WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on Monday, March 23, 2026, confirmed Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The vote elevates the former mixed martial arts fighter and businessman to helm the sprawling federal agency, succeeding Kristi Noem.
The confirmation, reported by multiple outlets including NPR, CNN, and NBC News, makes Mullin the newest member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet. It comes after a contentious nomination process that saw his advancement from the Senate Homeland Security Committee by a narrow 8-7 vote last week.
Mullin, 48, is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and was first elected to Congress in 2012, representing Oklahoma’s 2nd district before winning a Senate seat in 2023. In his confirmation hearing, he pledged a “better approach” on immigration enforcement and sought to strike a more cooperative tone, though he faced sharp questioning from both sides of the aisle regarding his temperament and qualifications.
The vote occurred amid a rare weekend Senate session focused on debating the SAVE America Act, a voter reform bill. Mullin’s path to confirmation was notably aided by Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who voted to advance the nomination in committee, drawing criticism from within his own party. Both Democratic senators from Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, voted against his confirmation.
Mullin will now lead a department of over 240,000 employees, tasked with border security, cybersecurity, disaster response, and counterterrorism. He takes charge of DHS during a period of significant political focus on immigration and border policy.