Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, is poised to take over the department that’s been causing Trump the biggest problems.
As the president’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of Kristi Noem’s ousting, Mullin is set up to get his GOP colleagues’ support for the job. But when Mullin does, he’ll inherit a political mess at DHS.
The uproar over DHS’s conduct since federal agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this January will hang over Mullin’s confirmation process. Democrats will press very hard for information from the FBI investigations into these deaths.
Mullin may have an easier time navigating the situation than an outside pick for DHS. As a sitting senator, Mullin will receive some level of deference from colleagues. Most Republican senators and one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), were quick to praise Mullin and endorse his nomination.
But it’s likely that most Senate Democrats will oppose Mullin given their ongoing fight over ICE’s operations. There’s pressure from the Democratic base for senators to push back on Trump however they can, especially on his immigration crackdown. This could make the confirmation process more fraught than usual.
“The problems at ICE transcend any one individual,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “We’ve got to end the violence and rein in ICE.”
The funding fight. Meanwhile the DHS shutdown is on track to enter its third week with no signs of progress in talks. Noem’s firing isn’t changing Democrats’ resolve to get ICE reforms in law in exchange for funding DHS.
