The Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog is investigating Kristi Noem's $220 million advertising campaign, which prominently featured the former secretary, amid allegations of obstruction. The Office of Inspector General has been examining the contracting process for months, including how three businesses with close ties to Noem secured lucrative no-bid contracts, according to RealClearPolitics.
Last year, DHS awarded $77 million to a Louisiana-based firm operated by a former colleague of Noem's top adviser Corey Lewandowski, and $143 million to Safe America Media, which subcontracted with the Strategy Group, a firm that has worked with Noem for years. The Strategy Group's CEO Ben Yoho is married to former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
During Senate testimony, Republican Senator John Kennedy expressed concern over the use of taxpayer funds, stating, 'It troubles me. A fifth to a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money, when we're scratching for every penny.' The Strategy Group said it received only $226,137.17 for its work on the campaign.
In a letter to Congress, DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari outlined nearly a dozen instances of 'systematic obstruction' by Homeland Security, including restricted access to information on immigration arrests. Senator Thom Tillis called for Noem's resignation, saying, 'That is stonewalling. That's a failure of leadership.'
President Donald Trump, who removed Noem from his cabinet, said he was unaware of the ad campaign. 'I didn't know anything about that,' Trump told Reuters, adding he was 'not thrilled' by Noem's testimony that he had signed off on the spending.
