Taxpayer millions went to a company that subcontracted with another firm operated by her spokesperson’s husband, records show
Kristi Noem’s $220 million ad spending blitz came under intense scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans across two days of congressional hearings this week, with the secretary unable to explain how a company connected to her own spokesperson landed a lucrative taxpayer-funded project.
Last year, DHS hired a little-known firm to help produce a campaign that prominently featured Noem herself, including one ad filmed during the government shutdown with the secretary on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore. “Break our laws, we’ll punish you,” Noem says in the ad.
Most of that money — $143 million — went to a company that was created just 11 days before it was awarded the contract. On Thursday, after lawmakers grilled her for answers, Donald Trump said he did not sign off on the campaign.
In her testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, Noem said she doesn’t know where the contractor is based, if the company has even done work for the government before DHS hired it, or how the company ended up subcontracting a firm with direct ties to Noem’s office.
I get the feeling the DOGE didn’t do a very good job at stopping fraud in the government.
What?! No… No no no. The guy in charge of it seems so trustworthy.
Earlier last year, I watched all those assholes constantly repeat that phrase last year, especially Karoline Leavitt, that dweeb Mikey Johnson and that guy that looks like a squirrel with a shit-eating grin perma-planted on its face - Kevin Hassett - “waste, fraud and abuse”, followed by an even bigger smile.
And it was quite obvious back then that they were quite full of shit and gleefully gaslighting the shit out of the reality-based community and loving every minute of their little games. Probably the most predictable thing ever.
“Waste, Fraud, and Abuse” is one of those Conservative mantras they use to justify their corruption, like “We must protect the children…”
I was job hunting during the doge apocalypse after a layoff, it was tough, so many people fired and looking at the same time. My dad had no sympathy, he kept telling me that it was all necessary, and said that I’d have no trouble because everyone I was competing against were useless government employees anyway.
I don’t talk to my dad anymore.
What are you talking about. They did their job just fine. Waste, fraud, and abuse! I mean they talked about their objective all the time.
And don’t forget giving Palantir access to govt databases(probably)