Senator Rand Paul broke with fellow Republicans, opposing Markwayne Mullin’s nomination over past controversial statements.
A US Senate committee has voted to advance the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary, despite opposition from Republican Chairman Rand Paul.
The vote sends President Donald Trump’s pick to the full Republican controlled Senate, where Mullin will need a majority to be confirmed.
Trump nominated Mullin following the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faced criticism from Republican lawmakers over her handling of the administration’s immigration crackdown and leadership of the department.
Mullin, a businessman and former House lawmaker who became a senator in 2023, defended his approach during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Paul, however, voiced concerns over Mullin’s past remarks, including comments seen as endorsing violence, and confirmed he would vote against the nomination.
If confirmed, Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, would become the second Native American to serve in a US Cabinet position.
The nomination comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s immigration policies, including the deployment of federal agents to major cities and controversial enforcement tactics that have drawn legal challenges and public criticism.
During the hearing, Mullin signaled he would diverge from some previous policies. He said immigration officers under his leadership would generally require judicial warrants to enter homes or businesses, unless in active pursuit of a suspect.
He also pledged to reverse a policy requiring top level approval for certain departmental contracts, describing it as excessive micromanagement that slowed key operations.
Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin stressed the need for broader reforms, arguing that trust in the department had eroded and that stronger safeguards were necessary.
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