Markwayne Mullin sworn-in as DHS secretary

The Hill
by Mallory Wilson
March 24, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

AI Summary

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) was sworn in Tuesday as Department of Homeland Security secretary after President Trump removed his predecessor from the role. Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath in an Oval Office ceremony attended by Mullin's family and administration officials. The change represents Trump's reshuffling of his cabinet in the opening weeks of his second term, consolidating leadership at the agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster response. Mullin, a former professional mixed-martial artist and businessman, moves from the Senate to lead an agency overseeing roughly 270,000 employees and a multi-billion dollar budget. Trump expressed confidence in Mullin's appointment, signaling the president's backing for the new leadership direction at DHS.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

WATCH LIVE: Sen. Markwayne Mullin testifies in confirmation hearing for DHS secretary
Politics

WATCH LIVE: Sen. Markwayne Mullin testifies in confirmation hearing for DHS secretary

Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, will testify in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

PBS NewsHourMar 17
Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past
Politics

Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past

<p>Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-homeland-security-secretary-nominee" target="_blank">Markwayne Mullin</a> (R-Okla.) has privately hinted to colleagues that he was involved in dangerous private security work in Middle East war zones before running for Congress in 2012, according to three people who have heard him discuss it.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> It's a mystery likely to come up Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing, where he will face colleagues as <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-fired-moved" target="_blank">President Trump's nominee</a> to replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary.</p><hr><ul><li>There's no public record of Mullin — a former professional mixed martial arts fighter who sold his family's plumbing business in 2021 — doing the kind of security work he has alluded to in private.</li><li>But to former colleagues in the House, and on several other occasions, Mullin has suggeste...

AxiosMar 18
Sen. Mullin faces confirmation hearing to lead Homeland Security Department
Politics

Sen. Mullin faces confirmation hearing to lead Homeland Security Department

Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin faces questions from his fellow senators at his confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security,

NPRMar 18
Democrats outraged as Fetterman votes to advance Markwayne Mullin nomination
Politics

Democrats outraged as Fetterman votes to advance Markwayne Mullin nomination

<p>Calls for Pennsylvania senator – Trump’s ‘favorite Democrat’ – to resign after casting decisive committee vote</p><p>Democrats reacted with outrage to their party colleague <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/john-fetterman-democrat-trump-progressive">John Fetterman</a>’s decision to advance the nomination of Republican US senator Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary.</p><p>Fetterman, the senior US senator from Pennsylvania, has in recent months <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/john-fetterman-democrat-trump-progressive">broken with the party</a> several times to support Republican proposals, and has routinely expressed staunch <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/05/john-fetterman-democrat-progressive-senator">support for Israel</a>. He cast the decisive committee vote on Thursday to advance Mullin’s nomination to succeed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us...

The Guardian US NewsMar 20
DHS secretary nominee Mullin presents a different vision for FEMA than predecessor Noem - PBS
Politics

DHS secretary nominee Mullin presents a different vision for FEMA than predecessor Noem - PBS

PBSMar 19
US Senate advances Homeland Security nomination of Mullin, paving way for confirmation vote - Reuters
Politics

US Senate advances Homeland Security nomination of Mullin, paving way for confirmation vote - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxOVE1ITW5keDNHZ0JaU1dHbXJtWkk3cWdXSWFyeFI2cTJIeGJ1dlF6Wmd6R3FxZTVyaHltU0F1X2tjYnpkM2hGcjJBeE1BQTNQb3V5ZzJ5V1JzVGtzRng1VUc1bldTN1k1d2JJZzc3U2E3eE5ZcUhJeHl0X0lPQk9rakd1QUl1LUtVRWpTMXRyMlAzNmRCN0hMWC1PX3pEZ2xrSWhRZTdGbjJQdXNZc3ZyaG4xZFhkdlFZdldMaXN2aU4?oc=5" target="_blank">US Senate advances Homeland Security nomination of Mullin, paving way for confirmation vote</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 22
Read Next
The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court
Politics

The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court

Next week, the Trump administration’s bid to deny birthright citizenship to the US-born children of undocumented immigrants and non-green card holders through an executive order will arrive at the Supreme Court—yet again. Last year, the justices didn’t address the constitutionality of the order directly; instead, they ruled on a procedural question to limit the power […]

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources