WASHINGTON ― The U.S. Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead the Department of Homeland Security amid a growing crisis within the agency over immigration enforcement, which has resulted in a partial shutdown of the department and chaos at airports nationwide.

The Senate backed Mullin by a vote of 54-45, with Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joining every Republican but one ― Rand Paul of Kentucky ― in favor of his confirmation.

Trump tapped Mullin, a first-term senator, to replace Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary earlier this month after bipartisan outrage over Noem’s tenure at DHS, including a scandal-ridden $220 million, self-promoting ad campaign. Trump himself was said to be angry with Noem after she testified before Congress that the president had personally approved her ads.

Mullin vowed to take a different approach during his confirmation hearing last week, promising to work across the aisle and implement a “softer tone” on immigration in the wake of Noem’s often-violent crackdown on immigrants in Minnesota and elsewhere around the country.

“My goal in six months is that we’re not in the lead story every single day,” Mullin told his Senate colleagues, promising to “set the partisan side down” to deal with urgent issues, including securing funding for DHS.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Jan. 14, 2025, on Capitol Hill.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

The hearing grew tense and confrontational, however, when Mullin clashed with Paul, the homeland security committee chair, over disparaging comments Mullin had made about Paul being physically assaulted by his neighbor in 2017. The assault left Paul with broken ribs and long-term health issues. Paul questioned whether Mullin, a former MMA fighter, was fit for the job, given that he had also once threatened to fight a witness in a Senate committee hearing.

“You told the media that I was a ‘freakin’ snake’ and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted,” Paul told Mullin. “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.”

Paul voted against Mullin’s nomination in committee, but it advanced to the Senate floor because of Fetterman’s vote for the Oklahoma Republican.

Mullin also picked up a surprise Democratic vote from Heinrich, who said he considered Mullin a friend due to their close working relationship on Capitol Hill.

“I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich said in a statement last week, referring to Trump’s top political adviser, who is known for his anti-immigrant views.

Mullin will have his hands full upon taking over from Noem next week. Many DHS staffers, including Transportation Security Administration agents, have been working without pay since the department shutdown began on Feb. 14. More than 3,400 TSA workers called out sick in a day, and many have quit entirely, leading to long security lines at airports and frustration for travelers.

In Oklahoma, GOP Rep. Kevin Hern has emerged as a front-runner to replace Mullin in the Senate next year. The lawmaker has been endorsed both by Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that every Republican voted for Mullin’s confirmation.