Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers on Reported Shadow Operations and Improper Management of DHS and FEMA

WASHINGTON - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi today demanded answers in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin following deeply troubling reports that Special Government Employees, contractors, and other non-career personnel exercised improper influence over core agency functions at DHS and FEMA, raising serious concerns about shadow operations, ethics compliance, and a broader breakdown in oversight across the Department.

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi warned that "what may have initially appeared to be isolated misconduct instead reflected a broader breakdown in internal controls, ethics compliance, and oversight across the Department," and raised alarm that safeguards governing Special Government Employees and contractors "appear to have been systematically disregarded."

The letter cites public reporting that former aide and Special Government Employee Corey Lewandowski "exceeded the statutory limits of his role as a Special Government Employee" and "exercised influence far beyond what is legally permitted," raising grave concerns about conflicts of interest and misuse of public office.

Krishnamoorthi also pointed to reports that contractor Kara Voorhies exercised "outsized and deeply inappropriate influence" over FEMA operations and spending decisions, allegedly functioning as a "shadow administrator" whose awareness or approval was required for routine agency functions, including engagement with Congress, coordination with governors, and communication with the White House.

"Taken together, these reports raise profound concerns about a systemic failure of oversight and accountability within DHS, in which a Special Government Employee operating beyond the lawful bounds of his authority appears to have enabled a contractor to exercise similarly improper influence over core governmental functions," Krishnamoorthi wrote.

Given the gravity of the allegations, Krishnamoorthi requested written responses to the following questions no later than April 29, 2026:

1. What actions has DHS taken, or will it take, to ensure that Special Government Employees, contractors, and other non-career personnel do not exceed the lawful scope of their authority or perform inherently governmental functions?

2. What steps is DHS taking to determine whether additional contractors, consultants, SGEs, or other non-career personnel were granted similar authority or influence over operational, budgetary, grantmaking, procurement, or personnel decisions across DHS and its component agencies, including FEMA?

3. Has DHS initiated any internal review, ethics inquiry, or referral to the Office of Inspector General regarding the conduct described above? If so, what is the scope, status, and timeline of that review, and does DHS intend to make any findings public?

4. What corrective actions has DHS implemented, or does it plan to implement, to restore proper oversight, chain-of-command integrity, accountability, and compliance within FEMA and across the Department?

Krishnamoorthi concluded by warning that "these failures are not isolated incidents but instead reflect deeper and more systemic breakdowns in oversight, accountability, and internal controls within the Department," and called on Secretary Mullin to "restore integrity and lawful governance to the Department."

The full letter is available here.