DHS Awards $250,000 Contract to Trump-Aligned Firm in Partisan Move
The US Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $250,000 public relations contract to a Republican political consulting firm led by former Trump campaign officials, with connections to Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to DHS secretary Kristi Noem. Federal records reviewed by the Guardian reveal this decision, which marks a significant departure from standard federal procurement guidelines by explicitly demanding partisan loyalty.
Contract Details and Partisan Requirements
On 26 September 2025, DHS posted an opportunity for "public affairs consulting services," specifying that the successful applicant would provide strategic counsel to top officials, including Noem. The work involved ensuring media outlets aligned with DHS priorities were present at Noem's appearances, drafting position papers, and devising negotiation strategies focused on border security, immigration enforcement, and cyber defense. Bids were due the very next day, a notably short timeframe.
In a clear breach of federal procurement norms, the job description demanded partisan loyalty, stating: "The contractor must demonstrate an established track record of promoting Trump administration policies in the media." Preference was also given to applicants with prior experience in Cabinet-level communications, particularly those who served in a cabinet agency during the first Trump presidency.
Award to American Made Media Company
Just four days after the opportunity was made public, the contract was awarded to American Made Media Company (AMMC) LLC, a political consultancy formed in early 2025. Based in Arlington, Virginia, AMMC merges several GOP-oriented operations and is led by veterans of Donald Trump's presidential campaigns: Sean Dollman, Nick Trainer, and Justin Clark. Clark also served in the first Trump administration in key White House roles.
AMMC is an avowedly partisan firm with no apparent record of past government work. Its components include a data and polling agency, a direct mail operation, and a film production service that has produced ads for the 2024 Trump campaign and other Republican figures. A similarly named shell company, American Made Media Consultants, was a conduit for $782 million in Trump campaign spending in 2020, run by AMMC's Dollman.
Connections to Corey Lewandowski
Both of AMMC's founding partners have previously worked alongside Corey Lewandowski, who served as Trump's campaign manager in 2016. Following the January 6 insurrection, CNN reported that Lewandowski and Clark were part of the same small team of political advisers working with the then former president. Clark also represented Trump in litigation aimed at blocking Congress from obtaining White House records related to the 2021 Capitol attack.
In his role as chief adviser to Noem, Lewandowski reportedly wields significant control over contracts awarded by DHS. Last August, Politico reported that Lewandowski is involved in green-lighting six-figure contracts at the agency. In February, the Wall Street Journal noted that contracts worth over $100,000 must now be approved by the office of the DHS secretary, giving Noem and Lewandowski an outsized role in spending decisions. Several DHS officials described the process as opaque and arbitrary.
Criticism from Watchdog Groups
Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan watchdog group, called the contract highly unusual. "Talk about fast tracking, the bid was only open for 31 hours, and work began three days later. Speed often results in bad deals for the public," Amey said. He added that the partisan language violates contracting safeguards against bias, noting, "this is the first time I have seen such political bias in writing."
Under federal procurement regulations, agencies are required to conduct business with complete impartiality and avoid any conflict of interest. Jessica Tillipman, associate dean for government procurement law studies at George Washington University, described the partisan demands as a "blazing red flag of procurement integrity concern." She stated, "I've been doing this over 20 years. I have never seen something [like it]."
Response from DHS and AMMC
In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that DHS procurements are overseen by the office of the chief procurement officer and subject to federal laws ensuring transparency and competition. She added, "It is not surprising that the Department of Homeland Security, which has proved to be an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars under the Trump administration, would require any organization tasked with public affairs not only be proven to do the job but also be aligned with the agency's mission."
Representatives for AMMC referred inquiries to Tim Murtaugh, Trump's 2020 communications director, who suggested he is the primary beneficiary of the award. Murtaugh said in a statement that DHS "naturally prefer to engage firms that already support the mission of the department and are familiar with the president's record and agenda." Federal records show six bids were received on the contract, which is due to end on 12 June 2026.
