Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem isn’t letting anyone – not even Donald Trump – dictate who runs the show alongside her at the Department of Homeland Security.
Despite the ex-president’s flat-out refusal to sign off on her pick, Noem has decided to stick with her right-hand man, Corey Lewandowski, for yet another year, Axios has revealed.
Pam Bondi and Corey Lewandowski hold a press conference, in Philadelphia, just outside the convention center, where votes are being counted. Thursday, November 5, 2020 Philadelphia Waits For Election Results
Let’s talk power plays: Lewandowski, officially categorized as an unpaid “special government employee” limited to working 130 days per year, has nonetheless solidified himself as DHS’s backstage power broker. Critics complain he’s logged far more hours than allowed, forcing the White House to keep a close watch on his work schedule.
Lewandowski, a longtime Noem confidant since her South Dakota governor days, has unapologetically clung to the spotlight—and the secretary’s side. Despite White House rumors about their steamy affair (both, for the record, deny anything beyond hard-hitting politics), the two are virtually inseparable. The rumor mill is in overdrive, with one former Trump official dramatically labeling their alleged romance as D.C.’s “worst-kept secret.” It was apparently enough to make Trump bar Lewandowski’s promotion to official chief of staff.
Still, Lewandowski’s influence is undeniable. A senior administration insider spilled to Axios: “Kristi’s the frontwoman – Corey’s the mastermind. He makes things happen.”
He’s been spotted jet-setting with Noem, rubbing elbows with international leaders (including Costa Rica’s president Rodrigo Chaves Robles in June), and staging high-stakes meetings with policy bigwigs, lobbyists, and world leaders. He even sits in on top-tier policy huddles, orchestrates the secretary’s calendar, and manages sensitive contract discussions.
Just last week, eagle-eyed reporters caught Lewandowski at Reagan National Airport, loudly hashing out DHS vendor deals on his phone. Names thrown around included surveillance giant Palantir and a secretive drone initiative, according to Axios. Yet, DHS insists Lewandowski’s never had anything to do with Palantir’s government contracts—despite the fact that the company’s been working with the feds for over a decade.
But here’s where things get even juicier: Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported Lewandowski set up a pow-wow between Noem and Palantir execs—and even lobbied fellow DHS staffers to shower the company with extra business. Not long after, Palantir’s government contract ballooned by $29.9 million. Coincidence? Officials remain tight-lipped.
As a designated special government employee, Lewandowski skirts many of the disclosure rules that trip up other D.C. power players. He’s free to juggle his private business gigs and isn’t required to file public financial reports, raising even more eyebrows among watchdogs.
Both Lewandowski and DHS have remained silent in the face of fresh inquiries from the press. But one thing’s for certain: in the cutthroat world of Washington, Corey isn’t going anywhere—unless Kristi calls the shots herself.
