On March 6, President Donald Trump nominated Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as the next Department of Homeland Security Secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.
If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin is expected to assume the role of Secretary on March 31. He would take charge of DHS after Kristi Noem’s tenure, a period that saw sweeping immigration crackdowns and more than two million deportations nationwide.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the announcement, Mullin said he was surprised but enthusiastic about the opportunity to join Trump’s cabinet.
“I was excited,” Mullin said of the call informing him of the nomination. “The president and I have a really good relationship. We talk all the time anyway.”
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He added that the confirmation process would begin immediately.
“Of course, we’ve still got to do this little thing called confirmation, and we’re going to get started on it right away,” he said.
Mullin also signaled he would seek bipartisan support, noting that Democratic Senator John Fetterman had already reached out.
“John already texted me,” Mullin said. “We’re going to try to earn everybody’s vote.”
Despite his strong Republican identity, Mullin emphasized that the department’s mission transcends party politics.
“Yes, I’m a Republican. Yes, I’m conservative,” he said. “But the Department of Homeland Security is to keep everybody safe… regardless if you support me or if you don’t.”
Markwayne Mullin: From plumbing business to the Senate
Mullin was born in Tulsa and is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, making him the first native American U.S. senator in nearly two decades.
Before entering politics, he ran his family’s plumbing company after his father fell ill, expanding it into a multi-state home-services business before selling his company in 2021.
The Senator also competed as a professional mixed martial artist, finishing his career undefeated with a 5-0 record, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
Mullin entered Congress in 2013, serving five terms in the House of Representatives before winning a 2022 special election to the Senate seat vacated by Jim Inhofe.
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If confirmed, Markwayne will oversee a sprawling department responsible for immigration enforcement, disaster response, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenge ahead, Mullin said, “Department of Homeland Security has a very broad jurisdiction.”
“And I think there’s a lot of work that we need to do… but I’m excited about the opportunity.”
Kristi Noem praises DHS achievements
Hours after Trump announced the change, outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem addressed supporters in Nashville, reflecting on her tenure leading the department.
Noem said she looked forward to continuing national security work alongside Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth in her next role.
“I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren,” she said.
During her remarks, Noem highlighted several enforcement achievements during her time at DHS, including:
- 1,400 new 287(g) agreements with state and local agencies for immigration enforcement
- The removal of over 7,700 gang members nationwide
- Deportation of more than 1,500 known or suspected terrorists
- A surge in self-deportations amid stricter enforcement measures
She credited federal and local law enforcement partnerships for the results and said President Trump remained focused on fulfilling his promise to “make America safe again.”
“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard.”
Mullin’s nomination now moves to the Senate, with the focus turning to confirmation hearings centering on immigration enforcement, border security strategy, and the department’s direction under Trump.
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