Markwayne Mullin takes over at a precarious moment for DHS - Politico
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The Bottom Line
Oklahoma Republican Markwayne Mullin becomes DHS head during aggressive Trump immigration enforcement push.
How This Affects You
Mullin's enforcement decisions will directly affect immigration policy, border operations, and millions of people navigating deportation, asylum, and citizenship matters.
AI Summary
Markwayne Mullin has taken over as head of the Department of Homeland Security, assuming control of the agency during a period of significant operational and political turbulence. The Oklahoma Republican, previously a congressman, now leads DHS as the Trump administration pursues aggressive immigration enforcement and border security policies that have generated internal friction and legal challenges. Mullin's appointment puts him at the center of some of the administration's most consequential and contentious initiatives, requiring him to manage both career workforce concerns and external pressure from Congress and advocacy groups. The timing places him in a position where decisions on enforcement operations, personnel direction, and policy implementation will directly affect millions of people and test his management of a sprawling federal agency.
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PoliticsDemocrats 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...
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The Senate is on track to confirm Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary, President Donald Trump's nominee to take over the embattled department after firing Kristi Noem amid a public backlash over the administration's immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations.
PoliticsDeal to fund DHS falters amid bipartisan pushback
<p>Momentum toward <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/23/dhs-funding-house-senate-budget-talks-reconciliation" target="_blank">reopening DHS</a> evaporated Tuesday as Democrats drew a hard line on reforms to ICE, swiftly rejecting a proposal that GOP senators had only just persuaded President Trump to entertain.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The Department of Homeland Security has been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/shutdown-homeland-security-senate-negotiations" target="_blank">shut down</a> for more than five weeks — and the resistance from Democrats, paired with skepticism among some Republicans, including Trump, casts serious doubt on whether Congress can strike a deal this week.</p><hr><ul><li>GOP senators had just <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/23/dhs-funding-house-senate-budget-talks-reconciliation" target="_blank">persuaded Trump</a> to back off his demands that the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/save-act-house-convervatives-revolt-...
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Senate talks aimed at ending the 38-day DHS shutdown hit a new roadblock after President Trump called on Republicans to hold out for passage of the SAVE America Act.

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 […]
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