Corey Lewandowski No Longer Holds Role at U.S. Department of Homeland Security

BY MIRABEL ODETA

Corey Lewandowski, a longtime political operative and former campaign manager for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, is no longer working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a spokesperson for the agency on Saturday.

The spokesperson confirmed that Lewandowski “no longer has a role at DHS,” but did not provide additional details about when his departure occurred or the circumstances surrounding it. Lewandowski had been serving as an unpaid adviser to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, working closely with her during her time leading the department.

Lewandowski, who previously managed Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign, did not respond to requests seeking comment about his departure from the agency. Confirmation that he no longer holds a position at the department was first reported by Politico.

The development comes amid broader changes within the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this month, Trump announced that Noem would leave her role as the head of DHS to take on a new diplomatic assignment connected to his administration’s regional security strategy. Trump said Noem would serve as a special envoy for a newly created initiative known as the “Shield of the Americas,” an effort aimed at promoting and coordinating security policies across countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Following Noem’s departure from DHS, the leadership position at the department was filled by former U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin. The Senate confirmed Mullin earlier in the week, marking a significant shift in the agency’s leadership at a time when immigration, border control, and regional security policies remain major priorities for the administration.

Lewandowski’s close relationship with Noem had drawn attention and scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly during a congressional hearing earlier this month. During the hearing, a Democratic lawmaker questioned Noem about her personal relationship with Lewandowski and asked whether the two had been involved in a sexual relationship. Noem strongly rejected the allegation, dismissing the question as “tabloid garbage” and refusing to engage further with the claim.

Despite Lewandowski’s apparent departure from the Department of Homeland Security, he was recently seen accompanying Noem during official travel related to her new role. Photographs released earlier in the week by the U.S. embassy in Guyana showed Lewandowski standing alongside Noem during meetings with Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana. The images drew renewed attention to his involvement in activities surrounding Noem’s diplomatic engagements.

Noem, who now serves as a special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative, reports directly to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. While questions arose about Lewandowski’s presence on the trip to Guyana, a State Department official said earlier in the week that he would not be joining the department in any official capacity.

The official declined to explain why Lewandowski had accompanied Noem on the overseas visit but emphasized that he would not be taking on a formal role within the State Department or its diplomatic efforts.

Lewandowski has remained a prominent figure within Trump’s political orbit for years, often appearing in political discussions and campaign-related activities. His departure from the Department of Homeland Security marks the latest development in a series of personnel changes tied to the administration’s shifting leadership and evolving policy initiatives.