Markwayne Mullin was sworn in on Tuesday as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, where he’ll inherit an ongoing DHS shutdown and President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
In an Oval Office ceremony, Trump praised Mullin as “fantastic” — three weeks after he ousted Kristi Noem from the post.
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“Everybody wanted this job. I said there’s one man for this job and I have no doubt he’s going to be fantastic,” Trump said.
The president praised Mullin’s record as a high-school wrestler, his work as a lawmaker from Oklahoma and noted that Mullin will be the first Native American in his Cabinet.
He expressed faith that Mullin would carry out the Department of Homeland Security’s duties when it came to securing the border and curbing illegal immigration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi formally administered the oath in the Oval Office as Trump and Mullin’s family stood by.
“I think that was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” Mullin said afterward.
Noem is departing for a new role at the State Department.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,” Noem wrote Tuesday on social media.
“I want to thank President Trump for entrusting me to lead the department leading the fight to Make America Safe Again,” she added.
Noem went on to say that, under her tenure, the border became more secure, 3 million illegal aliens left the US and taxpayers were saved $13 billion.
Her tenure was controversial as she and top aide Corey Lewandowski ran the agency. Critics accused them of holding up federal funds and wasting taxpayer dollars on private planes and advertising campaigns. Noem was also criticized for her handling of the deaths of two protesters in Minnesota by federal agents, calling the victims “domestic terrorists.”
Mullin vowed a new start for DHS.
“I’ve made this very clear that I don’t care what color your state is. I don’t care if you’re red or you’re blue. At the end of the day, my job is to be secretary of homeland and to protect everybody the same. And we will do that,” he said after his swearing-in.
He will lead more than 250,000 federal law enforcement officers at a department that has been shut down for 38 days due to Democratic opposition.
The new secretary praised the agency officials who were showing up to work despite not receiving a paycheck since February.
“They’re working for free because of political politics,” he noted.
Mullin was confirmed by the Senate Monday evening in a 54-45 vote. Two Democrats supported him and one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against him.
