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Senate Democrats are poised to fire Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, his first hurdle to becoming the next head of Homeland Security.
Mullin’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains shut down amid Democrats’ desire for tough reforms to the immigration enforcement agency.
Senate Democrats on the committee plan to use those requests to gauge Mullin’s willingness to make changes at the agency. They’ve been arguing since the current DHS secretary Kristi Noems redeployment from the position that changes must go beyond staff turnover.
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Sen. Markwayne Mullin speaks to reporters on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, DC (Tom Williams/Getty Images)
“He’s made some pretty inflammatory statements that reflect his resistance to reform and that would make him unqualified unless he has a clear explanation and even a retraction,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Fox News Digital.
Asked if he wanted assurances about changes at the agency, Blumenthal said Mullin “needs to make commitments to reform.”
“If he does not commit to far-reaching and fundamental reforms, he should be defeated and dismissed,” he said.
Mullin also has a cold relationship with Sena. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the committee. Asked how the hearing might go, Paul said: “Come tomorrow, you’ll find out more.”
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, said he plans to give Mullin a fair shake, but has questions about his colleague’s views on how the agency might change with him at the helm.
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks to reporters outside the Senate chamber after a vote at the U.S. Capitol on February 27, 2025, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
“Certainly, I’d love to get his take on how he sees things right now and what he might change,” Peters told Fox News Digital. “That would be quite a series of questions.”
Senate Republicans are rushing to get Mullin through the process, given that president Donald Trump wants Mullin in and Noem out by March 31st. The confirmation hearing is the first step, and despite opposition from Democrats, Mullin is likely to clear that hurdle and head to a full Senate vote later this month.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., said he and his leadership team did not try to muster votes for Mullin, but noted that Democrats “would choose to turn against one of their colleagues in the Senate” after getting exactly what they wanted: Noah replaced.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news conference with Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, October 28, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“He has good, strong connections on the other side of the aisle,” Thune said. “And I think this is what the Democrats have been asking for. They wanted a new change and a shake-up in leadership and that is happening now.”
While Mullin will enter a hearing that will test his relationship with his colleagues across the aisle, he has at least one Democratic friend on the committee.
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Sen. John Fetterman, The D-Pa., who almost immediately endorsed Mullin’s appointment, said he is still talking to the lawmaker about DHS reforms. Fetterman planned to meet with Mullin before the hearing.
“Is it controversial to talk to members of the opposite party? It might be controversial to some people, but it’s going to be an ongoing dialogue with him,” Fetterman said. “You know, I said it, he’s a good guy, and I got to know him at CODEL over the years.”
