The US Senate has voted to approve Senator Markwayne Mullin as the country's new head of the Department of Homeland Security. The 54-45 vote was the final step in a rapid approval process. Once sworn in, Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter with a fiery personality, will oversee the nation's immigration enforcement, border protection, and airport security.

President Donald Trump nominated Mullin this month after removing former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the position. The department remains embattled, with a partial government shutdown stemming from immigration enforcement blunders depriving much of its services of funding. Despite these challenges, DHS remains central to Trump's immigration promises.

Mullin, a first-time senator and previous US representative for ten years, is known for his staunch support of the Trump administration and its focus on tough immigration policies. He expressed optimism about supporting the President's mission to enhance national security, stating, President Trump ran on restoring law and order, and he quickly delivered the most secure U.S. border in American history. His confirmation process was notably swift, beginning with his nomination on March 5, followed by hearings before both the House and Senate committees.