US Senator Markway Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC, US.
Ivan Vucci | reuters
A day after a testy confirmation hearing, a Senate committee on Thursday advanced the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Mullin cleared his first procedural hurdle to lead the department despite prodding from his Senate colleagues on Wednesday about his temperament, DHS’s immigration policies and foreign travel while a House member, which he repeatedly said was “classified.”
The vote was 8-7, with Senate panel Chairman Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., the only Republican voting against the nomination and the sole Democrat, Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., voting in favor. Republicans have an 8-7 majority on the committee.
Mullin’s nomination will now go to the full Senate, where he will need a majority for confirmation.
Paul’s “no” vote came after he lashed out at the nominee at a confirmation hearing the day before. Mullin recently said he understood why Paul’s neighbor physically attacked him in 2017 and called Paul, a libertarian-leaning Republican who does not often vote with his party, a “crazy snake.” Paul called Mullin “unrepentant.”
Paul said, “I just wonder whether someone who applauds violence against his political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept the limits of appropriate use of force.”
Paul told reporters after Wednesday’s hearing that he would not support the nomination but remained committed to Thursday’s vote, even as questions swirled about Mullin’s vague description of his travel abroad. After the public hearing on Wednesday, some committee members moved into a sensitive compartmented information facility to get more information from Mullin, where he could talk about classified information.
Mullin was selected to lead the agency earlier this month after President Donald Trump ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem through a Truth Social post.
Fetterman declined to speak to reporters after the vote, instead referring them to a statement he posted to his ex.
Fetterman said, “In January, I asked the President to fire Noem and he did. I approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with a really open mind.” Post. “We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin to protect our country.”