Senate confirms Mullin to be DHS chief...

Republicans have expressed hope that Mullin will turn the page at the department from the divisive tenure of his predecessor, Secretary Kristi Noem, whom some in Trump’s party have blamed for tarnishing what was a winning political issue for the president. Trump reassigned Noem to a role as a special envoy focused on security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere after she received bipartisan criticism for her inflammatory response after immigration officers in January shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, and for her broader stewardship of a historic influx of funds into DHS as part of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill last year. Trump ultimately removed Noem from her post after she said in a Senate Judiciary hearing earlier this month that Trump personally approved a $220 million advertising campaign around self-deportations critics decried as a publicity stunt to boost Noem personally. At his confirmation hearing, Mullin made several pledges aimed at addressing criticisms of Noem’s leadership. He promised that he would nix a Noem policy which had the secretary personally review Federal Emergency Management Agency contracts worth more than $100,000 — which he called “micromanagement.” He also said that ICE agents will only be allowed to enter homes with an administrative warrant, which is not signed by a judge, in extremely exigent circumstances. Those statements represent a much more conciliatory position than that of the White House, which has insisted the widespread use of administrative warrants to enter homes is permitted under law. Mullin also said he would improve communication with Congress and move to ensure DHS “isn’t in the lead story” every single day. Democrats, however, have expressed doubts Mullin will approach immigration enforcement any differently than Noem, given the considerable influence of Trump adviser Stephen Miller over immigration policy. After the hearing where Mullin and Paul sparred, some Democrats also openly questioned whether Mullin has the right temperament to lead DHS, arguing he is too prone to anger. The partisan tensions around DHS will also test Mullin’s bona fides as a dealmaker and relationship-builder in Washington. The senator, just three years into his term, had gained a reputation as a “whisperer” who could mediate between both chambers of Congress, as well as between the White House and Capitol Hill. Mullin has a personal friendship with Trump, who Mullin has said took particular interest in his son’s recovery from a major brain injury in 2020.