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 prior, George Zoley, the founder of The GEO Group, sought a meeting with Corey Lewandowski, a key supporter of President Donald Trump who had recently assumed a prominent role as an adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Zoley’s company, a major player in the private prison sector, had long profited from Trump’s deportation policies, which aimed to increase federal spending on immigrant detention and removal efforts. These contracts already generated over $1 billion annually for The GEO Group, yet tensions arose when Lewandowski emerged as a critical gatekeeper for future agreements.

Zoley and Lewandowski had previously clashed during the transition from Trump’s November 2024 election victory to his January 2025 inauguration. According to industry insiders and a senior DHS official, Lewandowski approached Zoley with a demand for payment in exchange for safeguarding and expanding GEO Group’s contracts. This came before Lewandowski officially joined the government, the sources noted. During the transition period, Lewandowski’s insistence on financial compensation left Zoley unsettled, prompting a tense confrontation that left the company’s leadership wary of his influence.

Following the transition, Lewandowski became an unpaid “special government employee” at DHS, where he effectively served as Noem’s chief of staff. In late February or early March 2025, Zoley attempted to reconcile the disagreement by offering a retainer fee to Lewandowski. However, the proposed arrangement failed to satisfy Lewandowski, who insisted on payments tied to new or renewed contracts. “He wanted payments — what some people would call a success fee,” explained an individual familiar with the discussion. Zoley ultimately refused the terms, sources said.

In the months after the meeting, two of GEO Group’s federal contracts were reduced, and several of its facilities remained unused despite increased funding for DHS’s deportation initiatives. A GEO Group insider linked this decline to the refusal to comply with Lewandowski’s demands. A senior DHS official confirmed that shortly after the second meeting, Lewandowski advised against awarding further contracts to the company. While Lewandowski’s spokesperson 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,” the disagreement persisted.

Meanwhile, Trump’s intervention led to the removal of Noem as DHS secretary, with the president citing her departure on March 31. Lewandowski, however, remains undecided about his own future with the agency. Lawmakers are now scrutinizing the relationship between Noem and Lewandowski, particularly regarding potential financial gains from contracts. During a congressional hearing, Trump himself questioned Lewandowski about his role in shaping DHS’s procurement decisions. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s nominee to replace Noem, was later asked if he would support a probe into three companies that secured a $220 million advertising deal featuring Noem. Mullin assured cooperation with any investigation, as reported by NBC News.

“He wanted payments — what some people would call a success fee,” said a person with knowledge of the meeting.

“This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the Geo Group, at any time,” his representative said.

Lawmakers continue to probe whether Lewandowski or Noem benefited financially from the contracts, as Trump’s administration faces growing pressure to clarify its ties to private industry players.