Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Markwayne Mullin confirmed as the next secretary of Homeland Security The Senate has confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next secretary of Homeland Security. The Oklahoma Republican replaces Kristi Noem and takes over a department mired in controversy. Politics Markwayne Mullin confirmed as the next secretary of Homeland Security March 24, 20267:18 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition Elena Moore Markwayne Mullin confirmed as the next secretary of Homeland Security Listen · 1:59 1:59 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5757989/nx-s1-9700594" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript The Senate has confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next secretary of Homeland Security. The Oklahoma Republican replaces Kristi Noem and takes over a department mired in controversy. Sponsor Message
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
President Trump has a new secretary of Homeland Security.
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JAMES LANKFORD: On this vote, the ayes are 54. The nays are 45. The nomination of Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be secretary of Homeland Security is confirmed.
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MARTÍNEZ: Senators confirmed Mullin to take charge of an agency wrestling with a shutdown for more than a month. Here's NPR's Elena Moore.
ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: It's been a busy few weeks for Markwayne Mullin. Just days into March, the first-term Republican senator was tapped to replace Kristi Noem as secretary of DHS. Speaking to reporters that day, he said this.
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MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I am super excited about this opportunity. It came at a - at not a complete surprise, but it came at a little bit of surprise for us.
MOORE: Mullin sped through the confirmation process, but not without some bumps along the way. During his confirmation hearing last week, Mullin faced some of the strongest pushback from a member of his own party. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky criticized Mullin for once challenging a witness to a fight during a 2023 congressional hearing. Paul questioned Mullin's temperament.
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RAND PAUL: Explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents.
MOORE: Mullin later responded and said this.
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MULLIN: I can have difference of opinions with everybody in this room. But as secretary of Homeland, I'll be protecting everybody.
MOORE: Now that he's confirmed, Mullin faces a fresh set of challenges. Congress is scheduled to go on recess at the end of the week, but party leaders remain at odds over how to end the DHS shutdown. Trump is also pressuring lawmakers to prioritize passing the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Don't worry about Easter, going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus.
MOORE: But Trump's voting bill could complicate talks to fund DHS. If lawmakers go on recess without a deal, Mullin may be taking the reins at a department where nearly half its workers aren't getting paid. Elena Moore, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF LUNGFISH'S "NECROPHONES") Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor MessageBecome an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1167:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(323)},323:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(84)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1140),c(116),c(94),c(52),c(493),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1141),c(143),c(1142),c(238),c(48),c(1143)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1167,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();