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Noem Faces Backlash for $20K Ad Using Taxpayer Funds

3/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Democratic lawmakers disclosed that Kristi Noem used over $20,000 of taxpayer funds for an advertisement featuring her on horseback at Mount Rushmore.
This ad was part of a $220 million campaign encouraging illegal migrants to leave the U.S.
Senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal condemned the spending as “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
The Strategy Group Company spent $20,000 on horse rentals and $60,000 on a signing bonus.
Noem allegedly circumvented a competitive bidding process to award contracts to firms associated with her advisors.

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Story summary

Democratic lawmakers disclosed that Kristi Noem used over $20,000 of taxpayer funds for an advertisement featuring her on horseback at Mount Rushmore.
This ad was part of a $220 million campaign encouraging illegal migrants to leave the U.S.
Senators Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal condemned the spending as “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
The Strategy Group Company spent $20,000 on horse rentals and $60,000 on a signing bonus.
Noem allegedly circumvented a competitive bidding process to award contracts to firms associated with her advisors.