Exclusive: Homeland Security Awards Contract to Trump-Aligned Firm
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $250,000 public relations contract to a Republican political consulting firm led by former Trump campaign officials, according to federal records reviewed by the Guardian. The contract was granted to American Made Media Company (AMMC) LLC, a firm with connections to Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to DHS secretary Kristi Noem.
Partisan Demands in Federal Procurement
On September 26, 2025, DHS posted an opportunity for "public affairs consulting services," specifying that the successful applicant would provide strategic counsel to top officials, including Noem. The work included ensuring media outlets aligned with DHS priorities were present at Noem's appearances, drafting position papers, and devising negotiation strategies for border security, immigration enforcement, and cyber defense.
Bids were due the next day, a notably short turnaround. In a departure from federal procurement guidelines, the description demanded partisan loyalty, stating: "The contractor must demonstrate an established track record of promoting Trump administration policies in the media." Preference was given to applicants with prior experience in Cabinet-level communications during the first Trump presidency.
Fast-Tracked Award to AMMC
Four days after the opportunity was made public, the contract was awarded to AMMC, a political consultancy formed in early 2025 by merging several GOP-oriented operations. Based in Arlington, Virginia, AMMC is led by veterans of Donald Trump's presidential campaigns: Sean Dollman, Nick Trainer, and Justin Clark. Clark also served in the first Trump administration at the White House Office of Public Liaison and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
AMMC is an avowedly partisan firm with no apparent record of past government work. Its components include a data and polling agency, a direct mail operation, and a film production service that produced ads for the 2024 Trump campaign and other Republican figures. A similarly named shell company, American Made Media Consultants, was a conduit for $782 million in Trump campaign spending in 2020, run by AMMC's Dollman.
Connections to Corey Lewandowski
Both of AMMC's founding partners have worked alongside Lewandowski, who served as Trump's campaign manager in 2016. Following the January 6 insurrection, CNN reported that Lewandowski and Clark were part of a small team of political advisers working with Trump. Clark also represented Trump in litigation to block Congress from obtaining White House records related to the Capitol attack.
In his role as chief adviser to Noem, Lewandowski reportedly wields significant control over DHS contracts. Last August, Politico reported that Lewandowski was involved in green-lighting six-figure contracts at Fema. In February, the Wall Street Journal noted that contracts worth over $100,000 must be approved by the DHS secretary's office, giving Noem and Lewandowski a bigger role in spending decisions, with officials describing the process as opaque and arbitrary.
Criticism from Watchdog Groups
Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, called the contract highly unusual. "Talk about fast tracking, the bid was only open for 31 hours, and work began three days later. Speed often results in bad deals for the public," he said. He added that the pro-Trump requirement violates contracting safeguards against bias, noting it's the first time he has seen such political bias in writing.
Federal regulations require agencies to conduct business with complete impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest. Jessica Tillipman, associate dean for government procurement law studies at George Washington University, described the partisan language as a "blazing red flag of procurement integrity concern." She said, "I've been doing this over 20 years. I have never seen something like it."
DHS Response and Contract Details
In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that DHS procurements are overseen by the office of the chief procurement officer and subject to federal laws ensuring transparency and competition. She stated, "It is not surprising that the Department of Homeland Security, which has proved to be an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars under the Trump administration, would require any organization tasked with public affairs not only be proven to do the job but also be aligned with the agency's mission."
Federal records show six bids were received on the contract, which is due to end on June 12, 2026. Tim Murtaugh, Trump's 2020 communications director and a senior adviser on the 2024 campaign, suggested he was the primary beneficiary, working on the DHS contract through AMMC. He said DHS prefers firms that support the department's mission and are familiar with the president's agenda.
