Welch Opposes Mullin’s Nomination to Lead DHS

Mar 23, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)today released the following statement after voting against U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla.) nomination to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
“DHS and ICE need major reforms—President Trump and Stephen Miller’s mass round ups and deportation campaign have been dangerous, reckless, and deadly. Removing Kristi Noem was a start, but not a cure-all. We cannot accept dysfunction and cruelty as the status quo, and I cannot support a nominee that will continue to carry out this agenda,”said Senator Welch. “However, I am hopeful Senator Mullin will work with me and his former colleagues to shore up FEMA, which is critically important and still under attack by the president. I hope he will work across the aisle and join Democrats in the fight to pay TSA agents, disaster recovery employees, and cybersecurity experts.”
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