Markwayne Mullin confirmed by the US Senate as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON: The US Senate has voted to approve Senator Markwayne Mullin as the country's new head of the Department of Homeland Security.

The 54-45 vote was the final step in a rapid approval process. Once sworn in, Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter with a fiery personality, will oversee the nation's immigration enforcement, border protection and airport security.

President Donald Trump nominated Mullin this month after removing former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the position.

The department remains embattled. A partial government shutdown stemming from immigration enforcement blunders has deprived much of its services of funding, though DHS remains central to Trump's immigration promises.

On Wednesday, a Senate committee voted 8-7 vote following a contentious hearing and sent the Cabinet nomination to the full Senate, which resulted in the confirmation.

During his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Mullin tried to make the case that he would be a steady hand after the tumultuous tenure of Kristi Noem, Trump's first DHS secretary.

Mullin also signaled support for Trump’s immigration priorities, which are central to the funding standoff after the death of at least three American citizens at the hands of federal agents.

Mullin's hearing was unusually combative and came close to going off the rails as he engaged in heated exchanges with some Democrats as well as Paul.

In addition to a lengthy exchange over Mullin's failure to disclose what he characterized as a “classified” congressional trip while a House member, Paul opened the hearing with a fiery statement challenging Mullin's fitness to lead DHS.

Paul pointed to comments Mullin made after a funding fight, when he called Paul a “freaking snake” and said he understood why a neighbor had tackled Paul in a lawn care dispute. That incident happened several years ago, and Paul suffered multiple broken ribs and later had surgeries he linked to the attack.

“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force?” Paul said.

Mullin refused to back down.

“For you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate,” Mullin said.

Paul later said he would not vote for Mullin’s confirmation.

Fetterman, who has frequently challenged his own party, said his vote was "rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”