Homeland Security

• Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary in a 54-45 Senate vote, replacing fired Kristi Noem to oversee mass immigration raids and deportations. • Republican Rand Paul voted against Mullin, calling him a 'freaking snake' during hearings, while Democrats John Fetterman and Martin Heinrich crossed lines to support him. • Confirmation occurs as DHS partial shutdown risks extending into April amid staffing shortages, with ICE agents deployed to airports to ease security lines.

• The Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin, a 48-year-old former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, as Secretary of Homeland Security in a 54-to-45 vote on Monday. • Mullin replaces Kristi Noem, who was fired from the position under the Trump administration. • Under Trump, DHS has focused intensively on immigration enforcement as a key policy priority.

Oklahoma senator, confirmed in 54-45 vote, replaces Kristi Noem to lead president’s immigration crackdownSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US Senate on Monday confirmed Markwayne Mullin to serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, elevating the Republican senator to a role where he will be among the public faces of Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.The Republican controlled chamber confirmed Mullin largely along party lines, with a vote of 54-45. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate voted to agree to a cloture motion on March 22, 2026, advancing the nomination of Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be Secretary of Homeland Security, with the motion requiring only a simple majority to proceed. • The vote included bipartisan support, with Democratic senators including Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Padilla of California voting yes, while other Democrats like Schiff of California and Bennet of Colorado voted no. • Mullin's confirmation comes amid ongoing negotiations over DHS funding and border security policies during the current government shutdown.

• A late-night cloture vote on March 20, 2026, failed to advance the FY-2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA underfunded amid high travel volumes. • Daily TSA passenger throughput exceeds 2.4 million due to spring-break and March Madness demand, with missed connections at 8% versus a normal 1.6%, prompting three-hour early arrivals for domestic flights. • Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer plans a Saturday vote on a TSA-only continuing resolution, but GOP leaders signal they will block it, risking Easter travel chaos.

Proposal fails to advance in Senate amid growing concerns about long lines to get through screening at some airportsA bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security failed to advance on Friday in the Senate amid growing concerns about long lines to get through screening at some of the country’s biggest airports.Democrats declined to provide the support needed to move the funding measure toward final passage. Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said he would offer an alternative measure on Saturday to fund just the Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers and luggage for hazardous items. That too is likely to fail as lawmakers hold a rare weekend session. Continue reading...

Republican senator’s nomination will now be considered by full Senate, where the GOP appears poised to confirm himSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence.Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs voted to advance Mullin’s nomination, with the sole exception of the panel’s chair, Rand Paul of Kentucky, who the day prior had harshly criticized his colleague for comments he made about a neighbor who assaulted Paul in 2017, and an incident six years later in which Mullin readied himself to fight a witness at a committee hearing. Continue reading...