The Senate on Sunday advanced Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The 54-37 procedural vote sets up a final vote for Mullin’s confirmation as early as Monday. “Senate advances Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as President Trump’s second Homeland Security Secretary in his second term. Democrats Fetterman (PA) and Heinrich (NM) voted Yes with all Republicans,” CSPAN Capitol Hill producer Craig Caplan wrote. 54-37: Senate advances Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as President Trump’s second Homeland Security Secretary in his second term. Democrats Fetterman (PA) and Heinrich (NM) voted Yes with all Republicans. pic.twitter.com/JbrGggJISj — Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 22, 2026 More from Government Executive: If confirmed, Mullin will take over a department that has been shut down since Feb. 14 amid a stalemate over changes to immigration enforcement policy. Senate Democrats have declined to approve a funding bill for the department following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during a months-long immigrant enforcement operation. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted 8-7 to move Mullin’s nomination forward Thursday. Mullin did not gain the support of the fellow Republican who chairs the committee, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., but still received a favorable vote from the committee because Fetterman joined all other Republicans in voting in Mullin’s favor. Paul did not vote on Sunday. According to Axios, had Paul voted “no” on the floor, he would have been the first senator in almost 40 years to “oppose a fellow senator nominated by a president of his own party.” “Sources told News 9 Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is expected to appoint oil and gas executive Alan Armstrong to Senator Mullin’s seat,” News 9 wrote. “News 9 Political Analyst Scott Mitchell said Armstrong was on the short list all along and breaks down why he may have been the strongest candidate,” it continued. The senate voted 54 to 37 on Sunday to have a final confirmation vote for Markwayne Mullin’s nomination expected to happen this week. Sources told News 9 Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is expected to appoint oil and gas executive Alan Armstrong to Senator Mullin’s seat. News 9… pic.twitter.com/oL7po7Jxyl — News 9 (@NEWS9) March 23, 2026 Axios noted: Sunday’s procedural floor vote followed a vitriolic hearing on Wednesday that opened with Paul challenging Mullin to “tell me to my face” why Paul deserved an assault that left him with broken ribs. “You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified,” Paul said, referring to comments Mullin made to constituents, where he also called Paul a “freakin’ snake.” “And while you’re at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues,” Paul added. Democrats also expressed concerns about whether Mullin was temperamentally suited to the job, as well as questioning his experience. While it’s unusual for a Cabinet nominee to advance to a floor vote without support from the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction, Paul didn’t take the extra step of blocking or delaying a committee vote.