The Department of Homeland Security has been awarding a number of federal contracts for just under $100,000, after Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to review contracts of six figures and more personally.
On June 11, Noem vowed to review and consider department proposals upwards of $100,000. Since then, DHS has authorized 11 federal contracts for between $99,999.00 and $99,999.99, starting on Aug. 14. The contract trend was first reported by the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight.
“All proposals for my consideration must include all relevant details, including any mission impact, dollar values, description of the supplies or services any timeline issues, and a description of the proposed action,” Noem wrote in the June memo. “Requests for approval of obligations above the $100,000 threshold must be submitted via memo through the Executive Secretary process. As with any request for Secretarial approval, please allow a minimum of 5 days for Front Office review.”
Prior to Aug. 14, no other DHS contracts were awarded for between $99,999.00 and $99,999.99 in 2025. The POGO analysis pointed to an August New York Times report that showed Noem’s sign-off rule caused a delay in “mission critical” contracts.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner that the 11 contracts were “for routine operational needs.”
“These contracts were for routine operational needs. Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and is reprioritizing appropriated dollars — saving taxpayers more than $13.2 billion in her first 7 months,” McLaughlin said.
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According to available online federal spending data going back to 2007, no administration’s DHS has ever awarded 11 or more federal contracts within the one-dollar range in question. Former President Barack Obama’s administration came the closest with nine awarded in 2013. President Donald Trump’s first-term DHS only awarded two contracts within the $99,999.00 and $99,999.99 price range.
There were two contracts within this price range awarded in 2024, one in 2021, two in 2020, two in 2016, four in 2015, seven in 2014, nine in 2013, two in 2012, two in 2011, one in 2010, one in 2009, two in 2008, and one in 2007.