Markwayne Mullin sworn in as DHS secretary after Senate confirmation
Washington — Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, taking the oath of office at the White House one day after winning confirmation in the Senate.
At a ceremony in the Oval Office, President Trump called Mullin a "great American patriot" and said he has "been a close and vital partner in helping us secure the border, stop migrant crime, end the scourge of illegal drugs and make America safe again and make America great again."
Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath as Mullin's family looked on. The Oklahoma Republican said the moment was "the most nervous I've ever been" and vowed to hit the ground running.
"No one is going to outwork me, and I'm not going to let any of them outwork me. The president has entrusted me with this, and failure is not an option," Mullin said.
His appointment finalizes Mr. Trump's shakeup of DHS following the ouster of Kristi Noem, whose leadership of the department came under intense scrutiny in recent months.
The Senate confirmed Mullin in a 54-45 vote Monday evening. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico voted in favor of Mullin's confirmation. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to oppose him.
Noem resigned as secretary earlier this month. Her handling of two deadly shootings by federal agents during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis in January prompted criticism from Democrats and Republicans and kickstarted an impasse over funding for the agency that has persisted. But it was criticism over Noem's advertising spending at a congressional hearing days before her ouster that appeared to seal her fate.
Mullin takes over DHS at a critical period, with the shutdown of the department nearing 40 days. Democrats have opposed funding DHS without reforms to its immigration enforcement agencies. GOP senators said Tuesday that they were coalescing around a deal that would fund most of DHS, and presented an offer to Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Mullin said at his confirmation hearing last week that his leadership will differ from Noem's. He said his style is "empowering people." And he indicated that agents will be required to secure judicial warrants to enter homes and businesses, marking a key change from DHS' previous position.
Asked Monday about what changes he wants to see at DHS under Mullin, the president told reporters that "he's going to be fantastic. He'll make his own changes."
"He's a fantastic guy," Mr. Trump said. "I think he's just the right guy."
In the Senate, Mullin has served as a key communicator between the upper and lower chamber, as well as the White House. Before coming to the Senate, Mullin represented Oklahoma in the House for a decade. The 48-year-old business owner and former MMA fighter has been known to work across the aisle and has strong relationships with some Democrats, which Heinrich and Fetterman have cited for their support.
Heinrich said in a statement Sunday that he and Mullin have "a very honest and constructive working relationship." He stressed that Mullin is "not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views," adding that he looks forward to having a DHS secretary who doesn't "take their orders" from the White House.
"This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend," Heinrich said. "We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share."
For Mullin, it was support from a Democrat that allowed his nomination to move forward. Paul, the sole Republican to oppose Mullin's confirmation, chairs the committee that conducted his confirmation hearing. He wasted no time conveying his distaste for Mullin, quickly calling him out at the hearing for allegedly calling him a "freaking snake," along with saying he understood why a neighbor attacked Paul in 2017. Paul questioned whether "someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force."
Paul ultimately voted against advancing Mullin's nomination out of the committee, but Fetterman provided the key vote allowing it to move forward.
Mullin's confirmation opens a seat in the Senate, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt named his replacement earlier Tuesday. Stitt tapped Alan Armstrong, an oil and gas executive, who will serve in the Senate until voters select a replacement to serve out the remainder of Mullin's term.