Trump nominee Mullin expected to get quick confirmation to replace Noem at DHS – US politics live | US news

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Later today, a Senate committee is expected to give swift confirmation to Markwayne Mullin, a first-term Republican senator from Oklahoma, to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mullin was nominated by US president Donald Trump after Kristi Noem was ousted amid public outcry over the administration’s aggressive approach to its mass deportation agenda; this resulted in the killing of two US citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Democrats have pushed for a partial shutdown of DHS until their demands for guardrails on immigration enforcement are met.

The issues at the heart of the dispute will come up this morning when Mullin’s confirmation hearing begins before the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee.

“I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to be Secretary of Homeland Security,” Mullin, who was elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving five terms in the House of Representatives, said on social media earlier this month.

“I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trump’s mission alongside the department’s many talented agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day.”

Republicans praised his nomination, and their control of the Senate gives them the numbers to carry out his appointment even if Democrats oppose him. While Democrats remain silent on Mullin, party leaders say their demands for reforms to immigration operations will remain unchanged no matter who leads DHS.

Approval is expected to begin around 9.30am.

Read the full story here:

In other developments:

• A top counterterrorism official from the Trump administration has resigned over the ongoing war against Iran. Joe KentReporting to the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi GabbardIn his resignation letter, he said he “could not in his conscience support” the conflict.

• Gabbard responded with a statement that did not directly reference Kent but argued that Trump “is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat.”

• Parliamentary oversight committee called on the attorney general Pam Bondi He will appear at the hearing to testify about the Ministry of Justice’s attitude towards the incident. jeffrey epstein investigation.

• The Senate passed a measure to open debate on legislation restricting voting in various ways in U.S. elections; By a vote of 51 to 48, mostly along partisan lines, only Lisa MurkowskiThe Alaska Republican is crossing party lines.

• The Irish prime minister during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock ceremony at the White House. michael martinHe politely argued for free trade and a rules-based order before offering Trump a bowl of shamrocks.

• During Embers and his aides spent much of Tuesday mocking CityCritics of the administration have pointed out that Kent’s ties to far-right extremists mean he is never fit for the job.