Senate Advances Mullin DHS Confirmation on Party-Line Vote; Final Vote Expected Monday
The Senate advanced Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Homeland Security Secretary 54-37 during a rare weekend session, with confirmation expected late Monday. Only two Democrats, Fetterman and Heinrich, crossed party lines. Mullin replaces Kristi Noem, fired over immigration enforcement backlash, and inherits a department in simultaneous crisis: DHS funding blocked since mid-February, TSA callout rates at historic highs, ICE agents deployed to airports, and CISA operating at 38% staffing. Republican Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul voted against and questioned Mullin's character during his confirmation hearing. Mullin pledged to require judicial warrants for home entries and signaled he would revoke Noem's contract approval rule affecting disaster aid distribution.
Prior IC briefs tracked the Mullin nomination through committee (8-7 vote March 19) and predicted late-week confirmation. Paul's opposition, from the Republican committee chairman, signals Mullin will face skeptical oversight from his own party on civil liberties issues, potentially creating space for FISA and surveillance reform that DHS equities would normally oppose.