Kristi Noem faced tough questioning before the House Oversight Committee regarding her DHS ad campaign. When pressed about the $143 million no-bid contract awarded to Safe America Media, she couldn't explain why the department selected the obscure firm. Safe America Media was incorporated just eight days before receiving the nine-figure government deal.

Congressman Joe Neguse noted DHS identified only four companies out of hundreds of thousands as potential hires. The ad firm has no website, no federal experience, and headquarters that remain untraceable. Its only verifiable address connects to property owned by Republican operative Michael McElwain, raising questions about the procurement process.

The $143 million ultimately flowed to Strategy Group, a consulting firm with deep ties to Noem. The company employed her alleged beau Corey Lewandowski and married her former spokesperson. This revelation suggests taxpayer funds may have funneled directly into circles connected to the former South Dakota governor, bypassing traditional oversight mechanisms for federal contracts.