Markwayne Mullin Confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary

The U.S. Senate confirmed Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen from Oklahoma as the new Secretary

of Homeland Security in a 54-45 vote on Monday evening.

He'll lead the department as it pushes President Trump's mass deportation plans and

replace outgoing Secretary Christie Knowham, who moved to another role.

Mullen, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, becomes the first indigenous person in

that position and must resign his Senate seat after voting for himself.

The department has faced a five-week shutdown since mid-February, triggered by Democrats

demanding limits on immigration agents following the deaths.

Of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, one shot by an immigration and customs enforcement

agent on January 7th and another pinned down by Customs Inn, border protection officers

on January 24th.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it a tough assignment amid the shutdown, praising

Mullen's readiness for challenges while President Trump.

Old reporters Mullen would do a fantastic job.

The confirmation followed a procedural vote Sunday, where two Democrats joined Republicans.

Even with the shutdown, immigration and customs enforcement and customs and border protection

remained fully funded through a separate 100.

$75 billion stream passed last year by the Republican-led Congress.

Trump recently directed immigration and customs enforcement agents to help unpaid transportation

security administration workers at several airports.

Mullen steps in to manage 260,000 employees with no prior experience on Homeland Security

Committees, setting the stage for efforts to reopen the department and wrap up enforcement.

That's your update from Anchorage News today, powered by AI.