Markwayne Mullin confirmed as Department of Homeland Security head

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.

Mullin was a mixed martial arts fighter and first-time senator. He also served as a US representative in the lower house of Congress for 10 years before winning his Senate seat in a special election.