Federal prosecutors are investigating alleged contract misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security, including Corey Lewandowski’s role while he advised former Secretary Kristi Noem. CNN first reported the inquiry, which follows a criminal referral from the DHS Inspector General’s office.
People familiar with the investigation said the watchdog sent prosecutors findings about Lewandowski’s time at the department in recent days. The Justice Department has declined to comment.
The inquiry focuses on whether he improperly influenced contract decisions. He served as a senior adviser to Noem, whom President Donald Trump fired in March.
Lewandowski’s attorney, Adam Trigg, said his client had not been contacted by prosecutors. Lewandowski denies wrongdoing. He has also denied seeking foreign consulting work while in government and denied having a role in approving DHS contracts.
Contract access and alleged consulting approaches are under scrutiny
Investigators are examining whether Lewandowski tried to turn his government position into private consulting work. The allegations include approaches to several Middle Eastern governments about consulting on visa matters and other issues. He has denied seeking such work.
Lewandowski or people close to him approved nearly all department spending decisions above $100,000, according to the allegations under review. That access could give him information about contractors and influence over whether contracts moved forward or stalled.
DHS contractors told White House officials that he allegedly sought “pay-to-play” fees to help secure or expand contracts. Some sources called the alleged practice “the Lewandowski tax.”
A Senate letter recounting recent reporting described an allegation involving Salus Worldwide Solutions. The company allegedly invited a marketing firm to work on a $20 million DHS contract on the condition that it hire Lewandowski as a consultant. A Salus representative was quoted in that account:
“We need to make sure we are properly thanking the person who gave [the contract] to us.”
Investigators with the department’s watchdog found evidence that he may have played a part in improper contract awards. They were reportedly surprised by how involved he was in the contracting process.
Noem’s approval rules slowed contracts and drew watchdog scrutiny
Noem ordered contracts and grants above $100,000 to go through her for approval. She defended the requirement as a way to reduce waste, while some department officials considered it unusual and unnecessary.
The pair maintained close control over six-figure contracts. Their insistence on sole approval created months-long delays, including for FEMA disaster relief and construction of Trump’s border wall. DHS sources said the process also bypassed standard oversight.
Noem’s contract handling contributed to Trump’s decision to remove her. One point of scrutiny was a $220 million advertising campaign prominently featuring her on horseback, which Noem said Trump knew about. Trump fired her over concerns that included mismanagement and excessive spending. Lewandowski left the department shortly afterward. The agency’s spending scrutiny also included the purchase of a luxury jet.
Inspector General Joseph Cuffari told Congress in early March that department leaders had obstructed some of his work. His office had opened a wide-ranging criminal investigation into Noem and others over alleged no-bid awards worth billions of dollars.
That earlier inquiry extended beyond the advertising campaign to other contracts approved by Noem’s office. The department sent preservation notices to dozens of people involved in contract approvals, including members of her inner circle. The notices covered documents, text messages, emails and phone records.
Congressional inquiries seek records and test contract allegations
House Democrats opened a separate investigation into Lewandowski in March. Members of Congress are also examining whether DHS spending involved improper influence, corruption or other violations of federal law.
In a March 24, 2026 letter, senators asked Salus chief executive William A. Walters III to preserve records and communications concerning Lewandowski dating from January 1, 2024. The request covered communications with the White House, border czar Thomas Homan and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Senators requested an acknowledgement of compliance by April 3, 2026.
The letter said a Salus lawyer had vehemently denied the allegations and said such communications would have prompted a referral to law enforcement. A second letter, dated March 30, 2026, alleged Lewandowski “repeatedly solicited personal payments from government contractors, including Salus Worldwide Solutions (Salus), in exchange for favorable contract decisions.” It added: “If true, this conduct constitutes blatant corruption and a violation of federal bribery and procurement integrity laws and regulations.”
Sen. Rand Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, signed the second letter. The signatories also included Ron Johnson, Gary C. Peters, James Lankford, Margaret Wood Hassan, Rick Scott, Richard Blumenthal, Josh Hawley, John Fetterman, Bernie Moreno, Andy Kim, Joni Ernst, Ruben Gallego, Ashley Moody and Elissa Slotkin.
Noem told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Lewandowski had no role in approving contracts. Internal DHS records and interviews with current and former agency staffers contradicted that testimony.
Lewandowski denies wrongdoing as prosecutors review the referral
Trigg said Lewandowski “has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation” and “denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity.” The lawyer’s full statement described his client’s government service as voluntary.
It remains unclear which U.S. Attorney’s office is leading the investigation. A person familiar with the inquiry said prosecutors had been waiting for the inspector general’s findings. Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told officials in her office that she wanted investigators to examine allegations of kickbacks tied to DHS contracting.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has received briefings on the investigation, people familiar with the matter said. Trump told reporters: “All I want is for my people to be honest, and if their not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do”. Lewandowski responded to an earlier request for comment with: “Fake news”.
The inquiry is among the first in Trump’s second term to target someone close to the president. The referral is an unusual step for an administration that has been hesitant to pursue criminal investigations of its own members.
His government role and a possible pardon remain part of the public record
Lewandowski managed Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016. He was initially tapped for a special government employee role, which was intended to cover a limited number of days, while also performing senior functions at DHS.
Officials viewed him as Noem’s gatekeeper. He left after Trump fired her in March, following scrutiny of spending at the department.
Lewandowski has told people close to him that he expected Trump would grant him a presidential pardon if charges were brought. His lawyer denied that account, saying Lewandowski “didn't speak about or suggest that he would seek or need a presidential pardon.”
