Overview

• New York Magazine reports that Corey Lewandowski, serving as a special government employee, wields de facto control over personnel and operations and is described by staff as a “shadow secretary.”
• Sources say Secretary Kristi Noem’s June rule requiring her approval for payments over $100,000 created bottlenecks, including delayed Texas flood aid and lapsed TSA and FEMA-related contracts.
• Employees recount a meeting where Noem and Lewandowski allegedly shouted at staff after critical press reports, with multiple sources describing a culture of intimidation and low morale.
• The Independent highlights allegations that Lewandowski demanded a polygraph from then-acting FEMA head Cameron Hamilton and later fired him, which DHS disputes by stating all decisions are made by Noem.
• DHS, through Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, dismisses the NYMag story as anonymous gossip and asserts Noem is the decision-maker, while NYMag says its reporting was carefully sourced and fact-checked.