Ousted DHS Ex-Secretary Kristi Noem Slammed for Awarding Taxpayer Money Worth $143 million to 8‑Day‑Old Firm

Ousted, now Ex-DHS secretary, Kristi Noem was pressed by members of the House Oversight Committee regarding the unusual contract award to Safe America Media, a company that existed just days before it was given the nine‑figure deal.

Representative Joe Neguse, a Colorado Democrat, pointed out that out of 'hundreds of thousands of companies in the United States,' only four were selected for the work, one of which was Safe America Media.

When Neguse asked, 'Where is Safe America Media headquartered?' Noem repeatedly said she did not know. The secretary's lack of specific details about the firm's location, experience or background raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.

In one exchange, Neguse warned that awarding such a large contract to an unknown company without a website, headquarters or federal work record could undermine public trust.

Negotiating the tense back‑and‑forth, the congressman emphasised the point by saying: 'You want the American people to believe that this is all above board?' as he outlined the company's scant public footprint and its links to political operatives.

Why the Contract Was Unusual

According to Reuters, the contract was part of a £175 million ($220 million) advertising campaign aimed at communicating DHS policy on border security and immigration.

Large federal contracts typically go through competitive processes to ensure value for taxpayers. In this case, the department cited an 'urgent' need to launch the campaign and used an exemption to award without standard bidding procedures.

Critics point out that Safe America Media barely existed—having only been set up eight days before getting the contract—and had no website or record of previous federal work. Reports also show that some of the money went to subcontractors connected to Noem's former staff and political allies.

The DHS says the contract followed the rules for emergency spending and was handled by experienced officials, but many lawmakers are still worried, saying even emergency contracts usually need more proof, checks, and oversight.

The majority of the spending went to Safe America Media with £113 million ($143 million). The rest went to other firms, such as People Who Think, which reportedly received around £61 million ($77 million).

Noem Removed Over Mounting Controversies

At the time, Noem's work at DHS was already controversial, with critics pointing to her immigration policies and how she spent government money. Her testimony in Congress about the advertising contracts, and whether President Trump approved them, reportedly upset him, and he later said he had not approved the campaign.

On 5 March, Trump announced that Senator Markwayne Mullin would take over as DHS Secretary. Officials said her departure was due to several issues, including tense relations with Congress and internal disputes, not just the contract.

Noem will move to a new role as a special envoy for security in the Americas, while DHS adjusts to broader staffing and immigration policy changes.

Government Procurement Rules Affected

Since news of the contract came out, there's been more talk about how government contracts are handled, especially emergency contracts, and whether stronger rules are needed when large amounts of public money are involved.

Lawmakers from both parties want clearer records showing why this contract was given the way it was.

As new leadership takes over at DHS, Congress is keeping a close eye. However, although there's pressure for a formal inquiry, there has been no public announcement of a criminal investigation or charges against Noem tied directly to the contract.

Oversight investigations can take months or longer, and can result in reports, recommendations, or referrals for further action.