Corey Lewandowski is expected to leave the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to remove Kristi Noem from her post. Trump has nominated Markwayne Mullin to serve as the department’s next secretary, initiating a leadership transition at DHS, according to reports.
Lewandowski had been serving as an unpaid special government employee, a designation that generally limits individuals to 130 working days in a 365-day period. Despite his informal status, the department widely viewed him as a key figure during Noem’s tenure.
Although he did not hold a Senate-confirmed role or a formal leadership title, Lewandowski was frequently described by officials and observers as operating in a capacity similar to a chief of staff. In that role, he was involved in internal management decisions and personnel matters within the department.
Rumors have been circulating since before Trump began his second term that Noem and Lewandowski are having an affair. However, neither Noem nor Lewandowski has confirmed the affair, and Noem faced questions about it during a congressional hearing last week, where her husband was present.
When pressed by a reporter this week about why Trump reassigned Noem, Lewandowski said, “I would never try to assume to get in the mind of President Trump. I think he has his reasons for everything he does, and we have seen enormous success from his leadership at the White House.”
On his own future at the department, he was equally noncommittal. “I haven’t made that decision,” he told the New York Post. One White House official was less diplomatic: “Don’t know who would want him.”
Another source reflected on the value of loyalty within Trump’s circle, noting that Lewandowski was fired as Trump’s campaign manager in 2016 but later regained the president’s favor. “Corey will find a way back into the Trump world,” the second source told The Post.
Reports about the relationship between Noem and Lewandowski have circulated in Washington for several years, dating back to Noem’s tenure as governor of South Dakota.
According to reporting published in 2023, sources told the New York Post that Noem’s husband, Bryon Noem, had moved out of the governor’s residence approximately two years earlier.
Noem and Lewandowski have also traveled together on a number of official trips in recent years, including visits to Argentina, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Poland, and Italy.
Lewandowski has been married to Alison Hardy since 2005, The Post added.
Separate reporting described an incident involving a U.S. Coast Guard pilot who was initially dismissed after a personal item belonging to a romantic partner was found on a flight used by officials. The pilot was later reinstated after officials determined he was needed to complete the return flight.
Individuals familiar with the situation have said Lewandowski is believed to currently be residing with Noem. Noem and her husband share three children.
Lewandowski was widely viewed as holding significant influence over internal operations, including matters related to contracts and personnel decisions, according to officials and reporting from multiple outlets, said The Post.
His role drew scrutiny from lawmakers amid questions about the scope of his authority within the department. Lewandowski served as a special government employee rather than a Senate-confirmed official.
During testimony before a Senate committee on Tuesday, Kristi Noem said Lewandowski did not approve departmental contracts. Some lawmakers disputed that characterization, citing reports and documents suggesting he had played a role in certain decision-making processes.
The issue resurfaced during additional questioning on Wednesday, when Democratic lawmakers asked Noem under oath about her personal relationship with Lewandowski. Noem criticized the line of questioning and declined to engage in detail about the allegations, but did not directly address whether the relationship was romantic.
Asked if Noem’s responses in Congress were a factor in her dismissal, Lewandowksi said: “You’re asking me to speculate on things that I have no insight into.”