The political fallout surrounding former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem continues to grow after a U.S. senator announced plans to pursue a potential perjury investigation into her testimony before Congress.
According to reporting by The Guardian, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says he intends to examine whether Noem lied during a recent congressional hearing about the influence her senior adviser allegedly had over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts.
Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, made the announcement shortly after Noem was removed from her role as DHS secretary. But he emphasized that her dismissal does not close the matter.
“Her firing doesn’t absolve her or relieve her of potential liability for perjury,” Blumenthal said, arguing that lawmakers must determine whether false statements were made under oath.
The controversy centers on Corey Lewandowski, a longtime political ally of former President Donald Trump who served as a senior adviser within DHS. During a congressional hearing earlier this week, Blumenthal questioned Noem about Lewandowski’s involvement in approving government contracts.
When the senator suggested Lewandowski played a role in the department’s spending decisions, Noem rejected the claim.
“No,” she said when asked if Lewandowski had any contracting authority.
Kristi Noem is sworn in as head of the Department of Homeland Security on Jan. 17, 2025. She does not understand what habeas corpus is. Habeas corpus is the legal principle, enshrined in the Constitution, that protects people from illegal detention. / Imagn
However, Blumenthal later sent a letter to the former secretary arguing that department records appear to contradict her testimony. According to the letter, internal documents suggest Lewandowski signed off on contracts and that agency staff treated his approval as authorization to move forward with spending.
Blumenthal warned that knowingly providing false information to Congress could carry criminal penalties.
The Guardian’s investigation also pointed to federal procurement records tied to a controversial $250,000 public affairs contract awarded last year by DHS. The contract went to American Made Media Company, a political consulting firm with close ties to Trump campaign veterans and figures connected to Lewandowski.
The contract process itself raised eyebrows. According to the Guardian report, the bidding window lasted just one day, and the requirements reportedly emphasized promoting Trump administration policies in media messaging.
Within four days of the posting, the consulting firm had secured the contract.
Additional reporting cited by The Guardian also indicated Lewandowski may have been involved in approving six-figure FEMA contracts, further intensifying questions about his influence inside the department.
Despite the allegations, launching a full investigation could prove difficult. Republicans currently control the Senate, meaning Blumenthal cannot issue subpoenas or compel testimony without support from the subcommittee’s Republican chair.
Still, the senator said he plans to push forward using other tools available to lawmakers, including requesting documents, holding public forums and encouraging potential whistleblowers to come forward.
The scrutiny comes after months of mounting controversy around Noem’s leadership at DHS. Her tenure faced bipartisan criticism during several congressional hearings, including questions about a $220 million border security advertising campaign that prominently featured her image.
Noem claimed the campaign had approval from former President Trump, but Trump reportedly disputed that assertion.
Now, even after her departure from the cabinet, the political and legal questions surrounding the agency’s spending decisions appear far from settled. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill say the coming weeks could determine whether the issue remains a political dispute — or evolves into a formal legal battle over truthfulness before Congress.
