TRUMP SET TO AXE NOEM? SECRET ROMANCE ROCKS DHS POWER STRUCTURE.
Donald Trump’s second-term machinery is bracing for a political detonation, as senior Homeland Security insiders warn that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem may be removed over her alleged secret relationship with longtime Trump loyalist Corey Lewandowski — a behind-the-scenes partnership they describe as corrosive, destabilizing, and increasingly untenable.
According to interviews with three former DHS officials, frustration toward Lewandowski — and by extension Noem — has reached a breaking point inside the West Wing.
Advisers now believe the Noem–Lewandowski dynamic has become a liability, both politically and operationally. “Things are f—ed,” one official told The Bulwark. “It’s horrible. They’re going to destroy this place. I’m just hoping the new secretary gets here in time.”
Sources say Trump is likely to act as soon as January, when Democrat Abigail Spanberger succeeds Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — a figure quietly floated as a possible replacement for Noem.
The Worst-Kept Secret in Washington
Noem, who is married, and Lewandowski, widely viewed as her “gatekeeper” inside DHS, have repeatedly denied their alleged romantic relationship. Yet within Washington’s political ecosystem, their arrangement is often described as an “open secret.”
Lewandowski travels with the secretary, influences hiring decisions, and participates in enforcement strategy — an unusual role for an unpaid “special government employee” limited by law to 130 working days per year.
His outsized authority, paired with a pattern of questionable decision-making, has triggered what officials describe as an internal crisis.
One episode in particular has become emblematic: the pair’s attempt to order 10 Spirit Airlines planes, only to discover the airline neither owned the aircraft nor their engines.
DHS procurement officials warned that the purchase was financially reckless; Spirit, which has declared bankruptcy twice, would have required the government to buy engines separately.
Aide Under Scrutiny
Lewandowski has also led efforts to replace ICE leadership nationwide with Border Patrol officers to create a more militarized immigration force — including a Chicago initiative internally nicknamed “Midway Blitz.” His activity is now under quiet review by the White House, following allegations that he dramatically underreported his working days.
A President Who Won’t Deliver the News
Should Noem be forced out, Trump is expected to avoid delivering the message personally — consistent with his history during his first term, when he often delegated firings to senior staff.
Rex Tillerson learned of his dismissal while in an airplane lavatory. Steve Bannon, Anthony Scaramucci, and Rob Porter were all removed by Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Denials From the West Wing
The White House rejected the speculation outright. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson blasted the reporting as “total FAKE NEWS,” insisting Noem is “doing a great job” and remains aligned with Trump’s agenda.
But inside DHS, officials say the writing is on the wall. The Noem–Lewandowski controversy is no longer viewed as a rumor, but a destabilizing force threatening to derail the department’s already fragile internal order. And in Trump’s second-term universe — where loyalty is currency and optics are everything — this may be one scandal the president chooses not to carry into 2025.
