Folded News

Tag: Taxpayer Waste

  • Noem Out: Trump Fires DHS Secretary Following Disastrous Hearing and “Metro Surge” Fallout

    On March 5th, 2026, Trump issued a statement announcing that Kristi Noem would be leaving her position. Noem has been under fire for her mishandling of the deaths of two American citizens during the ICE operation “Metro Surge” that resulted in the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. During the first year of Trump’s second term, Noem served as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, an agency that the American people strongly protested for its conduct on immigration policies.

    Noem came under the latest scrutiny during her congressional hearing. In the hearing, lawmakers asked Noem why she used $220 million in taxpayer money to fund an ad campaign she said Trump personally approved.

    Trump told Reuters on Thursday, “I never knew anything about the ad campaign.”

    A woman wearing a cowboy hat and a blue shirt is riding a brown horse in front of Mount Rushmore, with the faces of four U.S. presidents carved into the rocky landscape.
    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem filming an ad at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, Oct. 2, 2025.
    Tia Dufour | DHS

    The most significant legal and political consequences revolve around Governor Noem’s testimony about her top aide, Corey Lewandowski. When questioned about whether Lewandowski had a role in approving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts, she responded with a flat “No.” However, internal DHS records and ProPublica reports later revealed his signature on multimillion-dollar contract routing sheets. This has led to accusations that she lied under oath.

    Noem sparked a lively debate after her comments on two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, tragically shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. Even amidst significant pushback and conflicting evidence, she stood firm in her stance, choosing not to apologize for calling them “domestic terrorists.”

    Noem has a legacy defined in mistrust and a lack of transparency for the American people, who have fought since the beginning of the second term of Donald Trump for accountability of ICE agents and internal policies.

  • Corporate Interests vs Community: Roxbury Stands Against ICE

    Amid widespread resident outrage over a warehouse sale, New Jersey residents stand against ICE in Roxbury. DG Roxbury Property Owner, L.P., linked to Dallas-based Dalfen Industrial and a Goldman Sachs asset management fund, sold a 470,000-square-foot warehouse at 1879 Route 46 in Roxbury to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for ICE. The deal closed on February 19, 2026, for $129.3 million, raising concerns about the local community’s future and the influence of corporate and financial interests. The protest drew over 150 people from Roxbury and neighboring towns. With signs held up that said NO ICE and referencing the disgraced Trump admin as equal to nazis many spoke up for what they believed in.

    Aerial view of a large commercial building with a white flat roof and a parking lot beside it, surrounded by sparse trees.
    Credit: No ICE North Jersey Alliance. Aerial view of the Roxbury warehouse sold to ICE.

    Roxbury Township in Morris County, NJ, is a suburban area with about 23,111 residents as of 2023 and an average age of 43.3. The community is mostly white, comprising roughly 71-80% of the population, and has a median household income of over $130,000. The poverty rate is low, at approximately 5.4%. 

    The call is clear: get ICE out of New Jersey. The GSA, which oversees the sale and leasing of property, has been contacted and requested documents related to the sale of the warehouse. The agency responded to the request and alerted The Penny Tribune that they will try to release the documents pertaining to another property in Roseland, NJ, as well as the detention facility in Newark, NJ. The GSA confirmed this on February 19th 2026, they would release the files.

    A screenshot of a web form for submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. It includes details such as the request date (03/01/2026) and status (To be Processed), along with options for Agency Office and Request Type.

    A video submitted by a protester shows them walking up to the group of people. A line formed along the street as drivers passed by, witnessing their community standing up for the non-citizen population.

    Photos of the protest:

    An elderly woman holding a protest sign that reads 'C.E. IS NOT WELCOME HERE', wearing sunglasses and a warm jacket, surrounded by a crowd.
    A smiling woman wearing a colorful costume and a black beanie plays a guitar at an outdoor event, with snowy ground and people in the background.
    A protester holds a sign that reads 'IF ICE CAN SHOOT US ON CAMERA IMAGINE WHAT THEY DO IN PRIVATE' at a rally, surrounded by other demonstrators.
    A colorful inflatable unicorn costume at a protest with various signs advocating for community support and against ICE.
    A group of people gathered outdoors, engaging in a lively protest or celebration. A woman in sunglasses and a white outfit is singing and playing a guitar, with an inflatable unicorn beside her. Others are holding a large banner and instruments, set against a wintery backdrop.
    A protestor holding a sign reading 'IMAGINE BEING AFRAID OF DIVERSITY BUT NOT A DICTATORSHIP' with an American flag in the background, captured in black and white.
    A crowd of protesters holding various signs at a rally, with a prominent American flag in the background. Signs include messages about due process, Nazi references, and other social justice issues.
    A woman wearing glasses and a mask sits in a wheelchair holding a sign that reads 'NO ICE GULAG in N.J.' During a protest, surrounded by other participants holding various signs related to immigration.
    A diverse group of people protesting on the street, holding various signs and American flags. Some individuals are wearing costumes, including a dinosaur and an orange suit. A street is visible in the background with traffic.
    A woman speaks at a podium during a protest outside the Roxbury municipal building, with a banner reading 'MELT ICE' held by a seated participant.
    A woman holds a sign at a protest that reads 'Protect Community NO ICE Love thy Neighbor'. She is surrounded by other protesters in a black and white setting.