Business Meeting on Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs meets to consider the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security. The committee voted 8-7 to advance Mullin to the floor of the U.S. Senate. One Republican -- Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), the chair of the panel -- joined six Democrats in opposing the nomination. But one Democrat -- Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) -- joined seven Republicans in supporting Mullin. The vote cleared the nomination from the committee. Mullin is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. If confirmed by the full Senate, he would be the first Native person in President Donald Trump's cabinet and the first Native person to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Committee Notice: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-41/ Committee Roll Call: https://indianz.com/News/hsgac-record-2026-03-19/