Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead Department of Homeland Security — The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted on March 20, 2026, to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security on a near party-line vote. Eight of nine Republicans supported the nomination; Rand Paul dissented. One Democrat, John Fetterman, voted in favor; six opposed. The committee's top Democrat, Gary Peters, criticized Mullin for failing to be forthright and transparent, and for appearing to condone political violence. Mullin's nomination now proceeds to a full Senate vote, where Republicans hold sufficient numbers for confirmation.
• Fetterman casts decisive committee vote to advance Mullin nomination for DHS secretary — Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) cast the deciding vote in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 20, 2026, to advance Republican Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Department of Homeland Security secretary. Fetterman was the sole Democrat to join seven Republicans in supporting the nomination, which faced Democratic opposition over allegations that Mullin had encouraged political violence. The vote prompted calls from fellow Pennsylvania Democrats for Fetterman's resignation and criticism that he had abandoned party and constituent interests.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security — Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on March 18, 2026. He defended the administration's mass deportation agenda while striking a more diplomatic tone than his predecessor. Mullin expressed regret for past inflammatory comments about a US citizen killed by immigration agents and acknowledged mistakes in his public statements. The hearing was contentious, with committee chair Rand Paul demanding explanations for Mullin's past hostile remarks toward him. Democrats pressed Mullin on his truthfulness regarding claimed combat experience, his willingness to enforce immigration at polling places, and his commitment to constitutional limits on executive power. The committee scheduled a vote for the following day.
• Trump nominates Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary; senator claims undisclosed overseas military-adjacent experience — Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Republican senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin, who never served in the U.S. military, has repeatedly made cryptic public statements suggesting combat or overseas security experience, claiming "special assignments outside of DoD" and referencing war zones. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Mullin confirmed he had never traveled abroad except for vacation or mission work, contradicting his earlier implications. His office later clarified the "overseas" work involved Christian mission activities with returning troops.
• Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing for DHS Secretary; Fema restructuring and staffing concerns raised — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary, testified before the Senate during his confirmation hearing. He pledged to restructure rather than eliminate Fema, revoke Noem's $100,000 expenditure review policy, and appoint a qualified Fema director. However, he declined to commit to reversing Fema staff cuts, suggesting some agencies are "bloated," and reiterated that states should lead disaster response with federal support only at certain levels. Disaster management officials expressed concern about his preparedness and vision.
• Senator Markwayne Mullin testified for Secretary of Homeland Security confirmation — Senator Markwayne Mullin, Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in a contentious confirmation hearing. The hearing began with Chairman Rand Paul confronting Mullin over past comments where Mullin appeared to justify or "understand" the violent assault on Paul by his neighbor. Mullin refused to fully apologize for those comments, leading to a heated exchange.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr spreads vaccine misinformation as health secretary amid measles outbreak — Robert F Kennedy Jr, appointed as US health secretary, has made public statements spreading dubious information about measles vaccines, including false claims that vaccines kill people annually and cause blindness and deafness. This occurs as a measles outbreak in west Texas has sickened 279 people and killed two Americans—the first measles deaths in nearly a decade. Vaccine experts have condemned Kennedy's statements as deeply harmful during an active public health crisis.
• Measles outbreak expands in west Texas with 279 cases and two deaths — A measles outbreak centered in Gaines County, west Texas has sickened 279 people and resulted in two deaths—the first measles fatalities in the United States in nearly a decade. The outbreak has led to severe complications including measles-induced pneumonia requiring pediatric intubation. Vaccination rates in the affected area have fallen significantly, with measles immunization rates for kindergarteners dropping from 97% in 2004 to 84% in 2023 statewide.
• RFK Jr. appoints anti-vaccine activist to lead vaccine-autism study — Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed anti-vaccine activist David Geier to lead a study examining alleged links between autism and vaccines. The alleged link has been heavily studied and thoroughly debunked. Geier lacks a medical degree and was disciplined in Maryland for practicing medicine without a license. Infectious disease journalist Helen Branswell noted that Geier has "a long track record of impropriety and incompetence," and that appointing him signals the administration seeks predetermined results rather than independent scientific inquiry.