Lawmakers question Noem's $220m ad award to two firms tied to Noem and her circle

DOJ inquiry follows referral from a DHS office made up of lawyers

Lawmakers challenged former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem shortly before she left office over how she awarded a $220m (£164m) advertising contract. BBC News reported that the two companies receiving the award had ties to Noem and people in her inner circle.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s former top aide, personally profited from his DHS role, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. A source told CBS that the probe is related to DHS contracts signed under Noem’s leadership. The Justice Department took on the investigation after receiving a referral from the DHS inspector general’s office, which is made up of lawyers charged with monitoring the agency’s conduct and operations.

DHS officials told Reuters that Lewandowski had approved some DHS contracts despite not having the legal authority to do so as a special government employee. Those officials also said he allegedly put certain grants and contracts on hold, including some involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Lewandowski also allegedly tried to use his role at DHS for financial gain by asking Middle Eastern countries to hire him on the side to help with visa and other DHS issues.

Lewandowski worked closely with Noem as a special government employee until March, when both were ousted after a series of controversies, including the fatal shootings of US citizens by immigration officers, BBC News reported. Special government employees serve as temporary advisers to federal agencies and are given strict limits on how much they can work and what they can do. At DHS, Lewandowski served as Noem’s de facto chief of staff.

Lewandowski served as Trump’s campaign manager during the president’s first presidential run in 2016 and helped advise his 2024 campaign.

BBC News contacted Lewandowski’s attorney, who told CBS his client denies any wrongdoing. “Mr Lewandowski has not been contacted by the justice department regarding any investigation,” his attorney, Adam Trigg, said.

Asked about the investigation on Thursday, President Donald Trump told reporters he had heard about it but did not know the details. “I want my people to be honest,” Trump said. “And if they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted,” he said.