Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) is escalating her oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding answers on the internal review of former DHS official Corey Lewandowski, who faces allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, and misuse of taxpayer funds.
In a letter sent Tuesday to newly confirmed DHS Under Secretary for Management Brian Cavanaugh, Hassan requested interim findings and other documents from the department's investigation into Lewandowski's conduct. The New Hampshire Democrat, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, launched her own inquiry in June after reports raised questions about Lewandowski's role in DHS contracting decisions.
“The allegations against Mr. Lewandowski, if true, indicate significant corruption, abuse of taxpayer funds, and flagrant conflicts of interest that require Congressional investigation based on a comprehensive record of his tenure at DHS,” Hassan wrote.
Lewandowski, a longtime ally of President Trump, served as a special government employee at DHS and was a close adviser to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Hassan has alleged that Lewandowski used his position to seek compensation from DHS contractors tied to new or renewed contracts, and that he approved consulting contracts for former political associates with no prior experience in homeland security policy.
Lewandowski also allegedly reviewed contracts worth more than $100,000 before they could receive Noem’s approval under a newly implemented policy—a process Hassan says delayed critical DHS activities. Earlier this year, House Democrats asked the DHS inspector general to investigate Lewandowski and sought to rescind that contract approval policy.
During Cavanaugh’s nomination hearing, he confirmed that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin had begun reviewing contracts Lewandowski may have approved in connection with possible self-dealing and “pay-to-pay” schemes, according to Hassan’s letter. Cavanaugh pledged to oversee the process and be “open and transparent and accountable” with oversight committees—a commitment Hassan is now pressing him to honor.
“As the chief management officer and senior acquisition official at DHS, you now have responsibility for overseeing DHS procurement activities and ensuring that the Department spends taxpayer dollars lawfully and effectively,” Hassan wrote.
The probe comes amid broader Democratic scrutiny of Trump-era officials and contracting practices, as seen in Senate Democrats uniting against Blanche over corruption concerns. Hassan’s push also aligns with Democratic efforts to press Trump officials on accountability across agencies.
Lewandowski’s tenure at DHS has drawn criticism from both parties, though Republicans have largely avoided public comment. The outcome of the DHS review could have implications for future procurement oversight and for Lewandowski’s political standing.
