Corey Lewandowski is expected to remain as the de facto operational chief of the Department of Homeland Security for another year under an unusual arrangement where he won't receive a government salary, allowing him to sidestep financial scrutiny.
According to Axios reporters Marc Caputo, Brittany Gibson, and Alex Isenstadt, Lewandowski wields significant influence over DHS operations while avoiding standard employment regulations for temporary government workers. His arrangement as a Special Government Employee (SGE) allows him to ignore rules governing temporary staff.
While DHS Secretary Kristi Noem maintains the title and flits around the country for photo-ops, Lewandowski effectively directs agency policy, overseeing billions of dollars in contracts and the controversial immigration enforcement tactics that have damaged the Trump administration's approval ratings.
According to the report, "Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager, has denied any conflicts of interest but won't say how he makes money."
A White House insider praised Lewandowski's effectiveness, calling him "the brains" of the department and noting, "He gets things done."
Lewandowski and Noem have been subject to multiple reports of a not-so-secret personal relationship, though both have not publicly addressed the claims.
His SGE status raises significant ethical concerns. Unlike standard employees, Lewandowski is not required to provide financial disclosures, creating potential conflicts of interest when awarding hundreds of millions in government contracts.
Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, noted that even as an SGE, Lewandowski is subject to conflict-of-interest laws and cannot participate in contracting for companies in which he owns stock, consults for, or maintains employment relationships.
Axios reported that Lewandowski was recently overheard at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport discussing DHS vendor contracts. He specifically mentioned Palantir, a company that was the subject of a Wall Street Journal investigation regarding his contracting involvement. He was also overheard discussing a drone program.
Lewandowski has denied conflicts of interest but declined to disclose how he generates income.
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