{"id":38796,"date":"2026-03-18T06:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/oklahoma-senator-faces-senate-hearing-for-homeland-security-post\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T06:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:51:11","slug":"oklahoma-senator-faces-senate-hearing-for-homeland-security-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/oklahoma-senator-faces-senate-hearing-for-homeland-security-post\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma Senator Faces Senate Hearing for Homeland Security Post"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin will appear Wednesday before a Senate committee seeking confirmation as the nation’s next Homeland Security Secretary, facing questions about immigration policies and national security matters.<\/p>

The nomination comes after President Trump dismissed former Secretary Kristi Noem amid growing criticism over the department’s immigration enforcement approach. Mullin has consistently supported Trump’s strict immigration stance throughout his congressional career.<\/p>

Democratic senators have withheld funding for the Department of Homeland Security since mid-February, demanding changes to current immigration practices. The funding dispute has resulted in a partial agency shutdown.<\/p>

Trump initiated an intensive deportation campaign upon returning to office in 2025. Though the administration characterizes the effort as targeting dangerous criminals, arrests have included individuals with clean records, along with children and families.<\/p>

During Noem’s tenure, federal agents conducted major enforcement operations in cities including Los Angeles and Chicago. These operations involved masked officers using aggressive tactics, including tackling workers in parking areas and deploying tear gas in residential neighborhoods while citizens attempted to record the activities. The militaristic approach sparked legal challenges and widespread criticism.<\/p>

Following a January incident in Minneapolis where federal immigration officers fatally shot two American citizens, the administration promised a more focused strategy. However, Democrats maintain their funding opposition until enforcement methods change.<\/p>

Trump replaced Noem earlier this month as Republican lawmakers increasingly criticized both the immigration crackdown and her departmental leadership. Mullin previously served ten years in the House of Representatives before winning his Senate seat in 2022.<\/p>

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing provides Mullin an opportunity to outline his leadership approach and address concerns about his predecessor’s management.<\/p>

Committee ranking Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan plans to criticize Noem’s response to the Minneapolis shooting, according to prepared statements obtained by Reuters.<\/p>

“It’s not the role of the secretary to be a cable news commentator in the wake of a crisis,” Peters said.<\/p>

Mullin, who previously operated a family plumbing company, ranks among the Senate’s wealthiest members. His 2024 financial disclosure revealed assets between $29 million and $97 million. Recent years show millions in stock transactions, though a spokesperson notes he employs an independent firm for portfolio management in accordance with federal regulations.<\/p>

During his 2012 House campaign, Mullin faced Democratic criticism regarding employment of a convicted felon with firearm access at his plumbing operation. Opponents also questioned whether the business utilized E-Verify, the federal system confirming workers’ legal immigration status.<\/p>

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated this week there was “no indication Mullin did anything inappropriate” concerning the felon issue and confirmed “none of his businesses ever employed workers without legal status.”<\/p>

As a Cherokee Nation member, Mullin became only the fourth Native American senator upon his election victory.<\/p>

Wednesday’s confirmation hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will appear before a Senate committee Wednesday for confirmation as the next Homeland Security Secretary. The hearing comes as Democrats continue blocking department funding over immigration enforcement concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773831070935.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-a5K","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41087,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/oklahoma-senator-mullin-set-for-homeland-security-confirmation-despite-airport-crisis\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":0},"title":"Oklahoma Senator Mullin Set for Homeland Security Confirmation Despite Airport Crisis","author":"Admin","date":"March 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Senate is poised to confirm Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin as the new Homeland Security Secretary following Kristi Noem's dismissal. Mullin faces immediate challenges including airport delays from TSA funding cuts and growing criticism of immigration enforcement operations.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774265872189.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774265872189.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774265872189.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774265872189.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41490,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/oklahoma-senator-mullin-confirmed-as-new-homeland-security-chief-amid-tsa-crisis\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":1},"title":"Oklahoma Senator Mullin Confirmed as New Homeland Security Chief Amid TSA Crisis","author":"Admin","date":"March 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Senate has approved Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security following Kristi Noem's dismissal. Mullin takes charge during a funding crisis that has left TSA workers unpaid and caused major airport delays nationwide.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774319005221.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":39525,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/senate-committee-approves-mullin-for-homeland-security-despite-gop-opposition\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":2},"title":"Senate Committee Approves Mullin for Homeland Security Despite GOP Opposition","author":"Admin","date":"March 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination for Homeland Security Secretary cleared a Senate committee in an 8-7 vote Thursday. The approval came despite opposition from Republican committee chair Rand Paul and follows a heated confirmation hearing marked by personal attacks.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773934669097.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773934669097.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773934669097.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773934669097.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38820,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/oklahoma-senator-mullin-faces-confirmation-hearing-for-homeland-security-chief\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":3},"title":"Oklahoma Senator Mullin Faces Confirmation Hearing for Homeland Security Chief","author":"Admin","date":"March 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma will testify Wednesday before Congress as President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The hearing comes as Democrats have blocked DHS funding over concerns about immigration enforcement tactics under outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773833816861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773833816861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773833816861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773833816861.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32454,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-dismisses-homeland-security-chief-noem-taps-oklahoma-senator-as-successor\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":4},"title":"Trump Dismisses Homeland Security Chief Noem, Taps Oklahoma Senator as Successor","author":"Admin","date":"March 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Trump has dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her position and selected Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to take over the role. 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