Senate Confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary 54-45 Amidst Heated Debate on SAVE America Act and Ongoing DHS Shutdown
The Senate convened for a major session, confirming Senator Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security with a vote of 54-45. The day was also dominated by an extensive and contentious debate on the SAVE America Act, a Republican-led bill proposing stricter voter identification and citizenship verification requirements for federal elections. Concurrently, the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown remained a central point of conflict, with Democrats and Republicans trading accusations over responsibility for the lack of funding and its impact on federal employees and public services, particularly at airports.
This chamber-day was highly significant due to the confirmation of a Cabinet Secretary, particularly for the Department of Homeland Security amidst a prolonged funding lapse. The ongoing, high-stakes debate on the SAVE America Act highlights fundamental disagreements over election integrity and voting rights, with potential broad implications for democratic participation. The continued DHS shutdown and the President's stated linkage of its resolution to the SAVE Act underscore a deep partisan impasse affecting national security and the livelihoods of thousands of federal workers.
Nomination of Markwayne Mullin
Question before the chamber
The question before the Senate was whether to advise and consent to the nomination of Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
The case for
Proponents argued that Senator Mullin is a welcome addition to the Cabinet, a consensus builder, and possesses valuable business and rancher experience that will enable him to 'get things done' at DHS. Senator Grassley emphasized Mullin's commitment to congressional oversight, transparency, and protecting whistleblowers, advising him to 'run the Department; don't let the Department run you.' Senator Thune highlighted Mullin's track record as a 'conservative warrior' and his ability to grow a small business, noting his 'unlimited supply of energy' and strong faith. Senator Barrasso praised Mullin as a 'servant leader' who is tough, hard-working, and works with others to solve problems, stating he would bring 'focus and urgency and consistency' to DHS and make the country 'safer, stronger, and more secure.'
The case against
Opponents expressed concerns that Senator Mullin is not the right person for the job, particularly given the Department's recent history. Senator Durbin stated that Mullin's predecessor, Secretary Kristi Noem, 'presided over a Department that steamrolled civil rights and violated court orders' and that Mullin 'has not criticized the Department's past violence or tactics.' Senator Peters expressed doubt that Mullin would provide a 'course correction,' noting Mullin's 'issues with managing his temper' and 'virtually no experience with DHS.' He argued the Department needs a 'steady leader' who will condemn violence and be transparent, which he felt Mullin had not exhibited.
Disposition
Confirmed · recorded vote
The nomination of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security was confirmed.
Yeas 54, Nays 45
Who is affected
- American citizens: Will be affected by the leadership and policies of the Department of Homeland Security, impacting national security, border protection, and disaster relief efforts.
- Department of Homeland Security employees: Will operate under new leadership, potentially influencing departmental morale, operational directives, and responsiveness to congressional oversight.
- Immigrant communities: Could experience changes in immigration enforcement policies and practices under the new Secretary.
SAVE America Act
S. 1383Question before the chamber
The Senate was debating the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require individuals to present proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification before voting in a Federal election.
The case for
Proponents argued that the SAVE America Act embodies 'radically common sense' policies that are widely supported by the American people, with polls showing 70-80% support for photo ID requirements. Senator Thune stated that the bill ensures 'only American citizens are voting in American elections' and that requiring photo ID is a 'commonsense' measure. Senator Cornyn highlighted that IDs are required for many daily activities and that voter ID 'empowers Americans to vote' and 'protects the integrity of the voting process' by preventing illegitimate votes. Proponents also linked the bill to countering 'radical gender ideology' by prohibiting men from competing in women's sports, framing it as a measure to protect women's sports.
The case against
Opponents vehemently characterized the bill as a 'voter suppression bill' and a 'modern-day Jim Crow' effort. Senator Schumer called it 'radical' and designed to 'disenfranchise 20 million American citizens.' Senator Warnock argued it should be called 'Your Driver's License is Not Enough to Register Bill,' explaining it would make it difficult for women who changed names after marriage, elderly voters, young people, disabled voters, Native Americans, and working Americans to vote. He stated that the bill 'disenfranchises hundreds of thousands, millions of Americans, while chasing a problem that does not exist,' as non-citizen voting is 'very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare.' Senator Markey asserted it is a 'craven effort to turn back the clock' and 'manipulate our elections through voter suppression' to 'steal the Election of 2026 Act' because Republicans are 'afraid of the voices of the people.' Senator Hassan questioned why the President is 'so invested in making it harder for Americans to vote,' suggesting it's because he doesn't believe he's accountable to them.
