Federal watchdogs have quietly turned up the heat on Corey Lewandowski, the one‑time Trump campaign manager who later served as Kristi Noem’s top aide at the Department of Homeland Security, to see whether he tried to steer federal business to political allies. The inspector general’s office is scrutinizing Lewandowski’s meetings and private communications with vendors and has instructed officials to preserve related records. The review lands as congressional scrutiny swirls around a $220 million advertising campaign and other contracting choices made under Noem, as per The New York Times.
According to The New York Times, the inquiry focuses in part on Lewandowski’s interactions with companies seeking federal work and identifies Palantir among firms that raised concerns with investigators. The Times reports that investigators are tracing calls, meetings and messages to determine whether Lewandowski used informal influence to shape who won DHS business. The investigation is being overseen by the Office of Inspector General.
Contractors say they were pressured
Industry sources told NBC News that several companies complained to White House and DHS officials after allegedly being asked to pay or hire consultants tied to Lewandowski as a condition of winning work. The reporting names GEO Group and Salus Worldwide among firms that described tense meetings and requests for so‑called “success” fees that left vendors wary. Jessica Tillipman, a government procurement expert at George Washington University, told NBC the accounts would “raise bright red flags of illegality” if they are verified.
IG moves and congressional pressure
Ranking Democrats on key oversight panels have formally urged the inspector general to investigate and to preserve internal communications related to Lewandowski, according to a March letter from committee ranking members. The lawmakers demanded emails, time sheets and financial disclosures and warned that any destruction of records would be treated as an attempt to hide evidence; the request is publicly posted on the committee’s website. The New York Times has also reported that Joseph V. Cuffari, who was first nominated to the post by President Trump, has warned lawmakers that his office has faced obstruction while pursuing other reviews.
The $220M ad contracts at the center
The inquiry follows reporting that DHS awarded roughly $220 million for a largely non‑competitive advertising campaign that prominently featured Noem, with political operatives and subcontractors collecting millions in commissions. Reporting by Politico and other investigative outlets reviewed internal memos that described limited competition and unusually large fees paid to firms tied to Noem’s allies, intensifying congressional concerns about how contracts were awarded.
Legal stakes
Lawmakers and ethics specialists say the allegations, if borne out, could amount to criminal pay‑to‑play conduct that undercuts competitive contracting rules and may violate statutes barring bribery and kickbacks. Judiciary Committee Democrats have urged the committee to use subpoena power to compel documents and testimony, describing the reported pattern as “deeply troubling” and a threat to taxpayer trust. For now, the inquiry appears to be as much about documenting how decisions were made inside DHS as it is about any single contract.
Responses and next steps
Lewandowski’s office told reporters it was not aware of any outreach from the inspector general and denied any impropriety, according to NBC News. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Lewandowski “no longer has a role at DHS,” Reuters reported. Investigators and congressional offices say they intend to keep pressing for records and interviews as the review moves forward.
Whatever the outcome, the inquiry amounts to a rare high‑stakes clash between a federal watchdog and powerful political aides, and it is likely to spawn more document demands, committee letters and, potentially, subpoenas as lawmakers try to trace how millions in taxpayer dollars were handed out.
