President Trump plans to nominate Cameron Hamilton as FEMA administrator nearly a year after his removal following testimony defending the agency. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, previously led FEMA in an acting capacity and criticized plans to dismantle the agency.
Posts tagged as “Markwayne Mullin”
President Trump orders the Department of Homeland Security to pay all employees amid a nearly 50-day shutdown. Over 35,000 workers, including FEMA and Coast Guard civilians, have gone unpaid due to a congressional impasse over immigration policy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rescinded a policy requiring the secretary’s personal review of contracts over $100,000, a change expected to reduce procurement delays that previously hindered agencies like FEMA, CBP, and ICE. Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized empowering agency components to make decisions and has also begun reevaluating ICE’s detention facility plans. Meanwhile, amid a partial government shutdown affecting DHS operations, congressional leaders proposed a two-track funding plan to reopen DHS and address immigration enforcement funding separately, though political disagreements continue to stall progress.
In March 2026, the Trump administration strengthened its ties with the combat sports world through an FBI partnership with the UFC and the appointment of former MMA fighter Senator Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security, highlighting the growing influence of combat sports within conservative politics. This connection is rooted in Trump’s longstanding affinity for combat sports and is further amplified by prominent fighters and media figures like Joe Rogan who promote right-wing ideologies and alternative health views. Concurrently, escalating Middle East tensions involving Russia, Iran, and U.S. forces have intensified debates in the Senate over military responses, amid broader regional conflicts with significant global implications.
The Senate approved a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection, continuing a partial government shutdown centered on immigration enforcement funding. The bill aims to restore funding for key agencies like TSA and FEMA amid operational challenges, including TSA staffing shortages and long airport security lines, prompting President Trump to order emergency payments for TSA workers. While Democrats praised the bill for excluding immigration enforcement funding without reforms, House Republican leaders criticized it and have yet to commit to advancing the measure, leaving the shutdown unresolved.
President Donald Trump announced he will sign an executive order to restart pay for TSA officers amid a DHS funding lapse that has caused staffing shortages and airport delays. The shutdown results from a congressional deadlock over DHS funding, with Republicans proposing a bill excluding ICE enforcement and Democrats demanding reforms before agreeing to fund ICE operations. In response, Senator John Kennedy plans to introduce a bill to fund the TSA independently, though it is unclear if Senate GOP leadership will support this measure.
A Senate amendment requiring photo identification for voting failed to advance after a 53-47 vote, amid heated debate over the broader SAVE America Act, which seeks to impose stricter voter ID and citizenship verification measures. Democrats opposed the amendment, citing concerns about voter access and ballot secrecy, while Republicans argued it was necessary for election integrity and reflected public opinion favoring voter ID laws. Additional election-related controversies include fears of ICE presence at polling places and a lawsuit demanding transparency over a voter data sharing agreement involving Social Security Administration staff, highlighting ongoing tensions ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Senate Republicans are advancing a plan to reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the ongoing government shutdown by funding all components except ICE’s immigration enforcement, aiming to gain support from President Trump and Senate Democrats. The proposal includes passing election-related provisions from the SAVE America Act through a separate budget reconciliation bill, though experts doubt these measures will meet strict budgetary rules, raising questions about the plan’s political feasibility. While Democrats remain cautiously open but demand ICE restrictions, bipartisan negotiations continue amid optimism from some Senate leaders to end the shutdown and restore DHS operations.