By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-sen-markwayne-mullin-testifies-in-confirmation-hearing-for-dhs-secretary Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Sen. Markwayne Mullin testifies in confirmation hearing for DHS secretary Politics Mar 17, 2026 5:07 PM EDT Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, will testify in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. Trump tapped Mullin to take over the embattled agency from Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month after her leadership came under bipartisan scrutiny during tense congressional hearings. READ MORE: Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump's new pick for DHS? Mullin was elected to Congress in 2012 and has branded himself as a businessman and a Washington outsider. As Homeland Security secretary, Mullin would take charge of one of the biggest government agencies, leading the nation's disaster response, counterterrorism efforts, border security and the president's mass deportation agenda. DHS has been largely shut down for more than a month due to a political standstill over immigration enforcement reform, affecting agency operations and leading to long wait times for travelers. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. A former mixed martial arts fighter who once challenged the Teamsters president to a fight during a Senate hearing, Mullin has pledged to stay "focused on protecting the homeland" if he is confirmed. READ MORE: Trump's security pick Mullin poised to inherit a DHS beset by challenges The Republican Party is considering a pivot on how it approaches immigration enforcement as more voters grow concerned over DHS agents' aggressive tactics, which has led to the shooting deaths of at least three U.S. citizens since Trump retook office. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He's also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, will testify in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. Trump tapped Mullin to take over the embattled agency from Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month after her leadership came under bipartisan scrutiny during tense congressional hearings. READ MORE: Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump's new pick for DHS? Mullin was elected to Congress in 2012 and has branded himself as a businessman and a Washington outsider. As Homeland Security secretary, Mullin would take charge of one of the biggest government agencies, leading the nation's disaster response, counterterrorism efforts, border security and the president's mass deportation agenda. DHS has been largely shut down for more than a month due to a political standstill over immigration enforcement reform, affecting agency operations and leading to long wait times for travelers. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. A former mixed martial arts fighter who once challenged the Teamsters president to a fight during a Senate hearing, Mullin has pledged to stay "focused on protecting the homeland" if he is confirmed. READ MORE: Trump's security pick Mullin poised to inherit a DHS beset by challenges The Republican Party is considering a pivot on how it approaches immigration enforcement as more voters grow concerned over DHS agents' aggressive tactics, which has led to the shooting deaths of at least three U.S. citizens since Trump retook office. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now