Corey Lewandowski is leaving his government role and will not work under Kristi Noem at the State Department. This follows a multi-nation Latin American tour they took together. The decision was confirmed by four sources to The New York Post. Lewandowski served as a special government employee. His exit marks another shift in personnel around former President Trump’s allies.
The final decision for his departure was made this week. It coincided with the tour promoting the new Shield of the Americas initiative. Photos released by Guyana’s government showed the pair together. Noem was recently replaced as Homeland Security secretary. She is now a special envoy for the anti-crime initiative.
Sources indicate President Trump pushed for Lewandowski’s removal. Disapproval centered on a $220 million ad campaign. The campaign featured Noem and other contracting decisions. Lewandowski acted as her de facto chief of staff. These decisions were made during his tenure.
An alternative source claims Lewandowski chose to leave himself. He reportedly lacked interest in a State Department role. There, Noem would report to Deputy Secretary Chris Landau. This is a different chain of command than her previous cabinet position. She previously reported directly to the President.
Despite Lewandowski’s exit, Noem will transfer ten other DHS staff. She received permission to move them to the State Department. This was reported by Politico this week. The ongoing tour included stops in several countries. It began while Noem was still Homeland Security secretary.
The tour featured stops in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. It also included Costa Rica and Guyana. A final leg was planned for Ecuador. The trip was funded by U.S. taxpayers. Its purpose was to promote regional security cooperation.
This development highlights ongoing personnel changes. It follows the Trump administration’s post-election transition. The Shield of the Americas is a new initiative. It aims to combat crime and strengthen partnerships. The initiative’s leadership is now taking shape without Lewandowski.
