Justice Department Reviews Allegations Against Corey Lewandowski Over DHS Contracts
The Justice Department is reviewing allegations against Corey Lewandowski concerning his involvement in contracts at the Department of Homeland Security, bringing federal scrutiny to the former adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The review follows months of questions about Lewandowski’s influence over DHS spending and claims that he sought payments connected to government business. Lewandowski has denied wrongdoing. A review of allegations does not establish that a crime occurred, and it is not the same as a criminal charge.
Questions about Lewandowski’s role at DHS
Lewandowski, who managed Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016, served as an unpaid special government employee and senior adviser to Noem. He left DHS after Noem’s departure in March 2026.
His authority over contracts became a focus of scrutiny while he was at the department. Under a policy introduced during Noem’s tenure, contracts worth more than $100,000 went through her office for approval. Internal DHS records reported by ProPublica showed Lewandowski approving a multimillion-dollar equipment contract, despite Noem’s statement to Congress that he had no role in approving contracts.
Contractors also told White House officials they had been asked to pay Lewandowski in connection with DHS business, according to earlier reporting by NBC News. Those accounts are allegations, not findings of misconduct. Lewandowski has denied allegations that he sought payments in exchange for favorable contract decisions.
DHS’s inspector general has examined contracts awarded during Noem’s tenure and Lewandowski’s dealings with companies seeking federal work. In July, investigators were considering whether to refer their findings to the Justice Department for possible criminal review. The newly reported Justice Department review concerns the allegations against Lewandowski; its scope and potential outcome have not been made public.
Congress seeks contract records
Lawmakers have separately pressed DHS for records showing which contracts Lewandowski reviewed or approved and whether he received compensation from contractors or other parties connected to department awards.
In March, Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Peter Welch asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for those records. They renewed their request in September, saying DHS had not provided a substantive response. Sen. Maggie Hassan has also sought information about a DHS review of contracts Lewandowski might have approved. At a June Senate hearing, DHS official Brian Cavanaugh confirmed that Mullin had begun that process.
The inquiries concern how taxpayer-funded contracts were awarded and whether anyone with influence over those decisions stood to benefit personally. The Justice Department’s review could determine whether further investigative steps are warranted. It has not, by itself, resolved the allegations against Lewandowski.
