The Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog is launching an investigation into how contracts were solicited and handled under former Secretary Kristi Noem, including her de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski’s involvement, sources told CNN.
The department’s Office of Inspector General, which audits and reviews programs to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, is reportedly looking into the contracting policies under Noem that were subject to scrutiny by lawmakers.
That could include her policy requiring her sign-off on anything $100,000 or more, the contracting of a $220 million ad campaign and whether Lewandowski, Noem’s top unpaid aide, played any role in approving.
The inquiry is reportedly separate from a congressionally-mandated “Audit of DHS Grants and Contracts Awarded by Any Means Other Than Full and Open Competition during Fiscal Year 2025,” CNN reported.
A spokesperson for the DHS Inspector General’s Office said it has a longstanding policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of any specific investigation. It also does not provide details about specific ongoing projects.
The CNN report on the existence of an investigation into contracts under Noem and Lewandowski comes after the inspector general, Joseph Cuffari, sent a letter to Congress accusing the secretary of “systematically” obstructing its attempts to investigate allegations.
Shortly before President Donald Trump fired Noem, members of Congress had grilled the former secretary on her handling of contracts – specifically regarding a $220 million ad campaign that prominently featured Noem. Members of Congress raised concerns with reports claiming a company tied to Noem’s spokesperson managed to secure a lucrative government contract.
But the drama over the multi-million-dollar ad campaign was only the latest in a series of controversies over DHS contracts and grants.
Last year, reports emerged accusing Noem of holding up necessary FEMA funding by requiring her direct approval of any contract or grant worth $100k or more – which most DHS contracts surpass.
Some news reports then claimed Noem had delegated some of that authority to Lewandowski, a former special government employee who had no official role in the administration
A lawyer for Lewandowski has denied allegations that his client had any role in contract review, approval or administration.
After her ousting, NBC News reported that some contractors for the department were asked to pay Lewandowski in exchange for influencing its government contracts.
“Mr. Lewandowski adamantly denies ever demanding any payment or compensation from any potential, former, or current government contractor—such allegations are not supported by a single piece of evidence (because there is none) and instead stem from almost entirely anonymous sources, save one person with a well-known axe to grind,” Adam Trigg, Lewandowski’s lawyer, said in a statement.
Congressional Democrats have also launched investigations into Noem, Lewandowski’s role in contracting and the companies that received contracts.
Noem and Lewandowski have vehemently denied suggestions that they had an affair, with the former previously describing the rumors as “tabloid garbage” at a House hearing. Noem has also described the accusations as a “disgusting lie.”
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