Government Ads Raise Questions Over Money and Connections

Senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal are asking three companies that landed a $220 million advertising deal to explain how they might have helped former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski make money. The firms involved are Safe America Media, People Who Think and the Strategy Group, a subcontractor run by Ben Yoho, who is married to former DHS press secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Safe America Media received a no‑bid contract worth $143 million, while People Who Think was awarded $77 million. The Strategy Group was added to the deal as a subcontractor, according to letters sent by the senators. These contracts were signed outside the usual competitive bidding process, a practice that began to attract scrutiny in 2025 and became more visible during Noem’s recent hearings before Congress. President Trump announced on Thursday that he had fired Noem, citing a “cumulative list of failures” that included the ad campaign. He also said he was unhappy with how much the campaign cost, noting he did not know about it. Noem had claimed that Trump was aware of the price when she testified.The senators’ letters point to a 2023 Pro Publica article that linked the ad contracts to a firm connected with Noem. They are requesting copies of agreements, lists of subcontractors and any ties between the companies and Lewandowski. The questions also ask whether the firms compensated DHS staff, including special government employees such as Lewandowski, in any way related to the ad campaign. Although the Democrats cannot force companies or officials to answer, they are pressing for transparency. Reports suggest that Noem also chose the same firms for a $100 million ICE recruitment campaign, and an employee who raised concerns was reportedly threatened with termination. White House and DHS spokespeople have not yet replied to the senators’ inquiries about whether Lewandowski or other DHS employees received any financial benefit from the contracts.