Mullin continues to position himself as an outsider, wearing a cowboy hat.
The United States Senate voted to confirm Republican Senator from Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin as the Secretary of Homeland Security (Department of Homeland Security, DHS). A vote of 54 to 45 will confirm him in the position, replacing Kristi Noem, who was previously dismissed by President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump called Markwayne Mullin a "MAGA warrior" (Make America Great Again — the president's movement), noting that he gets along well with people and possesses the wisdom and courage necessary to advance the "America First" agenda.
"Markwayne will tirelessly work to secure our borders, prevent illegal entry into the country by migrants, murderers, and other criminals, eradicate the problem of illegal drugs, and make America safe again," Trump stated.
The confirmation hearings for Mullin began with a heated exchange between him and his colleague, Republican committee chair Rand Paul, ABC News reports. He recalled an incident in 2023 when Mullin, a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, attacked Teamsters union president Sean O'Brien in the Senate.
"I’m just curious, can a person who endorses violence against their political opponents lead an agency that struggles to accept limitations on the lawful use of force?" Paul stated.
In response, Mullin noted that they spoke with O'Brien and reconciled, shaking hands. Moreover, the latter was present at the confirmation hearing and sat behind him.
"We both talked, shook hands, and agreed that we could have handled things differently. Sean has become a close friend of mine. We communicate regularly. I was on his podcast. That’s how you resolve disagreements," Mullin said.
In addition to Paul, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan — the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee — also voted against the appointment. He stated that Mullin "has shown that he lacks both the experience and the character to lead this critical department," The Hill notes.
However, there were also Democrats who supported his nomination for the head of DHS.
"In addition to Senator John Fetterman (Democrat from Pennsylvania), who supported Mullin shortly after Trump nominated him earlier this month, Mullin also garnered support from Senator Martin Heinrich (Democrat from New Mexico)," the publication adds.
Mullin will lead the Department of Homeland Security during a time when the agency's work is limited by a partial shutdown due to disagreements between the Senate and the White House over demands to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which falls under DHS.
This is related to two fatalities that occurred during immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis in January, followed by protests sparked by this: Democrats believe it was due to the actions of federal ICE agents. Half of Americans support the abolition of ICE to some extent, according to a recent poll by The Economist and YouGov.
Another issue is the funding of DHS, writes the Associated Press (AP). Funding restrictions have led, in particular, to long lines at U.S. airports, as Transportation Security Administration employees do not report to work without pay. To address this issue, agents from the Immigration and Naturalization Service have been sent to airports to help manage the long lines. Therefore, Mullin faces two interconnected problems upon taking this position.
"A courageous senator, a former MMA fighter, a large plumbing company owner, and a multiple-term Congressman, now holds one of the most challenging positions in Trump’s second administration," Politico notes.
The controversial background of the new secretary is also a subject of heightened scrutiny. In the past, Mullin hired a man with a criminal record for his plumbing business. This same individual spent two years in prison for organizing a stash of weapons in Mullin's company office.
Mullin presented himself in his early campaigns as a "plumber, ranch owner, and someone who has never held political office before." As The New York Times notes, such an initial resume for a candidate who has been in the Senate since 2023 may raise questions upon his appointment to the government.
During the same campaign, a complaint was filed against the Republican with the Federal Election Commission alleging that he "excessively alters" the sources of donations to his campaign in official documentation. This raised suspicions that he fraudulently used his plumbing business for campaigning.
At the same time, Mullin continues to position himself as an outsider, wearing a cowboy hat in the Senate chamber, where headwear is frowned upon. He also carries his favorite ball, which he tosses while walking through the Capitol, NYT clarifies. In the Senate, he also became the first Native American in nearly 20 years — he is an officially registered member of the Cherokee Nation.
Mullin will replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary, who is now expected to formally take the position of special envoy for "America’s Shields" — a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. This was previously reported by RTVI.US.
Her resignation came amid media rumors of an affair involving the 34-year married secretary with her advisor and suspicions of improper spending of budget funds on flights and other personal needs. Trump soon stated in an interview with NBC that he was dissatisfied with Noem's spending of over $200 million on the agency's promotional videos.
Noem appeared in agency advertisements at Mount Rushmore on October 2, 2025 — the second day of the federal shutdown, Daily Beast clarifies. According to the publication, $143 million was paid to Safe America Media, a company linked to MAGA, created eight days before the deal.
The production was handled by The Strategy Group, which submitted an invoice for $286,000 with a "signing bonus" of $60,000 without a competition. Noem's makeup cost $3,800. It later turned out that Trump had not approved all expenses and the deal.
During the confirmation hearings last week, Mullin stated that his leadership style would differ from Noem's, CBS News reported.
"He said that his approach is about 'empowering people.' He also noted that agents will need to obtain search warrants to enter homes and offices, which is a key change from the previous position of the Department of Homeland Security," the network emphasizes.
After Mullin's appointment, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is likely to appoint Alan Armstrong, head of a large oil and gas company, to his Senate seat, CBS notes. Armstrong will serve as senator until a new person is elected to fill the remaining term.
Donald Trump will participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security in the Oval Office of the White House at 1:30 PM Eastern Time.
