Overview
- The president has asked aides whether Corey Lewandowski personally profited from the advertising campaign, a claim Lewandowski rejects, after Trump publicly contradicted Kristi Noem’s testimony that he approved the spending.
- The DHS inspector general is examining the contracting behind the campaign and is auditing grants and contracts awarded without full and open competition in fiscal year 2025.
- House Republicans, led by Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino with support from Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, have begun seeking documents and reviewing contracts tied to the ads.
- Senators have flagged $143 million awarded to Safe America Media and $77 million to People Who Think through no‑bid deals, with subcontracting links to firms connected to Noem allies, according to their letters and company statements.
- Noem’s requirement to personally approve all contracts over $100,000 left dozens of pending actions and delayed vendor payments, affecting ICE facilities and other DHS operations, according to multiple reports.