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Amid an ongoing federal shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, the now-former Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as the agency’s new secretary.
Mullin was sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi during a ceremony in the Oval Office on Tuesday, just hours after a Monday night confirmation vote in the Senate, where he received 54-45 approval, per RSBN.
“He’s a tremendous player, worked with Tom Homan, worked with all of our people on the right…everything he’s touched he’s turned to gold,” President Trump said, heaping praise on his appointee, who is also the first member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in an executive cabinet position.
“I have no doubt, as he takes the helm of DHS, Markwayne will fight for Homeland Security, the United States, and securing the country and making it really strong, and the way it should be,” President Trump said.
He also described Mullin as “strong, professional, and fair.”
President Trump slammed Democrats for blocking funding for the DHS, which has been stymied since February. This funding gap has spurred the president to order ICE to assist TSA agents at American airports amid long security check lines.
Upon taking the oath of office as the next Secretary of Homeland Security, Mullin delivered strong remarks.
“It just seems surreal being in the Oval Office and having the President of the United States speak so highly of me…it’s humbling, and I never take it for granted,” Secretary Mullin said.
He added, “Thank you so much, Mr. President, for this opportunity. I won’t let you down.”
Secretary Mullin’s confirmation and swearing-in happened in the span of less than a month, shortly after President Donald Trump announced the surprising departure of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who had previously served as the Republican Governor of South Dakota.
Ms. Noem will now transition to a new role as a “Special Envoy” for a new anti-cartel and anti-drug security initiative known as the “Shield of the Americas.”