DHS's earlier ad campaign: limited-competition contracts to firms tied to Trump-world operatives, and senators' inquiries (2026)

Case

Separate from the 2026 pro-Trump PSAs, a DHS ad campaign (reported by Politico as valued at $220 million) featured then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Politico reported two firms led by Republican operatives received at least $23 million in commissions after "limited competition" contracting, and Sens. Welch and Blumenthal wrote to the firms in March 2026 asking about conflicts of interest. Senators' allegations are theirs; no finding of wrongdoing is reported here.

What was reported (2026)
Politico reported that Safe America Media received at least $15.2 million and People Who Think at least $7.7 million in commissions from a 2026 DHS ad campaign valued at $220 million, a combined $23 million or more.
Safe America Media was run by Republican operatives Mike McElwain and Patrick McCarthy and was formed the February before it won the contract; its ads were placed through Strategic Media Services, which received more than $269 million from Trump's 2024 campaign according to FEC records. People Who Think was co-founded by Jay Connaughton, who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign.
A March 3 internal DHS memo by Deputy Under Secretary Paul Stackhouse described only "limited competition" for the contracts, citing an "urgent and compelling need." Commissions were 12% (Safe America Media, domestic) and 10% (People Who Think, international), below the 15% industry norm Politico cites.
Sens. Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal said in a March 20, 2026 release that Safe America Media received a $143 million no-bid DHS contract and was incorporated seven days before the award; they asked Strategic Media Services and Smart Media Group about contracts, invoices, communications with DHS personnel including Corey Lewandowski, and conflict-of-interest policies.
The senators noted that a Smart Media subsidiary received more than $329 million in 2024 from Trump's PAC while Lewandowski was advising the campaign. These are the senators' allegations and questions; the sources reviewed here report no finding of wrongdoing.
The Strategy Group, led by Ben Yoho, produced some ads as a subcontractor; Yoho told senators his firm's subcontract was worth $226,000. Yoho's wife, Tricia McLaughlin, then a DHS spokesperson, says she recused herself, and DHS general counsel James Percival backed her up publicly.

Perspectives

Defender — Safe America Media (lawyer Joseph Folio) and DHS
Safe America Media's lawyer said the firm \"committed substantial resources to meet an accelerated timeline on budget\" and would provide more information. DHS's internal memo justified limited competition by an \"urgent and compelling need,\" and DHS says then-Secretary Noem credits the ads with encouraging two million immigrants to self-deport. A DHS spokesperson declined to comment to Politico; McElwain, McCarthy and Connaughton did not respond.

Critic — Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
The senators say the contracting raises possible corruption and conflict-of-interest questions, citing the no-bid award, the new company's formation days before it, and ties among the firms, Noem adviser Corey Lewandowski and Trump's PAC. They have asked the firms to produce documents; their letters are questions, not findings.

Note
Safe America Media's lawyer said the firm committed substantial resources to meet an accelerated timeline on budget; one subcontractor's spouse says she recused herself, a position DHS's general counsel backed; no wrongdoing has been established in the sources reviewed.

Sources
[1] Politico (via Yahoo): Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions in commissions from DHS ad campaign (https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/political-operatives-trump-ties-raked-095600828.html)
[2] Sen. Welch press release: letters to Strategic Media Services and Smart Media Group (https://www.welch.senate.gov/?p=12380) · 2026-03-20

Connections

Same context — Taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads and the court order to pull them (Oct. 2026)
Both are DHS-funded advertising campaigns in 2026; this one is an earlier, separate campaign featuring Noem, and no source here links the two contracts.