Lead: The Department of Homeland Security inspector general has opened a broad review into contract decisions made during Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure, focusing in part on interactions between senior adviser Corey Lewandowski and companies seeking DHS business. The inquiry, led by Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, follows complaints from vendors including Palantir and comes after Noem’s abrupt firing last month. New DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, sworn in last week, has said he will cooperate with the investigation and has already reversed a Noem-era rule requiring her personal sign-off on contracts over $100,000. The probe has prompted preservation orders for emails and devices across the department as officials try to establish what happened.
Key Takeaways
- The DHS inspector general, Joseph V. Cuffari, has opened an expansive review of contract handling during Kristi Noem’s tenure, including scrutiny of Corey Lewandowski’s outreach to vendors.
- Palantir is among the firms that have complained about interactions with Lewandowski; the company has previously provided data tools used by DHS programs.
- Former Secretary Noem was dismissed last month; Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as DHS secretary last week and has pledged cooperation with the IG.
- Mullin rescinded a Noem policy requiring her personal review of contracts above $100,000 to streamline procurement and restore component authority.
- Investigators have issued preservation instructions for emails, Signal messages, texts and other communications, and court filings indicate at least one contractor’s government phones were placed under a preservation notice before March 20.
- NBC reported claims that Lewandowski demanded payments from GEO Group; Lewandowski’s lawyer has strongly denied those accusations.
- Mr. Cuffari, nominated to the IG post in 2019, previously clashed with Noem over access to department records, and several inspectors general were removed or demoted during Mr. Trump’s second term.
Background
Kristi Noem was appointed to lead DHS amid a push by the administration to intensify immigration enforcement and expand deportation operations. Her tenure drew criticism for a high-profile advertising campaign and for concentrating contract approvals at the top of the agency. Noem’s special adviser, Corey Lewandowski — not a federal employee — worked in an advisory role that agency officials say was intended to be limited but that critics say became influential in procurement decisions.
Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, a Trump-era appointee confirmed in 2019, has authority to review department contracting and program management. Cuffari and Noem previously clashed over access to DHS records, with Cuffari telling Congress earlier this year that he had been blocked from databases and information necessary for oversight. The current inquiry follows vendor complaints and reporting that raised questions about whether nonofficial advisers exerted undue influence over which contractors received DHS work.
Main Event
The IG’s review centers on alleged outreach by Corey Lewandowski to companies seeking DHS contracts, according to multiple people familiar with the inquiry. Among those named by sources is Palantir, a data firm whose tools have been used across DHS for programs including immigration tracking. Sources said Palantir and other vendors complained to administration officials about their dealings with Lewandowski; those accounts were shared on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing.
Officials say the inspector general’s office has instructed DHS components to preserve all electronic messaging and records related to contracting, spanning emails, texts and secure messaging apps. Court filings indicate that government-issued phones for one contractor, Kara Voorhies—who had worked at FEMA and previously at a private financial firm—were placed under preservation notice before March 20, and that Voorhies left federal service in mid-March.
Mr. Lewandowski’s office issued a statement denying any awareness of outreach from the inspector general and denying wrongdoing, noting that contracting decisions are made by authorized DHS officials and pointing to cost savings it attributed to reforms. The IG’s office declined to confirm or deny an investigation. Palantir did not respond to requests for comment, and the Homeland Security Department and the White House declined to comment when asked.
Separately, NBC News reported allegations that Lewandowski demanded payments from GEO Group related to the company’s work with DHS; Lewandowski’s lawyer, Adam Trigg, denied those claims in a public statement, saying Lewandowski “adamantly denies” demanding payment from any contractor. The IG’s probe also appears to extend to people with ties to Lewandowski across DHS components, including immigration enforcement, TSA, FEMA, the Secret Service and the Coast Guard.
Analysis & Implications
The inquiry raises questions about how informal advisers can influence procurement in a large, decentralized agency. If the IG finds evidence that a non-government adviser steered contracts for private gain or improperly intervened in procurement, it could lead to administrative sanctions, criminal referrals, or contract cancellations. Such outcomes would also prompt congressional oversight and potentially slow urgent operational contracting during disasters or enforcement surges.
Markwayne Mullin’s swift reversal of the Noem-era contract review requirement signals an immediate attempt to normalize procurement operations and devolve authority to component heads. That move may reduce bottlenecks but could also complicate the IG’s ability to trace decision pathways if approvals are dispersed. Mullin’s public cooperation with the IG, as reported by DHS officials, aims to draw a clear line between past controversy and current management.
The involvement of major vendors such as Palantir and GEO Group heightens the political stakes. Both companies supply mission-critical services to DHS components; any disruption to those contracts could affect immigration case management, detention operations and disaster response. Even absent legal findings, reputational damage to contractors or officials could influence future bidding and the cost of services to taxpayers.
Comparison & Data
| Policy | Threshold | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Noem practice | Delegated to components | Faster approvals at operating level |
| Noem requirement | $100,000 — personal review | Centralized sign-off; added delays and scrutiny |
| Post-Mullin revision | Delegated — Noem rule rescinded | Streamlined procurement; restored component authority |
The table above summarizes how contract approval authority shifted during the period in question. Centralizing reviews at the secretary’s office for contracts above $100,000 concentrated decision-making but increased the visibility of selections and created a single point of accountability — and potential influence. Restoring delegated authority reduces friction for urgent purchases but returns the challenge of ensuring consistent oversight across DHS’s many components.
Reactions & Quotes
The IG’s office declined public comment on ongoing reviews; DHS components have been told to preserve communications.
“Contracting decisions rest with authorized officials at D.H.S. When $15 billion has been saved for American taxpayers, he recognizes that entrenched interests may be resistant to the reforms which were executed.”
Statement from Corey Lewandowski’s office
Lewandowski’s statement frames his role as reform-minded while denying impropriety; it also references claimed savings, a line the IG will likely examine as it reviews contract justifications and procurement records.
“Mr. Lewandowski adamantly denies ever demanding any payment or compensation from any potential, former or current government contractor.”
Adam Trigg, lawyer for Corey Lewandowski
Trigg’s denial responds directly to media reporting about payments alleged by a contractor; the IG will need to corroborate such claims with documents, bank records or witness testimony before reaching conclusions.
Unconfirmed
- Allegations that Corey Lewandowski personally demanded payments from GEO Group remain reported by media but have not been independently corroborated in public filings.
- The extent to which Kristi Noem’s dismissal was directly caused by contract-related controversies has not been publicly confirmed; multiple factors were cited by officials.
- Whether preserved devices contain evidence of improper influence or payments is not yet established; the IG’s review is ongoing.
Bottom Line
The inspector general’s review of DHS contracting during Kristi Noem’s tenure elevates longstanding concerns about the role of outside advisers and centralized approval rules. Preservation orders and the resignation or departure of key contractors have created a paper trail that the IG can use to reconstruct who made which decisions and why.
New Secretary Markwayne Mullin has taken steps to distance the department from the prior administration’s procurement practices and has signaled cooperation with oversight. The investigation’s findings — whether they show procedural failures, improper influence, or no actionable misconduct — will shape congressional oversight, contractor relationships and internal DHS procurement controls going forward.