US EditionFirm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got $220 Million
DHS tripled its ad budget to $220 million for an immigration campaign, awarding contracts to firms linked to Noem and her allies, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
- This year, the Department of Homeland Security directed $220 million in taxpayer-funded advertising for a border-focused campaign, tripling the DHS ad budget in the most recent fiscal year.
- Using expanded authority from Congress, the agency invoked a 'national emergency' at the border to fast-track contracts, with the 'Big Beautiful Bill' granting DHS over $150 billion.
- Most of the money flowed to a Delaware LLC, Safe America Media, which received $143 million while one contract sent $77 million to People Who Think as the Strategy Group filmed the Mount Rushmore ad.
- Watchdogs and lawyers urged, `contracting experts warned the ties between DHS leadership and the Strategy Group suggest potential violations of ethics rules and urged investigations,' citing McLaughlin's recusal and Noem's approval of payments over $100,000 this year.
- Opaque subcontracting practices mean Safe America Media was created days before the award and how it distributed $143 million is unknown, while subcontractors are undisclosed in federal contracting databases.
14 Articles
14 Articles
DHS Cited Border ‘National Emergency’ to Bypass Bidding for $220M Ad Push, Reportedly Used Company Tied to Noem Allies
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem looks on during Iowa’s Roast and Ride, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) According to a Friday ProPublica investigation, the Department of Homeland Security invoked a “national emergency” at the southern border to bypass competitive bidding rules for a massive $220 million advertising campaign — a process that ultimately funneled work to a Republican consul…
DHS secretly paid firm tied to Kristi Noem in $220M ad campaign
On October 2, the second day of the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at Mount Rushmore to shoot a television ad sitting on horseback in chaps and a cowboy hat. Her stern message for immigrants: "Break our laws, we'll punish you." — Read the rest The post DHS secretly paid firm tied to Kristi Noem in $220M ad campaign appeared first on Boing Boing.
Busted: Firm tied to Kristi Noem secretly got money from government contracts
On Oct. 2, the second day of the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at Mount Rushmore to shoot a television ad. Sitting on horseback in chaps and a cowboy hat, Noem addressed the camera with a stern message for immigrants: “Break our laws, we’ll punish you.” Noem has hailed the more than $200 million, taxpayer-funded ad campaign as a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration. Her agency invoked the “national emer…
DHS Hired Firm With Deep Ties to Noem for Border Ads, Masking Its Role Through Shell Company: Report
The Department of Homeland Security directed millions of dollars from a $220 million border advertising campaign to a Republican consulting firm closely linked to Secretary Kristi Noem and her senior
ProPublica
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for the taxpayer-funded campaign.
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