Kristi Noem’s exit from the Department of Homeland Security had barely been confirmed when one Democrat had already signed up to support her replacement.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman moved to back his Senate colleague Markwayne Mullin for the top DHS job almost immediately — earning the vicious fury of Democrats who are growing tired of his independence.
‘I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague @SenMullin as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE,’ Fetterman posted on X.
Matt McDermott, a Democratic Strategist, responded to Fetterman’s post, commenting, ‘This is so embarrassing, man. Just resign.’
California Governor Gavin Newsom called Mullin an ‘erratic, unstable man,’ adding that he ‘could not remember if we were at war THIS WEEK.’
Newsom added ‘His state has one of the highest crime rates in the country — with a murder rate 40% higher than California’s. He literally tried to fight union workers during a hearing and told them to ‘shut your mouth.’ And said ‘I don’t want reality’ at a Senate hearing about race,’ in a Thursday post on X.
Sam Stein, a political journalist serving as editor of The Bulwark and an MSNOW commentator, wrote, ‘For a senator who has put a fair bit of his career advocating for DACA recipients, you’d think he’d at least pose some questions before committing to a vote.’
Fetterman has toed a fine line on immigration in recent weeks, defending ICE agents, saying they ‘are just doing their job, and I fully support that,’ while criticizing Democrats who ‘treat them as criminals.’
John Fetterman speaks to the media at the US Capitol after a vote on March 5, 2026
Markwayne Mullin speaks with reporters on the steps at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 5, 2026
The President lauded Mullin for his Native American roots and claimed the Senator ‘will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security’.
Fetterman was the only Democrat to join Republicans in a 51-45 vote on Thursday afternoon to fund the DHS, which is currently facing a lapse in funding. 60 votes were needed to pass the measure, as with all spending bills.
The lapse in DHS funding has now hit 20 days, and there’s an increased risk of terror threats due to the war in Iran.
The majority of House Democrats also voted against funding DHS on Thursday afternoon in their chamber, with representatives Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington joining Republicans to pass the bill, 221 to 209.
