Senate advances Mullin nomination to lead DHS, paving way for confirmation

Donald Trump’s nomination of Republican senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be the president’s next head of homeland security on Sunday advanced toward final confirmation after the US Senate voted 54-37 to limit debate on the appointment.

The confirmation vote could come sometime on Monday. If approved, as expected, Mullin would replace Kristi Noem, whom Trump fired from the role of homeland security secretary on 5 March.

Mullin’s confirmation was all but assured on Thursday when the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee voted to send it to the full chamber despite opposition from the panel’s chair, Kentucky senator Rand Paul, a member of Trump’s Republican party. Paul jointed six Democrats in voting against advancing Mullin’s nomination, particularly due to their concerns over allegations that the nominee had encouraged political violence.

Pennsylvania Democratic senator John Fetterman joined seven Republicans on the committee to advance Mullin’s nomination to the full chamber.

On Sunday, Fetterman and his fellow Democratic senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joined Republicans in voting to limit debate on Mullin’s appointment. Paul was among nine senators who were absent from the vote. The remaining eight were Democrats: Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Coons of Delaware, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

If ultimately confirmed, Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, would be the second Native American to serve as a presidential cabinet member.