Corey Lewandowski Excluded from Trump Administration Following Noem's DHS Exit
Corey Lewandowski, the longtime confidant of Donald Trump who served alongside Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security, is reportedly not expected to land another position within the Trump administration following Noem's sensational departure. This development comes amid multiple scandals that have effectively iced Lewandowski out of White House circles, according to recent reports.
Noem's Controversial Tenure and Demotion
Kristi Noem has been fired from her role as Secretary of Homeland Security after a series of high-profile controversies within the department. She is scheduled to leave the position at the end of the month and will assume the new title of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a military coalition originally established by Donald Trump. Following Noem's demotion, significant questions emerged regarding whether her top confidant and rumored romantic interest, Corey Lewandowski, would remain within the department.
Officials within the Trump administration informed the New York Times on Saturday that Lewandowski was "not expected" to secure another job after Noem's exit. This decision underscores the administration's apparent distancing from figures entangled in controversy.
Allegations of Romantic Involvement and Contract Scandals
Lewandowski's tenure at DHS, much like his broader political career, has been marked by significant controversy. Both Lewandowski and Noem, who are married to other individuals, faced persistent reports suggesting they were involved in a romantic relationship. Noem has vehemently dismissed these allegations as "tabloid garbage."
Beyond personal scandals, concerns have escalated regarding Lewandowski's professional conduct. Reports indicate he was involved in approving government contracts and allegedly demanding payments from contractors. Approximately 20 current and former administration officials spoke to the New York Times about Lewandowski's overreach during his time at DHS.
Unprecedented Access and Influence
Sources revealed that Lewandowski held meetings in Noem's office, presided over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, and was even referred to as "the chief" by departmental staff. Individuals familiar with his role confirmed he maintained a significant presence within DHS and attended numerous classified briefings.
Remarkably, Lewandowski was said to have had access to the president's classified daily brief, which is prepared for the secretary and contains highly sensitive national intelligence material typically reserved for the administration's highest-ranking members.
Contract Approval Controversies
According to sources speaking to the Times, Lewandowski frequently approved contracts exceeding $100,000. This was part of a new policy initially implemented by Noem aimed at reducing government spending. However, this approval process had previously come under scrutiny as local leaders encountered difficulties obtaining disaster assistance.
Earlier this week, NBC News reported that the founder of a private prison group, GEO Group, informed White House officials that they were solicited for payment by Lewandowski. Sources familiar with the matter described a tense relationship between Lewandowski and GEO Group founder George Zoley.
Alleged Solicitation of Payments
The discord reportedly began during the transition period between Trump's November 2024 election and his January 2025 inauguration, before Lewandowski officially worked for the federal government. At that time, Lewandowski allegedly told Zoley he wanted payment in exchange for protecting and expanding GEO Group's DHS contracts. Zoley reportedly refused to participate.
After Lewandowski became a "special government employee" serving Noem, Zoley secured another meeting in late February or early March 2025. During this meeting, Zoley offered to place Lewandowski on retainer with GEO Group, but Lewandowski countered by requesting compensation based on the company's new and renewed DHS contracts—a proposal Zoley declined.
Contractual Repercussions and Denials
In the subsequent months, the duration of two of GEO Group's federal contracts was reduced, and several of its facilities capable of housing migrants remained idle. This occurred despite Congress and Trump allocating substantial funds to DHS for executing a mass deportation campaign. GEO Group officials believe these developments are directly linked to their founder's refusal to comply with Lewandowski's solicitations.
A senior DHS official further claimed that within weeks of the second meeting, Lewandowski instructed him not to award any additional contracts to GEO Group. However, Lewandowski, through a spokesperson, has denied these allegations, noting that in December 2025, GEO Group did receive a new $121 million contract for services to help locate migrants.
"This is absolutely false and did not happen—Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the GEO Group at any time," the spokesperson stated. When questioned by NBC News about whether he received "any money from any of the contracts" he approved, Lewandowski previously responded, "zero, not one penny."
Political Connections and Appointment Nexus
Lewandowski now faces renewed scrutiny regarding his relationship with Noem, which the Daily Mail first exposed in 2023. Significantly, Lewandowski had been the primary architect of Noem's appointment as DHS secretary, having personally lobbied the president to grant her the position. Trump is said to have appointed Noem as a favor to Lewandowski, who has long been regarded as an absolute loyalist to the former president.
Noem has repeatedly denied any romantic involvement with Lewandowski. However, when California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove raised these allegations earlier this month, Noem appeared to evade answering the questions directly, further fueling speculation and controversy surrounding their association.
