The US Senate has confirmed the current Senator from the state of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, as the new US Secretary of Homeland Security.
03/24/2026, 03:3903/24/2026, 03:39
The senators voted for the 48-year-old with a majority of 54 to 45. The Republican had previously been a member of the US House of Representatives for ten years and a senator for three years.
Markwayne Mullin succeeds Kristi Noem.Image: keystone
At the beginning of the month, US President Donald Trump surprisingly fired Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and nominated Mullin as her successor. Noem – once Trump’s preferred candidate for the post – became known for her aggressive approach to deportations.
Most recently, she came into trouble because of the rigorous operations of the immigration agency ICE, which is assigned to the ministry. At the beginning of the year, two Americans also died in fatal shots by emergency services – ICE was also involved here. She was also burdened by her public portrayal, a multi-million dollar advertising campaign and an affair with her advisor.
Mullin is considered a bridge builder and skilled negotiator. He wants to adopt a more moderate tone than his predecessor. In a pre-confirmation hearing, he said that although he was friends with Noem, they had different leadership styles. He must find a solution to how he can enforce Trump’s harsh deportation policies without attracting the displeasure of the US population. (sda/dpa)