1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to request urgent oversight action regarding troubling contracting irregularities inside the Department of Homeland Security involving more than $220 million in federal advertising contracts. Credible reporting indicates that DHS used emergency authorities to bypass competitive bidding safeguards, awarded the contract through a newly formed Delaware company, and relied on an undisclosed subcontractor with longstanding personal ties to DHS leadership. These unusual steps raise concerns about conflicts of interest, misuse of emergency contracting rules, and possible violations of federal procurement law. Experts in federal contracting, including former members of the Commission on Wartime Contracting and the Project on Government Oversight, have stated that the available evidence suggests potentially serious breaches of ethics and impartiality requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The combination of a shell entity, hidden subcontractors, personal relationships, and a lack of transparency warrants immediate independent review. Regardless of administration or party, Congress has a duty to ensure that federal agencies award contracts transparently, competitively, and without favoritism. For that reason, I respectfully request that you formally ask the DHS Inspector General and the appropriate House or Senate oversight committees to investigate whether these contracts violated procurement law, conflict-of-interest standards, or ethics rules. I also urge you to seek disclosure of all subcontractors, payment records, and documentation related to the Delaware company that received the award. In addition, I ask that you review the practice of DHS leadership personally approving payments over $100,000 to determine whether this created improper influence over contracting decisions. As your constituent, I want to ensure that taxpayer funds are protected and that emergency authorities are not used to shield contracts from proper scrutiny. I respectfully request a public response within 30 days outlining what actions you will take to move this investigation forward. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Ensuring the integrity of federal contracting is essential to public trust and responsible governance.