Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Mar 23: The US Senate has advanced the nomination of Markwayne Mullin for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, just over two weeks after President Donald Trump announced plans to replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The Senate voted 54-37 to move the nomination forward on Saturday (local time), with a final confirmation vote expected in the coming days.

Mullin, 48, has served in the Senate since 2023 following a decade-long tenure in the House representing Oklahoma. His nomination comes amid bipartisan criticism of Noem’s leadership, marking the first Cabinet change of Trump’s second term.

Trump confirmed the nomination on March 5 via a Truth Social post, stating, “I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026.”

Noem, 54, had faced mounting pressure after federal law enforcement fatally shot two US citizens in Minneapolis and drew criticism for her performance during congressional hearings. Reports also highlighted controversy over her $200 million ad campaign urging undocumented migrants to self-deport, which Trump and others viewed as self-promotional.

A former governor of South Dakota, Noem had attempted a hands-on leadership style—appearing in camouflage and accompanying immigration officers on raids—while actively defending Trump’s immigration policies. Despite her efforts, she was considered inexperienced for the vast scope of a federal department like DHS.

Following her dismissal, Trump praised Noem’s role in curbing illegal migration and announced she would be appointed to a newly created role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, aimed at coordinating Latin American and Caribbean countries on security challenges.