Disposition
Debate ongoing · other
Debate on the SAVE America Act continued, with no final disposition of the bill on this day. The Senate agreed to resume consideration of the House message with respect to S. 1383 (the underlying bill for the SAVE America Act) on the following day.
Who is affected
- American citizens: Potential changes to voter registration and identification requirements, affecting ease of voting and perceived election integrity.
- Women who have changed names: Would face increased bureaucratic hurdles to prove citizenship if birth certificates do not match current legal identity.
- Elderly, young, disabled, and rural voters: Could face greater difficulty in obtaining required documentation or traveling to comply with in-person registration requirements.
- Native Americans: Tribal IDs may be rejected, requiring additional documentation for voting and registration.
- Athletes in women's sports: Would be directly impacted by provisions prohibiting biological men from competing in women's sports, as argued by proponents.
Department of Homeland Security Funding
Question before the chamber
The question before the Senate was how to resolve the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provide funding for its operations.
The case for
Republicans argued that Democrats are responsible for the DHS shutdown, having 'blocked full funding for the Department of Homeland Security' five to seven times. Senator Thune stated that Democrats 'don't share the American people's interest in securing our elections' and have 'no problem with gender transition procedures for minors.' Senator Barrasso asserted that Democrats 'shut it down by withholding its funding' and 'would rather pander to protect illegal immigrant criminals than pay to protect American people.' Senator Moody accused Democrats of 'defund disorder' and pushing a shutdown because 'they don't want a secure border' and are 'throwing a temper tantrum' to blast apart President Trump's security structure.
The case against
Democrats asserted that they have engaged in good faith to fund DHS while enacting 'commonsense safeguards to rein in ICE.' Senator Schumer stated that Republicans have 'blocked pay for TSA workers' multiple times and that President Trump is 'trying to sabotage negotiations' by demanding the SAVE Act be passed first. He called Trump's demand 'ridiculous' and 'callous,' stating Trump 'doesn't give a damn about the American people.' Senator Durbin highlighted that Democrats offered to fund all of DHS except for ICE and CBP, and that ICE agents are 'not trained to do our job' at airports, warning that 'everywhere ICE goes, trouble follows.'
Disposition
Shutdown continues · other
The Department of Homeland Security remained unfunded, and the shutdown continued. Unanimous consent requests to fund TSA workers only and to fund the entire DHS were both objected to.
Who is affected
- Department of Homeland Security employees (TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, ICE, CBP): Thousands of employees have missed multiple paychecks, causing financial hardship and impacting morale and retention.
- American travelers: Experiencing longer wait times and potential security risks at airports due to TSA staffing shortages and the deployment of untrained ICE agents.
- American citizens: National security is potentially compromised due to unfunded DHS operations, including counterterrorism and cyber security, and the effectiveness of border security measures.
- Immigrant communities: Subject to continued ICE enforcement actions, with concerns raised about civil rights violations and the deployment of agents to new areas like airports.
Markwayne Mullin Confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
highSenator Markwayne Mullin was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Homeland Security with a vote of 54-45. Proponents highlighted his experience as a consensus builder, his business and ranching background, and his commitment to transparency and congressional oversight. Opponents raised concerns about his temperament, lack of specific DHS experience, and potential to enable the President's mass deportation policies, particularly in light of past departmental actions.
Intense Debate Continues on SAVE America Act
highThe Senate engaged in prolonged debate over the SAVE America Act, a bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for voting in federal elections. Republicans championed the bill as a commonsense measure to secure elections and prevent non-citizen voting, citing widespread public support. Democrats vehemently opposed it, characterizing it as a 'voter suppression bill' designed to disenfranchise millions of eligible American citizens, particularly women, minorities, and young people, and a distraction from other national crises.
DHS Shutdown Persists Amidst Accusations and ICE Deployment
highThe Department of Homeland Security remained unfunded for its 37th day, leading to missed paychecks for thousands of employees, including TSA agents. Democrats attempted to pass legislation to pay TSA workers, which was blocked by Republicans who insisted on full DHS funding. Republicans accused Democrats of holding DHS funding hostage to avoid border security, while Democrats blamed President Trump for sabotaging negotiations by linking DHS funding to the passage of the SAVE America Act and for deploying untrained ICE agents to airports, which they argued would exacerbate chaos and inflame tensions.
Cloture Invoked on Colin McDonald Nomination for Assistant Attorney General
mediumThe Senate successfully invoked cloture on the nomination of Colin McDonald to be an Assistant Attorney General, with a vote of 51-45. This procedural step sets up a confirmation vote for the nominee on the following day. McDonald's nomination is for a new National Fraud Enforcement Division at the Department of Justice, a role highlighted by Republicans as crucial given estimated federal fund losses to fraud.