Mullin to Face Senate Scrutiny Over Ability to Lead Behemoth DHS

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security will face pointed questions from senators about his limited management and homeland security experience.

Despite the scrutiny, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is likely to secure confirmation with strong conservative support as Republicans seek a reset at DHS after months of controversy and public criticism under Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump announced he was replacing earlier this month.

Mullin, a former construction company owner and mixed martial arts fighter, has never run an agency, held a homeland security role, or led any relevant legislation.

His nomination comes as DHS—with more than 260,000 employees overseeing missions as varied as border operations, counterterrorism, and disaster response—enters its second month of a shutdown driven by disputes over immigration enforcement.

Mullin is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday as lawmakers weigh whether he’s prepared to lead one of the government’s largest and most complex departments.

“The real question is whether he’s ready to lead a department as large and complex as DHS,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the committee. “We need to know what he thinks about reforms and how he would handle the responsibilities of the job.”

Mullin will face vastly different challenges moving from the Senate to leading a large federal agency, said Stewart Verdery, a senior DHS policy official during the George W. Bush administration.

“Being a senator is very different from running a department like DHS,” Verdery said. “He’ll bring the right attitude, but he’ll need to surround himself with good people.”

Supporters and former officials say Mullin’s experience in Congress and alignment with the administration’s immigration priorities make him suited for the role.

“Mullin brings years of leadership experience in Congress and has worked on national security, border policy, and public safety issues that directly affect DHS’ mission,” said Juan Carlos Barberena, a retired Border Patrol division chief.

Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, who served during Trump’s first term, also expressed confidence in Mullin’s ability, saying the Oklahoma Republican would be able to manage the department and carry out the administration’s priorities.

GOP Support

Republican lawmakers have largely rallied behind Mullin’s nomination.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a member of the homeland panel, dismissed concerns about Mullin’s lack of experience, noting that he has served as a US senator.

“That’s qualified enough for me,” Hawley said

Mullin’s relationship with Trump could be an advantage as the administration works to reshape immigration enforcement policies, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a member of the homeland panel.

Johnson said he recently met with Mullin and discussed potential directions for the department, and felt confidence he would move the agency “in the right direction.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), chairman of the homeland panel reviewing the nomination, has remained tight-lipped about his position on Mullin. Mullin previously reportedly called Paul a “freaking snake” for holding up Senate legislation.

Paul deflected when pressed on whether he believes Mullin is qualified.

“Come to the hearing,” he told reporters.

Mullin, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, would be the first Native American to lead DHS if confirmed.

‘Restore Oversight’

Immigrants’ rights advocates and watchdog groups are calling on senators to question Mullin on his immigration record and his commitment to restoring public trust in DHS.

“The expectation is that if a court issues an order, he will follow it,” said Katherine Hawkins, a senior legal analyst at the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight. “Senators should be asking what he plans to do differently and whether he will restore oversight and transparency at DHS.”

Federal judges have complained of repeated violations of court orders involving immigrant detention in recent months. The department has also been accused of misleading Congress on how it handled civil rights complaints, which officials denied.

“He isn’t here to restore the rule of law; he’s here to finish building a deportation machine designed to terrorize our families,” the advocacy group Voto Latino said in a statement on Mullin.

Mullin may also face scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. Financial disclosures show he has invested in several technology companies tied to AI and cybersecurity, including Nvidia Corp, Alphabet Inc., and CyberArk Software Ltd., as the administration expands the use of advanced data tools in immigration enforcement and other missions.

Mullin has never led significant immigration-related legislation, but he’s backed several Republican proposals, including the Laken Riley Act, which requires federal authorities to detain certain undocumented immigrants accused of theft-related offenses while their cases proceed.

In a post on X, he also defended immigration officers following the fatal shootings in Minneapolis of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, saying the officers were justified in protecting themselves and arguing the individuals involved had obstructed law enforcement operations.

Mullin has also been critical of Democrats’ demands on DHS shutdown, calling them “pretty egregious.”

Gil Kerlikowske, Customs and Border Protection commissioner under Barack Obama, cautioned that Mullin’s job if confirmed as secretary will be expansive.

“The complexity within DHS is enormous,” he said. “It’s far more than just the border issue.”