BY MIRABEL ODETA

Corey Lewandowski, a longtime political operative who most recently served as an aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is no longer working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a spokesperson for the agency who confirmed the development on Saturday. The brief statement clarified that Lewandowski “no longer has a role at DHS,” though officials did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his departure or whether it was voluntary.

Lewandowski had been serving as an unpaid adviser to Noem during her tenure leading the department, a position that nonetheless drew attention due to his close access to senior leadership. He is widely known for his earlier role as campaign manager for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, where he became a prominent figure in Trump’s inner political circle. Despite his visibility, Lewandowski did not respond to requests seeking comment on his departure from DHS, leaving questions about the situation largely unanswered for now.

The confirmation of his exit follows a period of broader leadership changes within the department. Earlier this month, Trump removed Noem from her post as Homeland Security Secretary and reassigned her to a new role as special envoy for a “Shield of the Americas” initiative, a program intended to advance his administration’s security agenda across the Western Hemisphere. In her place, former U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin was confirmed to lead DHS, marking a significant shift in the department’s leadership structure.

Lewandowski’s association with Noem had already been under scrutiny prior to his departure. Their working relationship became a topic of public and political attention, particularly during a congressional hearing earlier in the month when a Democratic lawmaker directly questioned Noem about the nature of her relationship with him, including suggesting a possible personal connection. Noem firmly rejected the line of questioning, dismissing it as “tabloid garbage” and declining to engage further on the matter.

Even after Noem’s transition out of DHS, Lewandowski appeared alongside her in official settings. Photographs released by the U.S. embassy in Guyana showed him accompanying Noem during meetings with Irfaan Ali, highlighting his continued proximity to her despite lacking a clearly defined formal role. The images raised additional questions about his involvement in government-related activities.

In her new diplomatic assignment, Noem now reports to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. While officials confirmed that Lewandowski traveled with her on the Guyana trip, they emphasized that he would not be joining the State Department in any official or unofficial capacity. Even so, the lack of detailed explanations about his presence and subsequent departure has fueled ongoing speculation about his role and influence within government circles.