When Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary known to critics as "ICE Barbie," mandated personal approval for all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts over $100,000 in June 2024, the bureaucracy didn’t rebel—it got creative. Suddenly, contracts began appearing at the exact threshold of $99,999. Not $100,000. Not $100,001. Exactly $99,999. According to a Project On Government Oversight (POGO) report, more than half of all such contracts issued since fiscal year 2016 were awarded in just the last six months under Noem’s rule. It’s like everyone got a memo: "Don’t cross the line. Just hug it." Here’s the thing: DHS hadn’t issued a single contract in that $99,999–$99,999.99 range for years. Then, in August 2024 alone, 11 popped up. None involved FEMA, which was already in chaos. Senior officials, including search-and-rescue chief Ken Pagurek, quit in July after being blocked from releasing emergency funds because Noem hadn’t signed off. One whistleblower told POGO, "It’s not about oversight. It’s about control. And control means delay." Meanwhile, Corey Lewandowski, 51, Noem’s longtime political fixer and former Trump campaign manager, emerged not as a background advisor—but as the real operator. Former DHS contractor Matt Strickland didn’t mince words: "Lewandowski is running DHS. Kristi Noem is just the face of it." A lobbyist who’s worked inside the building for over a decade added, "Everything has to go through Corey. You’re my buddy, or you’re not. You hired my friend, or you didn’t. That place just runs that way." The White House noticed. An administration official told New York Magazine that Lewandowski’s hours are now being monitored—and that Noem is "difficult to reach." They’re not just annoyed. They’re concerned. Why? Because while Noem’s team was delaying FEMA relief to disaster-stricken communities, they fast-tracked over $11 million to rebuild a pier in Naples, Florida—right near Lewandowski’s home. A wealthy donor intervened, but the timing? Too convenient. And when Noem appeared on Fox News to declare, "We have 1.6 million illegal immigrants that have left this country voluntarily," the numbers didn’t hold up under scrutiny. The Department of Homeland Security tweeted: "1.6 MILLION illegals are OUT of our country in the last 200 days." But the non-profit group that provided the underlying data—Migration Policy Institute—issued a quiet but firm correction: "The figure may be overstated." Why? Because with enforcement ramped up, many undocumented immigrants are terrified to respond to government surveys. The July data was preliminary. Administrative records still missing. The 1.6 million includes people who left under a program offering them free plane tickets and $1,000 to walk away. It’s not deportation. It’s incentivized departure. And it’s not the same as mass removal. Then there’s "Swamp Sweep." In late August, Noem ordered 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans for a two-month operation targeting undocumented migrants in the city’s riverfront neighborhoods. The Daily Beast called it "Trump’s grim deportation quota." Noem’s team insists it’s about public safety. Locals say it’s about optics. A community organizer in the French Quarter told me, "They’re not chasing criminals. They’re chasing shadows. And they’re doing it in front of tourists." The $220 million "Stronger Border, Stronger America" ad campaign—launched without competitive bidding—has also drawn fire. POGO’s investigation, released just a week after the first red flags appeared, found no clear vendor selection process. One former DHS procurement officer said, "We used to have checks. Now we have favors." The twist? Noem and Lewandowski both deny rumors of a romantic relationship. But their operational bond? That’s real. They’ve built a system where loyalty trumps process, where personal connections override policy, and where the appearance of control is more important than actual efficiency. And now, even within the administration, whispers are turning into shouts. "They avoid the White House," an official said. "Not because they’re busy. Because they’re afraid of being overexposed."
The $99,999 Loophole: A Bureaucratic Joke Turned Crisis
The $100,000 spending cap wasn’t meant to be a game. It was designed to force transparency. But when every contract suddenly hit $99,999, it became clear: someone had cracked the code. Contractors started structuring bids around the limit. Vendors began splitting services into "Phase One: $99,999" and "Phase Two: $99,999." The result? More paperwork. More delays. And less accountability. "It’s not fraud," said a former OMB analyst. "It’s exploitation. They’re gaming the system using the rules they wrote."Who’s Really in Charge?
