Duckworth Votes Against Confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary

Senator says Mullin is unqualified, argues his confirmation will not address root cause of fatal shootings by federal agents.

Ben Garmisa - Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth

Mar 24, 2026 9:40 AM

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after voting against the nomination of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to serve as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary. The Senate confirmed Mullin tonight by a 54-45 vote.

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“While Senator Mullin lacks the qualifications for the job and has a troubling pattern of anger issues, his confirmation does nothing to change the fact that two innocent Americans were gunned down in broad daylight by Trump’s unhinged agents—and it does nothing to change the structural issues at DHS that allowed for them to be gunned down.

“It remains abundantly clear to the American people that ICE and CBP need drastic reforms, and that can only be accomplished by changing the law—not a personnel swap and a pinky promise they won’t continue to break the law and terrorize our neighborhoods.

“Republicans must come to the table and work with us to codify into law the commonsense ICE and CBP reforms that are supported by a majority of the American people—and they should stop blocking our legislation to fund TSA agents’ paychecks, while they’re at it.”

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