is ready to take on such a significant role in a challenging national security environment.
Fallout from previous leadership
Under Noem, DHS faced criticism for aggressive enforcement operations in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis. Protesters clashed with federal officers, and there were allegations of mistreatment of bystanders and detainees. The deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s immigration tactics.
Department of FEMA Challenges
Mullin is also likely to be asked about the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has been in the midst of reforms under Trump and Noah. All contracts above $100,000 required Noem’s approval, causing delays in reimbursements to states managing disaster recovery.
Trump announced that Noem would become a special envoy for a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Noem praised her tenure, saying she had achieved: “Historic achievements at DHS to keep America safe.”
Security and shutdown concerns
The ongoing partial government shutdown has caused long lines at U.S. airports as DHS security screening workers continue without pay. Republicans argued that the Democrats’ refusal to fund the department threatened national security.
