Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski
Some DHS Contractors Claimed White House Officials Requested Payment from Corey Lewandowski
Over a year ago, George Zoley, the founder of The GEO Group, requested a meeting with Corey Lewandowski, a prominent Trump confidant who had recently assumed a senior role advising Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At the time, Zoley was concerned that securing government contracts under the new administration would depend on Lewandowski’s favor. This worry stemmed from their prior conflict during the transition from Trump’s November 2024 election to his January 2025 inauguration, before Lewandowski officially joined the government, as reported by two industry insiders and a senior DHS official.
During that period, Lewandowski reportedly told Zoley he expected compensation in exchange for supporting and expanding GEO Group’s contracts with the Department of Homeland Security. A senior DHS official and three individuals familiar with the conversation confirmed this. Zoley, unsettled by the request, refused to agree, describing the exchange as a tense standoff. Despite this, Lewandowski was later appointed as an unpaid “special government employee” at DHS, where he served as a de facto chief of staff to Noem and reportedly influenced contract decisions.
Following the initial meeting, Zoley tried to ease tensions by offering Lewandowski a recurring consulting fee with GEO Group. However, Lewandowski rejected this, insisting payments should be tied to new or renewed contracts. “He wanted payments — what some people would call a success fee,” said one individual with knowledge of the discussion. Zoley ultimately declined the proposal. In the months that followed, two of GEO Group’s federal contracts were reduced, and several facilities used for housing migrants remained idle, even as Congress and Trump allocated significant funds to DHS for mass deportation efforts.
GEO Group officials suggest this outcome is linked to their refusal to meet Lewandowski’s demands. A senior DHS official added that shortly after the second meeting, Lewandowski advised against awarding more contracts to the company. His spokesperson, however, denied these claims, stating, “This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the Geo Group, at any time.” When asked if he had ever received financial benefits from contracts he approved, Lewandowski previously told NBC News, “zero, not one penny.”
Lawmakers have since scrutinized Lewandowski’s role. Noem testified at a congressional hearing, where questions were raised about her and Lewandowski’s influence on contract awards. Trump intervened afterward, asking Lewandowski about his involvement in DHS decisions, according to a source who participated in the call. Noem was later dismissed as secretary, set to leave on March 31. Lewandowski, however, has not yet decided if he will depart with her.
On Wednesday, Trump’s nominee to replace Noem, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, faced questions during a congressional session about his cooperation with a Democratic-led investigation into three companies that secured a $220 million advertising contract featuring Noem. The probe aims to determine if she or Lewandowski gained financially from these deals. Mullin affirmed he would support any DHS inspector general inquiry into the matter.
