Mullin Nominated for DHS, Noem Reassigned

0:00On March 6, President Donald Trump has nominated Senator Mark Wayne Mullen from Oklahoma to take over as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. This comes after he reassigned current Secretary Christie Knowham to lead a new security effort focused on the Western Hemisphere. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise both voice strong support for Mullen on Thursday. Mullen recently moved from the House to the Senate in a special election and is up for re-election this year. Scalise highlighted Mullen's long track record, pushing for tougher border security, including efforts to reverse past open border policies and back. Recent laws that funded wall construction and better tools for border agents. Knowham drew heavy fire lately, especially after immigration raids in Minneapolis, led to two protester deaths in separate clashes with federal officers. Law makers from both parties grilled her in recent House and Senate hearings, with some Democrats like Senator John Federman calling for her ouster. Johnson and Scalise defended her tough assignment, but stayed neutral on the switch.

1:03The partial shutdown of Homeland Security drags on after Senate Democrats rejected a House funding bill over immigration disputes. While border enforcement continues unaffected, agencies like the Coast Guard, Secret Service, FEMA, TSA, and Cybersecurity Units face disruptions in, daily operations. House leaders expect Mullen to hit the ground running on homeland threats, building on recent gains against cartels and illegal crossings.