Democrats release details behind spending on Noem’s $220M ad campaign

The Hill
by Rebecca Beitsch
March 23, 2026
2 views
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Democratic senators revealed a Trump-aligned company received $60,000 to produce a $220 million ad campaign featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

AI Summary

Democratic senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal released details Monday showing that a Trump-aligned company received a $60,000 signing bonus to produce a $220 million ad campaign featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with records indicating $20,000 was spent on horse rentals during production. The breakdown emerged from a Democratic investigation into spending on the commercial. The disclosures raise questions about how federal advertising funds were allocated and managed under the Trump administration's ad campaign strategy. Welch and Blumenthal have been scrutinizing the contract as part of a broader oversight effort into government spending practices.

What's Being Done

Democratic senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal released spending details as part of an investigation into government ad campaign contracts.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Democrats aim to turn Trump’s tariffs against GOP in campaigns for governor - AP News
Politics

Democrats aim to turn Trump’s tariffs against GOP in campaigns for governor - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxQZ2x6VnVlc0tIa0QxY1lORGtCUDROZzNJb212eHZ4X0hLRWRTbEJ2eTVIY0plVGxYSzc5Zm4wbFhoSnBMWFVfZllnY3ktU0RNVXVsdDZOM0Q0ZGx5RHZlV1J0RGRERGFWRjc0MGZ5N2ZCNU1xdEpUdFdnMXlnNTJsaEZBeTdWSWRST0dPQVZ6eWNNWl83dmFCNmNYajFhZXpuVU96TGNDLW5SLVVwTEtMTkFmOVp6UDdSaXlDSg?oc=5" target="_blank">Democrats aim to turn Trump’s tariffs against GOP in campaigns for governor</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 20
House Democrats face impending dam break on Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Politics

House Democrats face impending dam break on Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

<p>House Democrats say privately that they may be unable to maintain their silence much longer on the explosive allegations of misuse of taxpayer funds against Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/cherfilus-mccormick-house-ethics-hearing-lawyer" target="_blank">Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick</a> (D-Fla.).</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Cherfilus-McCormick, who has denied any wrongdoing, may face calls for resignation or even expulsion from her own party if the Ethics Committee process goes as many of her colleagues expect it to.</p><hr><ul><li>House Democratic leadership has thus far maintained that they will defend Cherfilus-McCormick's right to remain in Congress until she gets full due process before the panel.</li><li>But there is growing discomfort with her continued presence in the caucus, given the severe nature of the allegations, centered on the charge that she fraudulently funneled $5 million in FEMA funds to her campaign.</li><li>A Cherfilus-McCormick spokes...

AxiosMar 25
Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions of dollars in commissions from DHS ad campaign
Politics

Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions of dollars in commissions from DHS ad campaign

The ads became a sore spot within the White House over Kristi Noem.

PoliticoMar 19
Democrats outraged as Fetterman votes to advance Markwayne Mullin nomination
Politics

Democrats outraged as Fetterman votes to advance Markwayne Mullin nomination

<p>Calls for Pennsylvania senator – Trump’s ‘favorite Democrat’ – to resign after casting decisive committee vote</p><p>Democrats reacted with outrage to their party colleague <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/john-fetterman-democrat-trump-progressive">John Fetterman</a>’s decision to advance the nomination of Republican US senator Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary.</p><p>Fetterman, the senior US senator from Pennsylvania, has in recent months <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/john-fetterman-democrat-trump-progressive">broken with the party</a> several times to support Republican proposals, and has routinely expressed staunch <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/05/john-fetterman-democrat-progressive-senator">support for Israel</a>. He cast the decisive committee vote on Thursday to advance Mullin’s nomination to succeed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us...

The Guardian US NewsMar 20
Sen. John Fetterman casts deciding vote to advance Trump’s pick to replace Kristi Noem, criticizes fellow Democrats - Inquirer.com
Politics

Sen. John Fetterman casts deciding vote to advance Trump’s pick to replace Kristi Noem, criticizes fellow Democrats - Inquirer.com

Inquirer.comMar 19
51 percent in new poll say they hope Democrats take control of House
Politics

51 percent in new poll say they hope Democrats take control of House

Over half of American voters say they want Democrats to take control of the House, according to a new poll. In the Quinnipiac University poll, 51 percent of respondents said they wished for Democrats to take back the House in a hypothetical election, while 40 percent wanted it to remain in Republican hands. Nine percent…

The HillMar 25
Read Next
The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court
Politics

The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court

Next week, the Trump administration’s bid to deny birthright citizenship to the US-born children of undocumented immigrants and non-green card holders through an executive order will arrive at the Supreme Court—yet again. Last year, the justices didn’t address the constitutionality of the order directly; instead, they ruled on a procedural question to limit the power […]

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources