Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski
Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski
Over a year ago, George Zoley, founder of The GEO Group, sought a meeting with Corey Lewandowski, a top adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At the time, Lewandowski had recently joined the administration, and the two had a history of conflict dating back to the transition period between Trump’s November 2024 election and his January 2025 inauguration. During that time, Lewandowski had reportedly expressed a desire to be compensated for supporting GEO Group’s contracts with the Department of Homeland Security, according to a senior DHS official and three individuals familiar with the exchange.
As a leading figure in the private prison industry, GEO Group stood to gain from Trump’s focus on mass deportations. The company’s existing federal contracts for detainment, monitoring, and immigration services already exceeded $1 billion annually. However, Zoley and his team were unsettled by the growing influence of Lewandowski in contract decisions, fearing his role could compromise their interests. The confrontation during the transition period was described as tense, with Zoley resisting Lewandowski’s demand for payments in exchange for advocacy.
Following the meeting, Lewandowski became an unpaid special government employee at DHS, serving as a de facto chief of staff to Noem. His involvement in contract approvals reportedly led to a reduction in the duration of two of GEO Group’s federal agreements, and several of the company’s facilities now sit idle despite increased funding for DHS deportation efforts. GEO Group officials believe this outcome is linked to their refusal to agree to Lewandowski’s payment requests.
Months later, in late February or early March 2025, Zoley attempted to resolve the issue by offering Lewandowski a recurring consulting fee. Lewandowski rejected this, insisting he should be paid based on new or renewed contracts. “He wanted payments — what some people would call a success fee,” said a person with knowledge of the meeting. Zoley declined, leaving the matter unresolved.
Lewandowski’s spokesperson denied claims of demanding payment from GEO Group, 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 about financial benefits from contracts he approved, Lewandowski previously told NBC News, “zero, not one penny.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers have raised questions about Lewandowski’s role. Noem testified at a congressional hearing earlier this month, where she faced scrutiny over her and Lewandowski’s involvement in DHS contracts. Trump intervened afterward, querying Lewandowski about his influence on contracting decisions. The president later fired Noem, effective March 31, and Lewandowski remains undecided on whether to depart with her.
On Wednesday, Trump’s nominee to replace Noem, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., was questioned during a congressional hearing about a $220 million advertising contract involving Noem. The probe investigates whether she or Lewandowski profited from the agreements. Mullin pledged cooperation with any DHS inspector general inquiry. Trump has also recently addressed the issue, highlighting the potential for financial ties in the process.