Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem misled Congress Tuesday about the powers of her controversial top aide Corey Lewandowski, according to records reviewed by ProPublica and four current and former DHS officials.
Lewandowski plays an unusual role at DHS, where he is not a paid government employee but nevertheless acts as a senior official, helping Noem run the sprawling agency. For months, members of Congress have asked the agency to detail the scope of its work and authority.
To a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing TuesdaySen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Noem if Lewandowski had “a role in approving contracts” at DHS. Noem responded with a flat denial: “No.”
But internal DHS records reviewed by ProPublica contradict Noem’s Senate testimony. Records show Lewandowski personally approved a multimillion-dollar equipment contract to the agency last summer.
This was not an isolated case. Lewandowski approved numerous contracts at DHS and often must sign larger ones before any money is spent, current and former department employees said.
Last year, Noem imposed a new policy this consolidated her and her top aides’ power over all DHS spending, requiring that she personally review and approve all contracts over $100,000. Before contracts reach Noem, they must be approved by a series of policymakers, who each sign or initial a checklist sometimes referred to internally as a routing sheet. Typically, the last name on the checklist before Noem is Lewandowski, DHS officials said.
Noem denies Lewandowski has ‘a role in approving contracts’ at DHS
Below federal lawit is a crime to “knowingly and willfully” make a false statement to Congress. But in practice it is rarely pursued.
In a statement, a DHS spokesperson reiterated Noem’s claims. “Mr. Lewandowski does NOT play a role in approving contracts,” the spokesperson said. “Mr. Lewandowski receives no salary or benefits from the federal government. He volunteers his time to serve the American people.” Lewandowski did not respond to a request for comment.
Several media, including Politicohave previously reported on aspects of Lewandowski’s involvement in DHS contracting.
There was widespread reports delays caused by the new contract approval process at the agency, whose responsibilities span from immigration enforcement to disaster relief to airport security. DHS said that the review process saved taxpayers billions of dollars.
A similar approval process exists for other policy decisions at DHS. One of the checklists, regarding the removal of protections for Haitians in the United States, emerged during litigation last year. It included the signatures of several top DHS advisers. Below them was Lewandowski’s signature, then Noem’s.
Lewandowski is what’s known as a “special government employee,” a designation historically used to allow experts to serve in government for limited periods without having to give up their outside employment. (At the start of the Trump administration, Elon Musk was one of themalso.) Special government employees must follow only some of the same ethics rules as normal civil servants and are allowed to have outside sources of income.
Lewandowski declined to reveal whether he was paid by outside companies and, if so, by whom.