Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing set for today

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What to cognize astir Markwayne Mullin's confirmation proceeding today:

Sen. Markwayne Mullin volition look earlier the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee for a confirmation proceeding connected Wednesday greeting arsenic the enclosure tees up the Oklahoma Republican's information to regenerate embattled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
President Trump announced earlier this period that helium planned to regenerate Noem with Mullin pursuing months of criticism implicit her handling of the department's migration enforcement operations. A brace of legislature hearings appeared to present the last stroke days earlier her ouster, arsenic Noem faced disapproval from Republicans, including connected DHS' arguable advertizing spending.
Mullin is expected to sail to Senate confirmation arsenic DHS secretary, being a well-liked subordinate of the precocious enclosure with friends connected some sides of the aisle. But Wednesday's proceeding could beryllium awkward, aft Mullin reportedly called Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the committee chairman, a "freaking snake." Paul told reporters helium would reserve judgement up of the hearing, portion saying it volition "be interesting."
The proceeding is acceptable to statesman astatine 9:30 a.m. and volition beryllium live-streamed successful the video subordinate astatine the apical of this page.

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Who is Markwayne Mullin?

Mullin, 48 has been successful the Senate since 2023, aft representing Oklahoma successful the House for a decade. Mullin is simply a subordinate of the Cherokee Nation, a concern owner, and a erstwhile assemblage wrestler and MMA fighter.

In the Senate, Mullin has served arsenic the de facto middleman with the House, often fielding disagreements betwixt the precocious and little chamber. He's besides a reliable state of the president, propping up his docket connected Capitol Hill.

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Confirmation proceeding comes arsenic DHS remains unopen down

The propulsion to corroborate a caller DHS caput comes arsenic the section has been unopen down for much than a period amid an impasse successful Congress implicit backing for its migration enforcement operation.

Democrats are adamantly against backing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without superior reforms, pursuing 2 deadly shootings by national agents successful Minneapolis successful January. Senate Democrats and the White House person been trading proposals successful caller weeks, but a breakthrough appears acold off.

Meanwhile, the shutdown's interaction is being felt by agencies overseen by DHS, including TSA. The impasse has created a important staffing headache astatine airports, with hundreds of TSA officers quitting their jobs portion others telephone retired sick arsenic they spell without wage during the shutdown.

Both parties attempted to walk measures past week to get astir the impasse. Democrats sought to o.k. backing for the bulk of DHS' agencies by unanimous consent, which Republicans rejected. The GOP past tried to o.k. backing for each of DHS connected a impermanent ground arsenic negotiations continue. Democrats blocked their efforts.

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Mullin's way to confirmation

Mullin is connected a glidepath to confirmation, buoyed by beardown relationships with his Senate colleagues, and alleviation from galore implicit Noem's ouster.

After Wednesday's hearing, the Homeland Security Committee said it could ballot arsenic soon arsenic Thursday to beforehand Mullin's nomination, which would tee up a ballot earlier the afloat enclosure successful the adjacent future.

Mullin lone needs a elemental bulk from the afloat enclosure to beryllium confirmed arsenic DHS secretary. With 53 Republicans, his enactment is locked down, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters past week that he's hopeful Mullin volition adjacent get immoderate enactment from Democrats.

"He's got good, beardown relationships connected the different broadside of the aisle," Thune said. "And I mean, this is what the Democrats were clamoring for. They wanted a caller alteration and shingle up successful the leadership, and it's present happening."

Thune added that helium "can't imagine" that Democrats, aft pushing for caller leadership, would "turn connected 1 of their colleagues successful the Senate, who I deliberation has done a beauteous bully occupation successful his clip present of truly gathering relationships connected the different side."

At slightest 1 Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, said helium intends to enactment Mullin's confirmation.

Asked whether Democrats would reason Mullin's confirmation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said astatine a quality league past week that "the rot successful ICE is deep."

"It's not 1 idiosyncratic — it goes heavy wrong it. And what we request is not changing the personnel, but changing the law," Schumer said. "That's what Democrats are for."

Mr. Trump said erstwhile helium announced Mullin arsenic his prime to beryllium Noem's replacement that she would stay successful the relation until March 31.

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How to ticker Markwayne Mullin's confirmation hearing

What: Markwayne Mullin's Senate confirmation hearing
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building connected Capitol Hill
Online stream: Live connected CBS News successful the subordinate supra and connected your mobile oregon streaming device.