Key officials involved in costly and wasteful projects at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) left the agency before President Donald Trump fired Secretary Kristi Noem. Tricia McLaughlin, Noem's chief spokeswoman, was tied to the scandal involving $200 million contracts for TV ads promoting her. The contracts were awarded using "other than full and open competition" to a company that subcontracted some of the work to a group run by McLaughlin's husband. Records also showed that then-ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan was involved in a $100 million campaign to recruit more immigration officers. Despite previous threats, Sheahan argued that the decision to award the contract was made by the secretary.