Lewandowski Allegedly Sought Kickbacks for DHS Contracts
NEWS & RESEARCH
Corey Lewandowski—Donald Trump’s adviser and former "de facto chief of staff" to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—reportedly solicited payments from companies in exchange for helping them secure DHS contracts. Targeted firms include the private prison giant GEO Group and Salus Worldwide Solutions, which received a $915 million contract. Salus is owned by William Walters, a major donor to both Trump and Noem.
SOURCE: NBC News
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Experts and watchdogs have condemned these "pay-to-play" allegations, triggering a DHS Inspector General investigation. Jessica Tillipman, a government procurement law expert, noted the requests raise "blazing red flags" regarding integrity. Public Citizen’s Jon Golinger testified that placing Lewandowski in an unofficial DHS role created "ethical minefields" that have now "exploded."
SOURCES: NBC News | POGO | Public Citizen
HOW TO FIX IT
Pass the Closing Bribery Loopholes Act of 2026, which expands the definition of “official act” to prevent overly narrow readings that undermine enforcement against bribery.
Support Investigations: Back House and Senate probes into Lewandowski’s schemes, including demands for GEO Group and Salus to preserve communications.
Audit DHS: Support the Inspector General’s audit of DHS contracting under Kristi Noem’s leadership.
Ensure Accountability: Investigate whether Noem misrepresented Lewandowski’s involvement in agency contracts.
Reform Contracting: Narrowly define exemptions for no-bid contracts and strictly enforce competition rules.
Strengthen Ethics Laws: Toughen conflict-of-interest statutes and update the Federal Acquisition Regulation to rigorously prevent organizational conflicts of interest.
Legislation: H.R. 3741 - Closing Bribery Loopholes Act
