Trump Accuses Kristi Noem of Lying to Congress Over $220M DHS Ad Campaign
President Donald Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem just days after a congressional dispute over a $220 million DHS advertising campaign that became a major political controversy.
The conflict escalated when Trump publicly contradicted Noem’s sworn testimony to Congress about whether he approved the campaign.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, Noem told lawmakers during a Senate hearing that the president had authorized the taxpayer-funded advertising effort promoting immigration enforcement.
But Trump later told Reuters he did not approve the campaign, creating a direct contradiction between the president and his cabinet secretary.
Trump said he “didn’t sign off” on the advertising program, according to Reuters.
The ads, which featured Noem prominently, drew bipartisan criticism during congressional hearings over both the size of the $220 million spending package and the contracting process used to award the work.
Download a FREE Pocket Constitution NOW
Lawmakers questioned why two politically connected firms received the bulk of the contracts, including one company that had been created only days before receiving a major award.
The dispute quickly escalated inside Washington and added to mounting scrutiny of Noem’s leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump announced Thursday that he would replace Noem with Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, pending Senate confirmation.
Noem will remain in the administration in a newly created role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, part of a regional security initiative the White House plans to unveil soon.
The Senate confirmation process for Mullin is expected to determine the next phase of DHS leadership.
Follow The Coffman Chronicle on NewsBreak for daily breaking political coverage.