White House officials have raised concerns that Corey Lewandowski, senior advisor to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, may be misreporting his workdays to avoid restrictions on special government employees (SGEs), according to Axios.
Limits on Special Government Employees
By law, SGEs are limited to 130 days of work per year. The designation allows political operatives like Lewandowski to keep private sector clients while holding a limited government role — even unpaid. It’s the same designation that once capped Elon Musk’s role in government advisory work.
But White House sources claim Lewandowski is pushing those limits, pointing to instances where he allegedly entered DHS headquarters by trailing behind other staffers at badge swipes to avoid clocking in. On other occasions, he reportedly used his personal phone and email to conduct DHS business, keeping activity off government records.
DHS Reports 69 Days; Sources Say More
A DHS spokesperson told Axios Lewandowski had only logged 69 workdays over the first 200 days of the Trump administration. But four administration officials told the outlet the real number is far higher, suggesting he has already exceeded his legal limit.
White House Issues Warning Memo
On July 3, the White House Counsel’s Office issued a government-wide memo reminding SGEs to accurately record their time. Officials insist the memo wasn’t directed at any one person, but DHS lawyers and White House counsel later met to specifically discuss Lewandowski’s activities.
“We’re hearing that Corey’s doing everything — failing to swipe in, working from home, whatever — to undercount his days. It’s fair to say his work is being watched now,” one source said.
Longtime Trump Ally With Noem
Lewandowski, who briefly managed Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign before being sidelined, has been close to Noem for years. He followed her into the Trump administration after clashing with 2024 campaign leadership but maintaining strong ties.
Trump reportedly blocked Lewandowski’s attempt to serve as Noem’s full-time chief of staff amid rumors of a personal relationship between the two. Instead, Lewandowski was appointed as an SGE — a designation now under scrutiny.
