Filed Date: Sept. 10, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
On September 10, 2025, American Oversight filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking records about Corey Lewandowski’s role at the agency. Though officially designated a Special Government Employee (“SGE”), capped at 130 workdays per year, Lewandowski—former campaign manager for President Trump and now “Chief Advisor” to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—was reported to act as her de facto chief of staff, exercising broad authority over contracts, personnel, and access while avoiding documentation and failing to file required financial disclosures.
To shed light on his activities, American Oversight submitted three FOIA requests between May and July 2025 seeking Lewandowski’s official calendar, his communications with Congress, the White House, and outside actors, as well as emails relating to the Insurrection Act and Posse Comitatus Act and to the denaturalization of U.S. citizens. Although DHS allegedly acknowledged each request, it produced no records or determinations. American Oversight now seeks declaratory and injunctive relief under FOIA and the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201–2202, to compel DHS to conduct adequate searches and release responsive records
The matter was assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden on September 12, 2025.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Michael Vandergriff (12/12/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71310654/parties/american-oversight-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/
McFadden, Trevor Neil (District of Columbia)
Martinez, Daniel Havlir (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71310654/american-oversight-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/
Last updated June 20, 2026, 4:03 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 10, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Oversight Watchdog files suit to compel DHS FOIA compliance.
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Secretary Kristi Noem
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03113
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:
Case Summary of American Oversight v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46949/ (last updated 12/12/2025).