⚙ What He Inherits
Will oversee 260,000 employees and a $115.6B budget across 22 agencies including ICE, CBP, FEMA, TSA, Secret Service, and Coast Guard.
Inherits Noem's controversial legacy: 170+ documented cases of U.S. citizens detained by ICE, $220M in self-promoting ads, and FEMA mismanagement.
Inherits direct oversight of contractors he is personally invested in — including L3Harris Technologies, which holds millions in ICE and FEMA contracts. A direct conflict of interest.
⚠ Documented Controversies
No relevant experience: Has no law enforcement, military, or national security background. Career prior to Congress was plumbing business, cattle ranching, and MMA fighting. Will oversee 260,000 employees across 22 agencies responsible for border security, counterterrorism, disaster response, and cybersecurity.
2020 election denial & Jan 6: Voted to overturn the 2020 election in both Arizona and Pennsylvania. Joined a Supreme Court case to discard votes in four swing states. On January 6, he was in the Capitol helping barricade doors and talking down rioters through broken glass as law enforcement protected him — then later defended Trump's pardons of those same rioters, and voted twice against investigating the attack.
Net worth built while in Congress: Grew wealth to ~$66M while serving in Congress, repeatedly investing in stocks of companies his own committees oversaw. Entered Congress as a plumbing business owner; became one of the 10 richest senators.
Massive STOCK Act violations: Made 500+ stock trades totaling $24M+ since 2023. Violated the STOCK Act multiple times, most recently August 2025, reporting 2023 transactions two years late. Traded in companies overseen by his own committees. One of the most active stock traders in the Senate.
PPP loan hypocrisy: His plumbing companies received $1.4M+ in forgiven COVID loans (plus $169K for Mullin Environmental), then loudly opposed student loan relief, tweeting "There's no such thing as a free lunch." The White House publicly called out the hypocrisy. Also claimed he paid himself only $50K; financial disclosures showed $92K.
Attempted fist fight in the Senate: During a November 2023 hearing, challenged Teamsters president Sean O'Brien to a physical fight, saying "Stand your butt up," and began removing his ring. Sen. Bernie Sanders had to intervene, shouting "You're a United States senator, sit down!" to restore order.
Rogue Afghanistan operation: In August 2021, attempted unauthorized entry into Afghanistan, threatened U.S. Embassy staff in Tajikistan when they refused to help him transport a large amount of cash across the border. The Pentagon had already denied his request. Said "I'm not Rambo" in his defense.
"Stolen valor" accusations: Described the "smell of war" and what it "feels like" on Fox News despite never having served in the military. Rep. Pat Ryan (West Point grad, two Iraq combat tours) called it "very stolen-valor adjacent." VoteVets responded: "Call of Duty doesn't count."
L3Harris conflict of interest: Personally holds stock in L3Harris Technologies while nominated to lead DHS — the department that awards L3Harris millions in ICE and FEMA contracts. Served on Armed Services and Appropriations committees that oversee these same contracts.
Confirmation hearing: Rand Paul clash (Mar 18, 2026): Hearing opened with Republican committee chairman Rand Paul publicly confronting Mullin for saying "Rand Paul's a freaking snake. And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did" — a reference to the 2017 assault that broke six of Paul's ribs. Paul accused Mullin of bragging about approving the assault. Mullin did not deny the quote. Their exchange — "We just don't get along" — set the tone for a contentious confirmation of the man Trump wants running 260,000 DHS employees.
Called dead nurse "deranged" before investigation: When ICE agents killed Alex Pretti, a federal employee ICU nurse, during an enforcement action in Minneapolis in early 2026, Mullin publicly called Pretti a "deranged individual" before any investigation had concluded. He also dismissed the killing of Renee Good in the same incident. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) pressed him on it during the hearing.
Called ICE agents "red-blooded American patriots": Described ICE agents as "red-blooded American patriots doing a tough job" while citing unverified DHS claims of an 8,000% increase in death threats against agents — a figure no independent source has confirmed.