Drummond leads push for immediate confirmation of Mullin as DHS Secretary

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 17, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond is leading a coalition of 18 state attorneys general in urging Congress to swiftly confirm U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The coalition sent a letter yesterday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for immediate action as national security threats continue to escalate.

“Sen. Mullin has worked alongside us on the front lines of our border security battles, and he has the legislative experience, the executive backbone and the personal commitment to lead DHS effectively from day one,” said Drummond. “Every day this position remains vacant is a day our adversaries can exploit. The Senate must act now.”

The letter outlines Sen. Mullin’s extensive qualifications for the role including his years of congressional experience, his service on the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, his background as a successful business executive and his identity as a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The attorneys general assert that Sen. Mullin has the type of real-world executive experience that is essential to managing one of the federal government’s largest and most complex agencies.

“The threat is real, it is multi-faceted, and it is here, harming Americans every day. The next Secretary of Homeland Security must be prepared to confront all of these dangers simultaneously, and to do so from the moment of confirmation. Senator Mullin is ready,” the coalition wrote.

In addition to Drummond, the attorneys general of the following states also signed the letter to Congress: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and West Virginia.