March 18, 2026
Will Senator Markwayne Mullin’s be the next Secretary of Homeland Security? Well today was supposed to be a slam dunk confirmation hearing for him in front of his own Senate colleagues. Normally this is easy breezy. But that’s not exactly how it went.
Aside from that back and forth between two Republicans – Democrats also had some pointed questions for Mullin. They asked him about a foreign trip Mullin took that that he claims was done as part of his official duties but was classified. Mullin testified he was not working with the Department of Defense, State department or contractor but also said publicly of the trip that “war smells bad” he wouldn’t say what any of that means.
But then Senator Peters pressed Mullin about his comments after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnestoa.
So what’s next? Well – Mullin has a big problem because of Senator Rand Paul…Senator Paul who is the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security committee — gets to decide when his committee votes to advance Mullin’s nomination. And as you just heard – there’s some animosity between those two – to put it nicely. Paul has suggested he’s could – if he wanted to — slow walk Mullin’s nomination. Now after today’s hearing Senator Paul said he would move forward with proceed with the vote “as of now.” That vote is scheduled for tomorrow. But whenever that happens – Senator Rand Paul already said he will vote no on Mullin to be the next DHS secretary.
So that means at least one Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security committee will have to vote yes on Markwayne Mullin. As of right now – Senator John Fetterman a democrat from Pennsylvania says he’s open to voting yes.
If Mullin’s nomination advances out of the committee then a full senate vote could happen as soon as next week.
Watch Sen. Mullin’s full confirmation hearing here.
