Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has come under scrutiny after reports revealed
he uploaded sensitive government contracting documents marked “for official use only” into a public version of ChatGPT, triggering multiple automated security warnings. According to Politico, the uploads occurred last summer and were flagged by cybersecurity sensors designed to prevent the theft or unintentional disclosure of government material from federal networks. While none of the files were classified, officials said the documents were internal and not meant for public release. Senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CISA, launched an internal review to assess whether the uploads caused any harm to government security. The outcome of that review has not been made public. Gottumukkala was reportedly granted a temporary exception to use ChatGPT at a time when the tool was blocked for other DHS employees. A CISA spokesperson said his use of the AI tool was “short-term and limited,” and DHS said controls were in place during the authorized period. The incident added to an already controversial tenure for Gottumukkala. Since assuming leadership of CISA in May, he has faced internal disputes, including a failed counterintelligence polygraph exam later described by DHS as “unsanctioned,” and the suspension of several career staff from accessing classified information. He has also been involved in efforts to remove senior agency officials, moves that were later blocked. Any information uploaded into the public version of ChatGPT is shared with its operator and may be retained to help answer prompts from other users, raising concerns among officials about data exposure. DHS policy requires investigations into such incidents to determine potential disciplinary action, ranging from retraining to more serious administrative measures. Gottumukkala remains the senior-most political official at CISA, the agency responsible for protecting U.S. federal networks from cyber threats posed by foreign adversaries.
Who Is Madhu Gottumukkala?
Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala serves as the Acting Director and Deputy Director of CISA in the Trump administration, helping lead the agency’s mission to understand, manage, and reduce risks to the cyber and physical infrastructure Americans rely on daily.
Before joining CISA, he served as Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for South Dakota’s Bureau of Information and Technology, where he oversaw statewide technology and cybersecurity initiatives. His work focused on adopting emerging technologies and replacing outdated legacy systems. He also previously served as South Dakota’s Chief Technology Officer.
Dr. Gottumukkala has more than 24 years of experience in information technology, with leadership roles across both the public and private sectors, including work in wireless and telecommunications, unified communications, and health technology. He currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University.
He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Dakota State University, an MBA in Engineering and Technology Management from the University of Dallas, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University.
