Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) was confirmed to succeed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a 54-45 vote mostly along party lines on Monday evening.
Why it matters: The vote comes as Homeland Security is at the center of funding impasse that has caused hours-long lines at airports nationwide with Democrats demanding new curbs on ICE before they'll agree to more funding.
- DHS is central to President Trump's mass deportation agenda, but the agency's heavy-handed tactics provoked outrage after federal agents fatally shot Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
The big picture: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against Mullin's confirmation.
- Paul had confronted Mullin during the confirmation hearing, saying to the Oklahoma senator "tell me to my face" why Paul deserved an assault that left him with broken ribs.
- Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and fellow Democrat Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted to confirm Mullin.
Go deeper: Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past
