Trending Now - DHS Contractors Allegedly Pressured to Compensate Lewandowski
WHO:
Joseph Folio, lawyer for Safe America Media
Ben Yoho, runs Strategy Group
William Walters, runs Salus Worldwide Solutions
President Donald Trump
Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Mike McElwain, Republican operative
Patrick McCarthy, Republican operative
Jay Connaughton, co-founder of People Who Think
George Zoley, founder of GEO Group
Corey Lewandowski, close ally of Trump and adviser to Noem
Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Kennedy
Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Peter Welch
Ben Yoho, run Strategy Group
William Walters, runs Salus Worldwide Solutions
WHAT:
Safe America Media was awarded a contract to support DHS’s nationwide public awareness campaign and committed substantial resources to meet an accelerated timeline on budget.
The Strategy Group was hired as a subcontractor by Safe America Media for ad production worth $226,000.
A marketing firm abandoned plans to pursue two lucrative DHS contracts after being asked to indirectly pay Lewandowski.
Salus Worldwide Solutions won a fast-tracked DHS deal in May 2025 to help carry out deportations, ultimately worth nearly $1 billion.
Two companies with ties to Trump operatives received at least $23 million in commissions from a DHS ad campaign.
Safe America Media received at least $15.2 million; People Who Think received at least $7.7 million.
The DHS ad campaign was worth $220 million, taxpayer-funded.
The ads were the most expensive U.S. government marketing campaign in the last 10 years.
Noem defended the campaign, claiming it encouraged two million immigrants to self-deport.
Lewandowski allegedly sought payments from GEO Group for securing contracts.
GEO Group received a new contract for $121 million in December 2025.
A marketing firm abandoned plans to pursue DHS contracts after being asked to pay Lewandowski.
WHERE:
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota (location of DHS ad featuring Noem)
San Jose, Costa Rica (meeting location for Noem and Lewandowski)
WHEN:
Lewandowski's second meeting with Zoley occurred in late February or early March 2025.
Noem testified before Congress in early March 2026.
Safe America Media was formed in February 2025.
Noem testified before Congress in early March 2026.
Lewandowski's second meeting with Zoley occurred in late February or early March 2025.
Trump fired Noem on March 31, 2026.
WHY:
Complaints about Lewandowski's involvement in the contracting process raised concerns among industry sources and lawmakers, with reports of requests to pay him.
The DHS ad campaign was initiated due to an "urgent and compelling need."
Complaints about Lewandowski's involvement in the contracting process raised concerns among industry sources and lawmakers.
HOW:
Lewandowski was described as having broad authority over the contract process, with Noem delegating contract review to him, despite her spokesperson denying this claim.
Safe America Media and People Who Think were awarded contracts through a limited competition process.
Lewandowski acted as a "de facto chief of staff" to Noem, influencing contract awards.
A marketing firm was told to hire a consultant linked to Lewandowski as a condition for winning a contract.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 07:20 UTC)
In a significant development, Safe America Media has been awarded a contract to support the Department of Homeland Security's nationwide public awareness campaign, committing substantial resources to meet an accelerated timeline on budget. The Strategy Group has been hired as a subcontractor for ad production worth $226,000, while Salus Worldwide Solutions, which won a fast-tracked DHS deal in May 2025 for deportation assistance, is set to manage a contract valued at nearly $1 billion. Concerns have arisen among industry sources and lawmakers regarding Lewandowski's influence in the contracting process, with reports suggesting he had broad authority and was asked to be compensated indirectly, a claim denied by Noem's spokesperson.
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 21:12 UTC)
In a significant development, two companies connected to Trump operatives have received over $23 million in commissions from a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign by the Department of Homeland Security, making it the most expensive U.S. government marketing effort in the last decade. Safe America Media and People Who Think were awarded these contracts through a limited competition process, while Secretary Kristi Noem defended the campaign, claiming it encouraged two million immigrants to self-deport. Concerns have been raised about the involvement of Corey Lewandowski, who allegedly sought payments from GEO Group for securing contracts, leading to scrutiny from lawmakers and industry sources.