Corey Lewandowski acted as Kristi Noem’s ‘shadow secretary’, wielded billions at DHS: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: Corey Lewandowski effectively functioned as a ‘shadow secretary’ at the Department of Homeland Security during Kristi Noem's time in office, giving him considerable influence over billions of dollars in government contracts and spending, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday, September 7.
Lewandowski, who was 52 at the time, served as an unpaid special government employee and senior advisor to Noem before both left the department in March.
The Journal had previously reported that Lewandowski and Noem were known inside the agency for placing allies in DHS positions.
Lewandowski also had considerable control over the department's contracting decisions while he was there.
Corey Lewandowski allegedly sought work from Qatar, UAE
The report alleged that Lewandowski had sought “side” work from officials in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while he was still in office.
Both countries declined, the Journal said. The outlet also reported that Lewandowski played a key role in reducing a $2.7 billion blanket purchase agreement with data company Palantir to $1 billion, without any explanation for the change.
At one point, Lewandowski apparently had a hand in deeply slashing a $2.7 billion blanket purchase agreement for data company Palantir, cutting the deal from $2.7 billion to $1 billion without explanation, according to the report.
The department’s internal watchdog has been conducting a broad probe into possible improprieties in DHS’s contracting process, including any evidence that top officials enriched themselves personally.
The Journal reported in July that the investigation had uncovered evidence that Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts.
Corey Lewandowski denies wrongdoing in DHS probe
A representative for Lewandowski denied that he had “sought contracts with foreign governments.”
The representative also said Lewandowski played no role in contract review or approval at the department and had not been contacted about any investigation into contracting at DHS.
The representative said Lewandowski “adamantly denies ever demanding any payment or compensation from any potential, former, or current government contractor or seeking or soliciting or entering contracts with foreign governments while volunteering his time with DHS.”
The representative also said that “Lewandowski denies any wrongdoing.”
The representative didn’t respond to other detailed questions from The Wall Street Journal.
Trump White House scrutinized Kristi Noem, Corey Lewandowski ties
Lewandowski’s outsized role at DHS was already a source of interest within the administration before the latest report.
The Journal previously reported that Trump and his advisers had been “uncomfortable” with the closeness of Kristi Noem and Lewandowski’s working relationship.
Lewandowski had initially sought to formally serve as Noem’s chief of staff, an idea Trump rejected.
Kristi Noem testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 06, 2025 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Noem and Lewandowski, who are married to other people, have repeatedly and publicly denied rumors of a romantic relationship. Noem called the allegations “tabloid garbage” during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
A DHS spokesperson previously said the department “doesn’t waste time with salacious, baseless gossip.”
Representatives for Noem, DHS and the White House did not respond to the Journal's requests for comment.
