File photo: DHS secretary Kristi Noem (Picture credit: AP)
The department of homeland security (DHS) is reportedly facing internal turmoil as secretary Kristi Noem and her de facto chief of staff Corey Lewandowski allegedly lashed out at officials following critical media reports about their leadership.According to multiple media reports, Noem and Lewandowski called department staff to complain after news coverage revealed that Noem’s policies were causing operational bottlenecks. In June, Noem announced she would personally approve all payments exceeding $100,000, compared with the previous $25 million threshold. This change reportedly delayed funding across DHS agencies, including FEMA, which faced a four-day hold in disbursing disaster relief for Texas flood victims because crucial contracts for Urban Search and Rescue crews and call centre staff had not been renewed, reported the Daily Beast.The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also allowed key contracts, including those for airport-screening equipment and polygraph tests for law enforcement candidates, to lapse.Sources cited by the New York Magazine said that Noem and Lewandowski were “screaming” at officials during calls and that Noem dropped “multiple F-bombs” in the process, according to Irish star. One DHS employee said, “The level of disrespect and screaming at everybody in that room — I think people were really shocked and taken aback”. Another staffer noted the duo accused officials of “lining their pockets” from government contracts, which insiders said appeared to be projection.Lewandowski, a former adviser to President Trump, serves as a Special Government Employee on a temporary basis. Sources say he is a micromanager who has reassigned and fired dozens of staff members, creating a culture of fear. “People are scared s**tless of Corey,” one official said, while another described DHS as operating under “the Corey show”, as per Raw Story.Noem and Lewandowski had sought to quell concerns from the White House, after Trump reportedly called them into the Oval Office in mid-September to complain about their management style. “He was particularly mad at Corey because he can’t get along with anybody,” a source said, though the pair managed to retain their positions, according to Daily Beast.Lewandowski was initially blocked from officially becoming Noem’s chief of staff due to security concerns and allegations of undisclosed payments from foreign governments. Rumours of a romantic relationship between Noem and Lewandowski—both married to other people—have circulated within DHS, described by officials as the “worst-kept secret in DC”, according to Irish Star. Both have repeatedly denied any affair.A DHS spokesperson defended Noem’s oversight, saying, “All final DHS contract decision-making authority rests solely with Secretary Noem. Under secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS has already saved more than $13 billion”.
