Key Takeaways
- •Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) confronted Markwayne Mullin (Nominee for Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security) over past comments justifying a violent assault against him, which Mullin refused to retract.
- •Mullin pledged to prioritize DHS funding, use judicial warrants for ICE home entries, and leverage his relationship with Donald Trump to lead the department’s 280,000 employees.
- •Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) pressed Mullin on "confusing" claims regarding classified overseas combat assignments, while Mullin maintained the details were official and excluded from standard committee disclosure forms.
- •Republicans urged immediate DHS funding to pay 260,000 workers, while Democrats questioned if Mullin’s temperament and past rhetoric would encourage lawless behavior or political targeting at the agency.
- •The committee will vote on Mullin’s nomination as DHS faces a 30-day funding lapse and prepares for major security events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee convened on March 18, 2026, to consider the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to serve as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The hearing occurred during a partial government shutdown that had left approximately 280,000 DHS employees without pay for nearly 30 days. Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) opened the session with a highly personal rebuke of the nominee, recounting his own experience as a victim of political violence and accusing Sen. Mullin of publicly justifying the 2017 assault that left the Chairman with broken ribs and lung damage. Sen. Mullin defended his character, stating that while he is blunt and has political differences with the Chairman, he does not support violence and is committed to protecting all Americans, including those in Kentucky.
Ranking Member Gary C. Peters (D-MI) raised concerns regarding the nominee’s temperament and readiness, specifically questioning Sen. Mullin’s past public claims about "special assignments" overseas. Under questioning, Sen. Mullin clarified that while he never served in the military, he participated in a classified official trip in 2015-2016 as a member of Congress that required SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. He also referenced his 2021 efforts to assist Americans in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which involved travel through Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Key Testimony
Policy discussions focused heavily on the management of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed the nominee on ICE tactics, specifically the practice of "forcible entry" into homes without judicial warrants. Sen. Mullin committed that, if confirmed, ICE would require judicial warrants for home or business entries unless agents were in "hot pursuit" of a suspect. This marked a potential shift from policies under former Secretary Kristi Noem. Additionally, Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH) questioned the nominee on FEMA restructuring. Sen. Mullin pledged to revoke a policy requiring Secretarial approval for grants or contracts over $100,000, which critics argued had delayed disaster assistance. He emphasized the need to streamline FEMA reimbursements to local municipalities, noting that small towns cannot afford to wait years for federal funds.
Industry Impact
The impact of the funding lapse on DHS components was a recurring theme. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) criticized Democrats for blocking funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the United States Coast Guard, and FEMA while negotiating ICE reforms. Sen. Moreno highlighted that the lapse affected U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and offices responsible for biological and nuclear threat prevention, such as the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. Sen. Mullin warned that the lack of funding was causing a loss of institutional knowledge as trained personnel resigned to find paid employment elsewhere.
Key Testimony
Regarding border security and "sanctuary cities," Sen. Scott asked how the nominee would handle jurisdictions that refuse to honor ICE detainers. Sen. Mullin stated that while withholding federal funding would be a "last resort," he intended to meet with mayors and law enforcement in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago to demand cooperation with federal law. He also addressed the need for enhanced counter-drone technology ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, noting that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would need adequate resources to mitigate these risks.
Overview
The hearing also addressed the January 2026 shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preddy, by DHS officers. Sen. Mullin expressed regret for his initial public comments labeling Preddy "deranged" before the investigation was complete, though he was less conciliatory regarding the Good shooting, citing reports that she had used a vehicle as a weapon against officers.
Partisan dynamics were sharp, with Republicans generally defending Mullin’s character and focusing on border security, while Democrats questioned his fitness based on his history of aggressive rhetoric. However, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) offered support for Mullin, citing their bipartisan work on a CODEL to Turks and Caicos to free detained Americans. The nominee was also supported by the National Border Patrol Council and the leadership of the Cherokee Nation. The hearing concluded with Sen. Mullin reiterating his commitment to transparency and his willingness to work with all committee members regardless of personal differences.
Transcript
The hearing to consider the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Department of Homeland Security will come to order. And I'm assuming we'll commence when he arrives. I think he's in the hall doing media. Morning, everyone. I entered the Senate the same year that Representative Gabby Giffords was shot. I knew then that the state of political rhetoric was encouraging violence. I think it's imperative now, more than ever, that the leaders in our country disavow violence and lead by example. Through the years, I've personally been exposed multiple times to political violence. I was in the right field batting cage when the crazed shooter unleashed nearly 200 shots at our congressional baseball practice. I'll never forget Steve Scalise valiantly trying to drag his body away as the gunman continued. Later that year, a Trump-hating felon attacked me from behind in my yard. I was just straightening up from picking up a tree limb. I was wearing noise-cancellation headphones, never saw him coming, running pell-mell down the hill. I was struck in the back. The force of the blow sent us through the air nearly 10 feet down the hill until a shoulder impaled me as we hit the ground. Six of my ribs were broken. Three of the ribs were completely separated such that for weeks, the ends of the ribs would grind upon each other. My lung was damaged. For weeks, I could inhale but not have the rib strength to exhale. I developed two pneumonias. The pain was such that I could only sit up in bed by tying a rope to the foot of the bed and pulling myself up, but even then, the pain was that of a thousand knives. Over the year of recovery, I began to cough up blood. I underwent removal of part of my lung. Complications led to an infection in the space between my lung and chest wall. I spent a week in the hospital having the infection lavaged every six hours through a chest tube. Recently, Senator Mullin, if you have time to listen, you were confronted by constituents that were angry because you voted against my amendment to stop all funding for refugee welfare programs. Instead of explaining your vote to continue these welfare programs for refugees, you decided to transfer the blame. You told the media that I was a freaking snake and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. 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. But Senator Mullin, your constituents are justifiably upset with you. By now, most of America knows that the Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota stole over $9 billion. But instead of defending your vote, you took to continue the vote to continue these refugee welfare programs, you chose to lash out at me. You went on to brag that you'd already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that's a lie. You've got a chance today, you can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today you'll have your chance. Today I'll give you that chance to clear the record. Tell it to my face if that's what you believe, tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserved to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it. And while you're at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents. Explain to the American public how a man who has no regrets about brawling in a Senate committee can set a proper example for over 250,000 men and women who work at the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Peters, you're recognized for your opening comment.
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