A major leadership change is coming to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after President Donald Trump announced plans to replace Secretary Kristi Noem with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. The move follows months of internal disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and the handling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Trump Plans Leadership Change at Homeland Security
President Donald Trump announced that Markwayne Mullin will replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The announcement comes after months of reported tensions inside the department related to immigration enforcement and the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
Speaking to reporters following the announcement, Mullin said he looks forward to working closely with the White House.
He described his relationship with the president as strong and said he expects to spend significant time working directly with administration officials.
Background of Markwayne Mullin
Before joining the Senate, Mullin served 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He began his Senate term in 2023 representing Oklahoma.
Mullin is known for his outspoken style and gained national attention during a 2023 Senate hearing involving Sean O’Brien, where the two exchanged heated words.
During the hearing, Mullin even challenged O’Brien to a fistfight, which drew widespread attention and criticism.
He also argued that the Teamsters leader’s $200,000 salary was excessive compared to his $174,000 congressional salary.
However, Mullin later faced scrutiny over comments about his own earnings when he claimed he paid himself only $50,000 annually while running his plumbing business.
Financial disclosures from 2012, when he first entered Congress, showed his salary was closer to $92,000.
Markwayne Mullin’s Business and Wealth
Although Mullin’s only official income listed is his congressional salary, his financial disclosure forms show he owns a large number of business interests and investment properties.
Members of Congress are not required to list exact asset values. Instead, they provide estimated value ranges, which makes determining total net worth more difficult.
Key Assets and Business Interests
| Asset or Business | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Mullin Ranch LLC (cattle ranch & event venue) | $1M – $5M |
| Rowan’s Restaurant sale | $1M – $5M |
| COP Hometown Parent LLC | $500K – $1M |
| Multiple commercial and residential properties | Several worth over $1M |
| Corporate securities & mutual funds | Up to $1M each |
Mullin and his wife Christie Mullin have owned Mullin Plumbing in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma for nearly three decades. According to his Senate biography, it is the largest home services company in the region.
He also founded Mullin Environmental, which received a $169,200 Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic that was later forgiven.
Large Property and Investment Holdings
Mullin’s 2024 disclosure shows he owns at least 30 investment properties, including commercial, residential, and land holdings.
Most of the properties are located in Oklahoma, but he also owns investments in:
- Washington, D.C.
- Englewood, Florida
At least four properties are estimated to be worth more than $1 million.
The senator also reported holding dozens of corporate securities and mutual funds.
Another notable entry in his financial disclosure was a line of credit between $5 million and $25 million from BNY Mellon.
From Family Ranch to U.S. Senate
Mullin grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville, Oklahoma, where he still lives with his wife and their six children.
He attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship but left school at age 20 to help run the family plumbing business after his father became ill.
He later earned a degree in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in 2010.
Wealth Among U.S. Senators
Mullin is one of several wealthy lawmakers in the U.S. Senate.
Some senators have significantly larger fortunes, including Jim Justice, whose holdings in coal companies and luxury resorts give him an estimated net worth of around $664 million.
Another wealthy senator is Mark Warner, who built much of his wealth through technology investments and venture funds.
Financial data firm Quiver Quantitative estimates Mullin’s net worth could be as high as $65.9 million, placing him among the wealthier members of Congress.
