As Sen. Markwayne Mullin approached a scrum of reporters Thursday behind the U.S. Capitol, he said with a faint smile that he would take questions “just so you guys don’t chase me in my vehicle.”
Over the next three minutes, the Oklahoma Republican had a friendly exchange with journalists, making occasional quips as he talked about his nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin’s ease was a striking contrast to the combative style of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Donald Trump said last week that he would remove by March 31.
So far, lawmakers and emergency management experts are welcoming Trump’s pick to lead DHS — a job that includes overseeing federal disaster response. If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin will inherit the financial, legal and political problems of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
There is widespread hope that Mullin would revitalize FEMA by filling top vacancies, releasing billions of dollars in disaster aid and acting on requests for federal help that have been stalled since November.
