Markwayne Mullin has taken over as Homeland Security Secretary with a notably different approach than his predecessor Kristi Noem. The former Oklahoma senator has traded Noem's high-profile ICE-emblazoned bulletproof vest debut for a suit-and-tie presence, focusing on congressional briefings and agency morale rather than publicity stunts.

Mullin inherits a department facing declining public trust after fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis and criticism over Noem's handling of contracts, including a $200 million advertising campaign. The agency remains under investigation by the inspector general's office and operates under a partial government shutdown due to Democratic objections to immigration tactics.

The challenge for Mullin is balancing President Trump's deportation agenda with a more diplomatic public approach. While Noem's tenure was marked by controversial publicity and political maneuvering, Mullin has promised to keep the agency out of headlines while still executing the president's policies. Department officials hope he'll grant more autonomy to agency heads like ICE and Customs and Border Protection, representing a significant shift from Noem's tightly controlled operations.