Summary
- The committee voted 8-7 to report Markwayne Mullin (Nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security), with Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) joining Republicans and Sen. Paul (R-KY) joining Democrats.
- Sen. Peters (D-MI) stated that Mullin failed to be forthright during his confirmation hearing and lacked the experience required to manage the Department of Homeland Security.
- Sen. Peters (D-MI) cited a Senate Ethics Committee letter regarding Mullin's past physical altercations, while Sen. Paul (R-KY) moved the committee directly to a roll call vote.
- While most Republicans supported the nominee, Sen. Paul (R-KY) joined Democrats in opposition and Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) broke party lines to vote in favor of Mullin.
- Following this committee approval, the nomination of Mullin proceeds to the Senate floor for a final confirmation vote to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Transcript
Call to Order and Quorum
Pursuant to the notice on March 11, 2026, the committee will consider the nomination of one nominee. I notice the presence of a quorum. I recognize the minority member, ranking member Senator Peters.
Ranking Member Opposition Statement
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Homeland Security needs a leader who can restore the trust that DHS has broken with the American people and with this committee. At his confirmation hearing yesterday, we saw that unfortunately, Senator Mullin is not up to that challenge. When I heard President Trump would be nominating Senator Mullin, I kept an open mind. However, throughout the nomination process, he has failed to be forthright and transparent. Senator Mullin also showed that he doesn't have the experience or the temperament to lead this critical department. I am very troubled by Senator Mullin's willingness to condone political violence and the message that that sends across DHS. And we're not talking about an isolated lapse in judgment. After Senator Mullin attempted to physically fight a witness at a Senate hearing in 2023, the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee took a closer look at his conduct before and after that incident. Not only did the members of this committee find his actions at the hearing were improper, in a letter admonishing Senator Mullin, they wrote, and I quote from their letter, "Further, when offered multiple, multiple public opportunities to clarify the intent of your conduct, you declined to uphold the Senate standard relative to your actions and advocated physical violence as a means to resolve political disagreement," end of quote. That's from the Ethics Committee from the U.S. Senate. There will be no shortage of political disagreements facing the next DHS Secretary. The department and the American people deserve a leader who is steady and proven under pressure, not just someone better than the very low bar set by his predecessor. I'll be voting no.
Motion to Report the Nominee
Does anybody wish to say anything on the Republican side or otherwise? Okay, if not, the committee will now proceed to the consideration of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The clerk will call the roll.
Roll Call Vote
Senator Johnson.
Aye.
Senator Lankford.
Aye.
Senator Scott.
Aye.
Senator Hawley.
Aye.
Senator Moreno.
Aye.
Senator Ernst.
Aye.
Senator Moody.
Aye.
Senator Peters.
No.
Senator Hassan.
No.
Senator Blumenthal.
No.
Senator Fetterman.
Aye.
Senator Kim.
No.
Senator Gallego.
No.
Senator Slotkin.
No.
Senator Paul.
No.
Vote Results and Final Disposition
Mr. Chairman, on the vote of those present, the yeas are eight, the nays are seven. On the vote by proxy and for the record only, the yeas are zero, the nays are zero. On this vote, the yeas are eight, the nays are seven, and the motion to report the nominee is agreed to.
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