Sens. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jamie Raskin have recommended action against Governor Kristi Noem. This recommendation stems from inconsistencies in her sworn testimony regarding a $220 million ad campaign. Noem’s explanations crumbled under scrutiny, particularly concerning her awarding a contract to a new company and her claims that Donald Trump approved the campaign, which Trump later denied.
Analysis of the Trump administration’s contract cancellation program reveals that 417 of the 1,125 terminated contracts, totaling $478 million, are not expected to generate any cost savings due to pre-existing financial obligations. This is because funds were already committed for goods and services, rendering the cancellations ineffective. Experts criticize this “slash and burn” approach, arguing it could harm government operations and that alternative methods for achieving efficiencies exist. Despite the administration’s claim of over $7 billion in savings, independent assessments raise doubts about the accuracy of this figure.
John Q. Hosedrinker