Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma known for his close friendship with Trump, has tried to present himself as a steady hand, saying that his goal as secretary would be to get the department off the front page of the news.
Senators advanced Mullin's nomination on Sunday during a rare weekend session on a largely party-line vote, and confirmation is expected late Monday.
He would take the helm of the Department of Homeland Security at a difficult time. The department's routine funding has been shut down by Democrats who are demanding compromises in the way ICE officers operate.
A former mixed martial arts fighter and collegiate wrestler who has led early-morning workout sessions in the members-only House gym, he became close with members of both parties and is often seen as a negotiator in partisan Washington.
It is his loyalty to Trump that landed him the job, and he’s not expected to sway from the president’s approach. Mullin was a strong supporter of Trump's immigration agenda and ICE officers before being tapped for the DHS job.
“I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland I’ll be protecting everybody,” Mullin said during his confirmation hearing.
