House Republicans have launched a probe into a $220 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advertising campaign overseen by now-former Secretary Kristi Noem amid concerns about spending practices and management oversight.
The campaign, which included ads featuring Noem on horseback at Mount Rushmore, promoted legal immigration while encouraging illegal aliens to self-deport.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) said his panel is examining the contract process and other department expenditures linked to Noem and her ousted top adviser Corey Lewandowski.
“Corey had his hands in a lot and probably should not have,” Garbarino told the New York Post in an exclusive interview. “We are looking into a lot of contracts.”
The campaign raised concerns over department efficiency and potential conflicts of interest.
About $143 million was awarded to Safe America Media, a company incorporated in Delaware shortly before receiving the contract, according to ProPublica reporting.
A subcontract worth more than $226,000 went to the Strategy Group, which helped produce the Noem ad. The firm is led by Ben Yoho, husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Critics questioned whether DHS properly vetted these contracts.
President Donald Trump expressed frustration over the hefty amount, telling NBC News, “I wasn’t thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it.”
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) added, “Our staff is just starting to get information in on that.”
Republicans also raised concerns about delays in funding for border wall construction and disaster relief, which Garbarino attributed to a Noem-imposed rule requiring her office to sign off on all contracts over $100,000.
The bottlenecks, he said, hampered critical department actions, even though the policy aimed to prevent waste and abuse.
Separately, the DHS Office of Inspector General has been investigating how three businesses received the $220 million in ad contracts, according to RealClearPolitics.
Sources indicate that Noem and Lewandowski may have obstructed IG access to key data, raising questions of retaliation against the watchdog agency.
IG Joseph Cuffari wrote to Congress alleging that DHS leadership blocked access to intelligence programs and databases, including those critical to investigations involving border enforcement and Secret Service security lapses surrounding the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump.
Cuffari called the interference “particularly troubling given the other reported attempts on President Trump’s life coupled with the present worldwide conflict.”
Despite the controversy, House Republicans expressed optimism about DHS’ future under incoming Secretary Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), who is expected to pursue additional oversight of departmental spending while continuing immigration enforcement initiatives.
Garbarino noted that while Noem “didn’t do a bad job,” her deputies were not in place to fully support operations.
DHS representatives have denied retaliating against the IG’s office, and agency spokespersons declined to comment on the ongoing probe.
The inspector general’s office, meanwhile, confirmed an ongoing audit of grants and contracts awarded without full and open competition during fiscal year 2025, which may include the Noem advertising campaign.
The investigation highlights broader concerns about taxpayer spending, accountability, and oversight within the DHS, with lawmakers emphasizing the need for transparency and proper contract vetting.
