U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin is reportedly being considered to serve as secretary of the interior in the Trump administration, a move that would provide a potential advocate for Native American tribes and illustrate Oklahoma’s political influence, people familiar with the senator’s work say.
If appointed, the Republican senator from northeast Oklahoma stands to become the second tribal citizen to ever serve as interior secretary. Mullin, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is also being considered to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to reporting by multiple national news outlets.
Mullin said through a spokesperson Tuesday that he has not spoken to President-elect Donald Trump about any Cabinet positions. But talk of his potential appointment as interior secretary was welcomed by some tribal leaders.
“Having someone from Oklahoma, he understands Indian Country better than most,” said Ben Barnes, chief of the Shawnee Tribe and chairman of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, a group that advocates on behalf of most tribes in the state. “Having someone that we’ve visited with quite often on various issues will be a relief for a lot of tribal leaders.”
As DOI secretary, Mullin would oversee US-tribal relationships
During his time in Congress, Mullin was regarded as someone tribal leaders can turn to in Congress. Mullin and Rep. Tom Cole, also from Oklahoma, became known as two of the key House Republicans on tribal issues. Mullin was elected to the Senate in 2022 and joined the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2023.
As secretary of the interior, Mullin would be responsible for overseeing public lands and agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, National Park Services and Bureau of Trust Funds Administration.
He would succeed current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a former U.S. representative from New Mexico and enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna. Haaland has pushed the federal government to involve tribal leaders in decision-making processes. She also launched an investigation into federally funded boarding schools that generations of Native American children were forced to attend.
Mullin’s record in Congress signals that he could continue some of Haaland’s work with tribal nations. He has backed efforts to launch a federal commission that would look more deeply into the damages caused by the U.S. boarding school era.
As senator, Mullin has vocalized support for respecting treaties between the U.S. and federally recognized tribes, said Pam Pollard, an Oklahoma delegate to the GOP convention and former chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party.
“Sen. Mullin has lived that life with his background,” Pollard said. “He’d be a wonderful advocate for our Native American tribes.”
‘We are not a flyover state when it comes to experience’
Rumors about Mullin being appointed to serve on Trump’s Cabinet illustrate the influence Oklahoma has on national politics, Pollard said.
“We’re not a flyover state when it comes to experience,” Pollard said. “We’re not set aside and not important in the administrative side, as we’ve had multiple people from Oklahoma being appointed to national positions.”
Trump’s original Cabinet in 2016 included former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who as director of the EPA reversed initiatives aimed at combating climate change. Jim Bridenstine, who represented Oklahoma’s first district congressional seat, was appointed by Trump in 2018 to oversee NASA.
Mullin has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, and Trump took Mullin up on an offer to travel to Tulsa in March 2023 for a college wrestling event.
Trump endorsed Mullin in 2022 in the Republican runoff to succeed U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, calling Mullin an accomplished businessman with a consistent record of success.
“I’m proud to call President Trump a friend and to be fighting alongside him to restore our American values and deliver real results for the great people of Oklahoma,” Mullin said in response.
If Mullin assumes a position in Trump’s Cabinet, Gov. Kevin Stitt would appoint someone to Mullin’s seat in the U.S. Senate under Oklahoma law. That appointee would be required to promise to not file as a candidate for the office when the Senate seat next appears on the ballot, which would be 2026.
This means Stitt’s appointee to serve in Mullin’s seat would serve until the 2026 election concludes.
Discussion about this post