Bombshell WSJ Report Claims Corey Lewandowski Acted as ‘Shadow Secretary’ at DHS And Effectively Controlled Billions in Spending

Corey Lewandowski, special government employee and advisor, listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Fla., Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Corey Lewandowski allegedly approached officials from two Middle Eastern countries seeking work “on the side” while serving as a special government employee — and effective “shadow secretary” of the Department of Homeland Security under Kristi Noem, with massive influence over contracts worth billions, according to a bombshell report in The Wall Street Journal.

Lewandowski, 52, effectively controlled billions in contracts at DHS while Noem was in charge, according to the Monday night report, which claimed President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign manager went to officials with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates seeking work while he was in the government’s employ.

Both countries declined, The Journal reported.

Lewandowski wielded significant influence in the department and he and Noem were known for “installing allies” throughout the agency, the outlet reported.

At one point, Lewandowski apparently had a hand in deeply slashing a $2.7 billion blanket purchase agreement for data company Palantir — shredding the deal without explanation to $1 billion, according to the report.

Reps for Lewandowski — who has been under probe by DHS — denied wrongdoing to The Journal:

A wide-ranging probe by the department’s internal watchdog is scrutinizing any potential improprieties in the contracting process, including any evidence of personal enrichment by top officials. It has since found evidence that Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts, the Journal reported in July.

A representative for Lewandowski denied Lewandowski had “sought contracts with foreign governments,” said he played no role in contract review or approval at the department and said he hadn’t been contacted about any investigation into contracting at DHS. The representative said Lewandowski “adamantly denies ever demanding any payment or compensation from any potential, former, or current government contractor or seeking or soliciting or entering contracts with foreign governments while volunteering his time with DHS,” and that “Lewandowski denies any wrongdoing.” The representative didn’t respond to other detailed questions from The Wall Street Journal.

Reps for Noem, DHS and the White House didn’t respond to The Journal’s request for comment.

Lewandowski was as an unpaid senior advisor to Noem before both were booted from the department in March.

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