The Senate worked overnight to advance the GOP's budget resolution to fund immigration enforcement to the tune of $70 billion in an effort to end the Democrat-induced shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
From Wednesday afternoon to the early hours of Thursday morning, senators voted on a slew of amendments to advance Republicans' legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection.
'Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders.'
This legislative marathon comes amid the ongoing DHS shutdown that began in mid-February. In March, the Senate approved a funding package to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP in a 2:00 a.m. voice vote, but it was rejected by the House. The House passed its own 60-day continuing resolution to fund the department in its entirety, but it was not advanced in the Senate.
The Senate budget ultimately advanced mostly along party lines in a 50-48 vote just before 3:30 a.m., with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky voting with Democrats against the immigration funding.
RELATED: Senate approves DHS funding — but there's a catch
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) lashed out at Republicans for funding "rogue agencies," claiming they are out of touch with everyday Americans.
“What kind of bubble are they living in?" Schumer asked. "How apart are they with people’s real needs?”
Despite the Democrats' predictable disapproval of the funding bill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) remains optimistic that the House will cooperate with the Senate to fund these key agencies. Earlier this month, both Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) agreed on a "two-track approach" that would partially reopen DHS while funding immigration enforcement separately.
"In following this two-track approach, the Republican Congress will fully reopen the Department, make sure all federal workers are paid, and specifically fund immigration enforcement and border security for the next three years so that those law-enforcement activities can continue uninhibited," a joint statement between Thune and Johnson reads. "In return, Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders and keeping criminal illegal immigrants in America."
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Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has been confirmed by the Senate to head the Department of Homeland Security just weeks after President Donald Trump tapped him for the role.
Trump recruited Mullin to replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in early March after a string of personal and political controversies. Noem will continue to serve in the role until March 31.
Despite Paul's defection, Mullin secured support from some Democrats.
Mullin's nomination sailed through the Senate in a 54-45 vote Monday night with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky being the lone GOP "no" vote after the two shared a heated exchange during a confirmation hearing.
Paul called out Mullin for allegedly calling a vicious assault against Paul that left him with broken ribs "completely understandable." Mullin in turn said if he had something to say he would just "say it directly to [his] face," arguing that Paul likes to "fight Republicans more than you work with us."
RELATED: Trump adds new condition to ICE airport plan in DHS shutdown fight
Despite Paul's defection, Mullin secured support from some Democrats. Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico voted with Republicans to confirm Trump's nominee.
It's typical for senators to overwhelmingly confirm a Senate colleague to a Cabinet position despite their political affiliation, so the limited Democrat support potentially indicates how divisive DHS has become. While Mullin was confirmed on a near party-line vote, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former senator from Florida, was unanimously confirmed by his colleagues back in January 2025 to serve in the Trump administration.
Mullin is now set to take on the task of resolving the partial DHS shutdown that has withheld funding from key agencies like TSA and FEMA since February 14. As a result of the Democrats' partial shutdown, airports across the country are seeing massive security lines and constant flight delays.
RELATED: 'Freaking snake': Trump's new DHS pick faces major roadblock from lone Republican
Senate Democrats allowed DHS funding to lapse after the shootings of anti-ICE agitators Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Notably, the partial shutdown does not affect the immigration agencies Democrats seek to dismantle. Mullin's Democrat colleagues are also demanding changes to immigration enforcement like deploying body cams and removing face coverings, all of which he will have to negotiate in his new role.
Mullin is now expected to be sworn in at the White House Tuesday afternoon.
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President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Homeland Security advanced through committee Thursday thanks to one Democrat senator.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin's nomination advanced through the Senate Homeland Security Committee after Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossed party lines and voted in favor of the nominee. Mullin's confirmation was previously in jeopardy after the committee's chairman, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, vowed to vote against the nominee, citing concerns about his "temperament."
'Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.'
"They've had to have known for weeks that I couldn't be real happy about a guy that won't apologize and thinks that my assault was perfectly understandable," Paul said.
Without Paul's support, Mullin was on the brink of failing the simple majority vote needed to pass through the committee. However, Fetterman joined seven Republicans on the committee to advance Mullin's nomination to the Senate floor.
RELATED: 'Freaking snake': Trump's new DHS pick faces major roadblock from lone Republican
Paul and Mullin sparred in Wednesday's confirmation hearing after the chairman confronted the nominee over past comments he made about a violent assault Paul survived.
"You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified," Paul said of Mullin's comments following the 2017 assault that left him with broken ribs. Paul also claimed Mullin referred to him as a "freaking snake."
Mullin pushed back on Paul's claims in his opening statement, saying they addressed their differences when the Oklahoma senator was still in the House.
"I'm very blunt and direct to the point," Mullin said. "And if I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face."
"Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us," Mullin added.
RELATED: Noem is OUT — and Trump has named her replacement
Mullin's nomination is now headed to the floor, where the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to confirm him with a simple majority.
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The confirmation for President Donald Trump's top choice for the next head of the Department of Homeland Security is off to a rocky start, thanks to one Republican senator.
Trump tapped Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. While most of Mullin's Senate colleagues have praised Trump's choice, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was not keen on the nominee.
'Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.'
Paul opened the confirmation hearing Wednesday by challenging Mullin to disavow political violence. Paul was specifically asking Mullin to address alleged past comments in which he said he "completely" understood why Paul's neighbor attacked him in 2017, leaving him with severe injuries including broken ribs.
"You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified," Paul said of Mullin's comments. Paul also claimed Mullin referred to him as a "freaking snake."
RELATED: Noem is OUT — and Trump has named her replacement
Mullin addressed Paul's claims, insisting that he and Paul had a conversation about their differences when Mullin was still a member of the House. Mullin also looked directly at Paul and said, "I'm very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face."
Mullin then added, "Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us."
Paul later said he would note vote for Mullin's confirmation, saying Mullin's "temperament was not suitable" and that his "anger issues are a problem."
"They’ve had to have known for weeks that I couldn't be real happy about a guy that won't apologize and thinks that my assault was perfectly understandable," Paul said.
A "no" vote from Paul could cost Mullin the confirmation. Mullin first needs to be approved by a simple majority of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Paul chairs. If senators vote on party lines, just one Republican defection could throw the whole nomination.
RELATED: Trump's unusual Cabinet meeting may reveal which officials are on thin ice
If Mullin's nomination advances through committee, he will need a simple majority in the Republican-controlled Senate.
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'You would have local accountability, back to the farmer,' Massie told The Federalist.
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