WASHINGTON — A key Senate committee voted 8-7 Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’s nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
A vote on the Senate Homeland Security Committee by Sen. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., sends it to the full Senate for a day of consideration after a controversial confirmation hearing.
The committee is split between eight Republicans and seven Democrats. Chairman of the committee Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against Mullin a day earlier after he blasted her for “anger issues” at his hearing.
“Senator Mullin tried to justify a violent attack on me. Now he wants to lead ICE and the Border Patrol? You can’t restore law and order with a man who has an anger problem,” Paul said at X. “America deserves better.”
Without any Democratic support, the nomination would have stalled in committee. But Sen. Rep. John Fetterman, D-Pa., broke with other Democrats to vote for Mullin, ensuring he will advance to the Senate floor, where he needs 51 votes for confirmation.
“In January, I called on the president to fire Noem—and he did,” Fetterman said in X, referring to outgoing DHS Secretary Kristy Noem. “I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open mind. We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong, committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”
A Senate vote has not yet been scheduled, but it could take place next week. Trump said Mullin should start by March 31.
DHS will continue to focus on its immigration enforcement strategies, the ongoing war in Iran and the Feb. The DHS is facing several challenges in the wake of delays at airports after the funding freeze on the 13th.
Other Democrats on the panel voted against Mullin.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the ranking member, said in his hearing that Mullin had proven he was not up to the task of restoring trust in DHS among ordinary Americans and members of Congress.
“He has failed to be forthright and transparent. Senator Mullin has shown that he does not have the experience or temperament to lead this critical department,” Peters said in remarks before the committee’s vote Thursday.
