The Senate voted Monday to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be the next Homeland Security secretary, thrusting the first-term Republican into the leadership of a department in crisis.
The 54-45 vote mostly fell along party lines. All Republicans except for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted to confirm their colleague. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico voted “yes.”
Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, sparred with Mullin at his tense confirmation hearing last week over past disparaging comments Mullin made about the Kentucky Republican.
Mullin also faced questions from Paul and Democrats on the committee about “special missions” he claimed to have taken on behalf of the U.S. government during his service in the House. Mullin resigned from the Senate upon confirmation.