Corey Lewandowski has no official title at DHS. No Senate confirmation. No budget authority. Yet, according to multiple sources inside the department, he approves every major decision: hiring, contracts, messaging, even which press releases get sent out. One senior official described him as "a ghost in the machine," always there, never on the org chart. His influence stretches beyond DHS. He reportedly vetted candidates for FEMA’s leadership after Pagurek’s resignation. He personally intervened in the Naples pier funding. He’s the reason Noem’s office is so hard to reach—because she’s often meeting with him, not her own staff.The 1.6 Million Figure: What’s Behind the Numbers?
The DHS claim of 1.6 million "voluntary departures" sounds impressive. But here’s what’s not being said: the number includes people who left under the government’s "voluntary return" program, which offers $1,000 and a plane ticket. It also includes those who left after being detained and released with a notice to appear in immigration court—many of whom never showed up. And crucially, it counts people who were removed from the U.S. before January 20, 2025, but whose paperwork was finalized after Trump’s inauguration. The Migration Policy Institute says the true number of people who left under coercion or incentive is likely closer to 800,000. And even that number is shaky—because surveys are now less reliable. People are afraid to answer. The data is being manipulated to serve a narrative.
What’s Next for DHS?
The Office of Management and Budget is reportedly reviewing the $100,000 rule. Congressional Democrats have signaled they’ll hold hearings. And a whistleblower within DHS has reportedly submitted evidence to the Inspector General about the Naples pier deal. Meanwhile, "Swamp Sweep" continues in New Orleans. The $220 million ad campaign is still running on billboards and YouTube. And Noem? She’s back on Fox News, talking about "the genius of Donald J. Trump." But behind the scenes, the machine is creaking. The system she’s supposed to be fixing is now broken by her own rules.Why This Matters to You
This isn’t just about immigration or spending. It’s about how power works when accountability vanishes. When a single person—whether in a suit or behind the scenes—controls the flow of billions, and the rules are bent to fit personal relationships, the entire government loses credibility. And when you’re paying taxes to fund it? You deserve to know who’s really pulling the strings.Frequently Asked Questions
How did the $99,999 contract spike happen under Kristi Noem’s spending rule?
After Noem mandated personal approval for all DHS contracts over $100,000, vendors began structuring bids at exactly $99,999 to bypass the requirement. A POGO report found that more than half of all such contracts issued since 2016 were awarded in just six months after August 2024, with 11 contracts appearing in the $99,999 range—none of which involved FEMA, despite its urgent needs.
Is Corey Lewandowski officially in charge of DHS?
No, Lewandowski holds no official position at DHS. But multiple insiders, including former contractors and lobbyists, describe him as the de facto decision-maker. He approves contracts, hires, and messaging, often bypassing career officials. His influence is so pervasive that one official called him the "shadow secretary," while the White House now monitors his hours due to concerns over decision-making delays.
Are the 1.6 million migrant departures real, or inflated?
The figure includes people who left under a government program offering $1,000 and free travel, as well as those who departed after being detained and released with court notices. The Migration Policy Institute warns the number is likely overstated due to reduced survey response rates from frightened immigrants. Administrative data gaps mean the true number of voluntary departures is probably closer to 800,000.
Why was $11 million fast-tracked to rebuild a pier in Naples, Florida?
The $11 million project was approved for a pier near Corey Lewandowski’s home after a wealthy donor intervened. While DHS claims it was for public safety, the timing—amid widespread delays in FEMA relief—raised conflict-of-interest concerns. POGO’s investigation noted the project was expedited while other critical infrastructure projects languished without Noem’s signature.
What’s the "Swamp Sweep" operation in New Orleans really about?
"Swamp Sweep" is a two-month deployment of 250 Border Patrol agents targeting undocumented immigrants in New Orleans’ riverfront areas. DHS says it’s about public safety, but critics argue it’s performative—designed to fulfill a political deportation quota. Locals report increased fear in immigrant communities, with no corresponding drop in crime rates, suggesting the operation is more about optics than enforcement.
Is the $220 million border advertising campaign under investigation?
Yes. The Project On Government Oversight found the "Stronger Border, Stronger America" campaign was awarded without competitive bidding, raising red flags about favoritism. The contract’s vendor selection process remains opaque, and internal emails suggest political connections influenced the decision. The Inspector General has opened a formal review into potential violations of federal procurement law.
