A key procedural vote advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination after bipartisan backing emerged ahead of a final Senate decision.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Senate moved forward Sunday with President Donald Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, as bipartisan support helped clear a procedural hurdle ahead of a final confirmation vote expected within days.
Lawmakers voted 54-37 to invoke cloture on the nomination, setting the stage for a final decision early in the week, according to reporting cited during the proceedings. The vote took place during a rare Sunday session and reflected support from both parties, including two Democratic senators.
While Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s backing had already been anticipated, New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich also voted to advance the nomination, citing his working relationship with Mullin. In a public statement, Heinrich said, “This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship.”
Heinrich pointed to past legislative efforts the two had worked on together, including the Tribal Buffalo Management Act and appropriations legislation. “We have authored legislation together, such as the Tribal Buffalo Management Act, and we crafted the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill together this year. We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share,” he said.
The New Mexico senator also emphasized his expectation of independence in leadership, stating, “I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller.”
Heinrich described his past interactions with the Department of Homeland Security as limited, noting the absence of productive engagement despite the agency’s significant presence in his state. “For five years, under this and the previous Trump Administration, I have lacked any constructive relationship with the Secretary of Homeland Security. This is despite my state being home to hundreds of TSA [Transportation Security Administration], CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and Border Patrol constituents and many miles of the U.S./Mexico border,” he said.
He added that his support for Mullin was based on expectations of improved communication and policy coordination. “I want someone who recognizes the necessity of judicial warrants, as he has. I would like a Secretary who I can call and have a constructive conversation with about my state and the unique terrain that exists in the southwest and the proper mix of structure, technology and personnel necessary to effectively secure our border,” Heinrich said. “For these reasons, I will vote to confirm Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Mullin and Heinrich previously collaborated on legislation related to tribal land and wildlife management, including a measure to expand bison restoration efforts that they reintroduced in late 2025. Data on bison populations and Native American demographics cited in that effort show both Oklahoma and New Mexico ranking among the highest in those categories, based on figures numbering and percentages.
In remarks tied to that legislation, Mullin said, “The buffalo is essential to our heritage and must be supported. I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation that will help Tribes reestablish buffalo herds on reservation lands.”
Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is currently the only American Indian serving in the Senate and the first since former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell left office in 2005.
Fetterman, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, had already supported advancing the nomination in committee, where it passed by a narrow margin earlier in the week. He publicly reiterated his backing in a March 5 post, writing, “I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague [Mullin] as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE.”
Despite the bipartisan support, the nomination faced opposition from some Republicans. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, voted against advancing Mullin and raised concerns during the confirmation hearing. He described the nominee as “a man with anger issues” and referenced prior comments Mullin made regarding a 2017 attack on Paul by a neighbor.
“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force. You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents,” Paul said.
Mullin rejected that characterization, responding during the hearing, “I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character. I did not say I supported it [the 2017 attack], I said I understood it. There’s a difference.”
With cloture invoked, the Senate is expected to proceed to a final confirmation vote in the coming days, which will determine whether Mullin assumes leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.
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