Kristi Noem’s $220 million advertisement campaign, which was overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is under intense scrutiny after revelations about the campaign’s spending, contracts, and questionable decisions. The ad campaign, which was designed to warn illegal migrants about the consequences of staying in the U.S., has now raised several eyebrows in Washington.
A Questionable No-Bid Contract
The investigation, led by Democratic Senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal, revealed that Noem’s campaign was awarded a $143 million no-bid contract to Safe America Media, run by veteran Republican Mike McElwain. This company was only incorporated a week before securing the deal, which is now raising serious questions about transparency and fairness.
The ad production was then outsourced to The Strategy Group, led by Benjamin Yoho, the husband of former DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. The Strategy Group was given a hefty $60,000 ‘signing bonus,’ and $4,000 was spent on makeup for Noem’s appearance in the ad. Additionally, $20,000 was spent on horse rentals, as Noem was featured riding a horse in one of the ads.
A Breakdown of Spending
While the total ad spend was exorbitant, the actual production costs were relatively modest. Only $286,137 was used for the creation of five film shoots, 45 video ads, and six radio spots. This discrepancy between the massive overall budget and the actual ad production costs has raised suspicions about where the remaining funds were allocated.
Senator Welch described the expenditures as a form of “waste, fraud, and abuse,” questioning why taxpayer money was spent on such extravagant costs, including the horse rentals and makeup.
Trump’s Denial and the DOJ Investigation
Noem, who was ousted from her position by President Donald Trump earlier this month, testified that Trump had authorized the campaign. However, Trump denied any knowledge of the project, fueling a conflict between Noem’s testimony and the White House’s statements. The Trump administration has since been urged to conduct a full audit of the campaign’s financials, but the White House has yet to commit to such an investigation.
In the wake of these revelations, Noem has been referred to the Justice Department for perjury, after allegedly making false statements under oath regarding her claims of Trump’s approval for the campaign.
Political Fallout and Public Reaction
The fallout from the scandal has been swift. Some members of Congress, including Representative Joe Neguse, have voiced concerns about potential corruption and self-dealing within the Trump administration. Noem’s involvement in the ad campaign is now a central issue in her political future, with the possibility of further investigations into her actions.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains unclear where the money from the ad campaign went and whether any further action will be taken by the Justice Department.
