Senator Markwayne Mullin, was sworn in as the ninth U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump present in the Oval Office. Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath, and Trump introduced Mullin as “a man who’s going to do a phenomenal job for a country,” highlighting his background as a businessman, rancher, and former lawmaker.
Mullin, 48, succeeds Kristi Noem, who recently left the department to lead Trump’s Shield of the Americas security initiative. He assumes leadership during a period of heightened scrutiny, as Democrats continue withholding funding for the Transportation Security Administration and other DHS subagencies to pressure changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Following his swearing-in, Mullin described the experience as “surreal” and expressed commitment to protecting all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. He noted the dedication of DHS employees, including those working without pay due to a partial government shutdown, asserting, “No one’s going to outwork me. And I’m not going to let any of them outwork me.”
Mullin’s confirmation narrowly advanced after a fractured Republican vote in the Senate Homeland Security Committee. He required support from Democratic Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. Heinrich emphasized their collaborative relationship, stating, “We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share.”
In a public statement, Mullin underscored his priorities, saying he intends to “end the partisan fighting and reopen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a matter of national security” and pledged to work alongside the department’s approximately 260,000 employees. Leaders across both parties, state governments, and industry groups issued statements welcoming his confirmation, emphasizing his experience and commitment to border security, disaster response, and homeland protection.
