Controversial MAGA Senator clears first hurdle to becoming next DHS chief: report

A controversial MAGA Senator cleared his first hurdle toward becoming the next Department of Homeland Security Secretary on Sunday, according to a new report.

Bloomberg reported that Senators voted 53-47 to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin's (R-OK) nomination in a procedural vote, which the outlet noted appears to signal that the former MMA fighter has enough support to be confirmed as the next DHS Secretary. The vote happened just a few days after the contentious hearing that Mullin had in the Senate Homeland Security Committee, where he was confronted by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) about his previous comments supporting an attacker who injured Paul.

The vote also happened at a time when Democrats are refusing to support a bill to reopen part of DHS that has been shut down for more than a month. The shutdown has disrupted operations at the Transportation Security Administration, causing security lines to grow at airports across the country.

President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports to address the growing security lines. He wrote on Truth Social that he is prepared to deploy the agents as soon as Monday.

Democrats have said they want to secure reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens during a recent surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, the Trump administration has been hesitant, at best, to reform the agency.