Claims regarding the internal dynamics of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) suggest turmoil surrounding its deputy director, Madhu Gottumukkala. He has been identified as the agency's acting director due to the absence of a Senate-confirmed leader. The situation escalated after Gottumukkala sought access to sensitive information related to an undisclosed intelligence program shared by another federal agency.
Reportedly, senior career employees at CISA advised against pursuing this information, suggesting he could perform his duties effectively with less sensitive data. Despite these warnings, Gottumukkala persisted and faced a denial for his initial request. Complications arose when a senior official who denied access was placed on administrative leave in late June for unrelated reasons, allowing Gottumukkala's subsequent request to be approved in early July.
However, this approval led to a requirement for Gottumukkala to undergo a polygraph test, a method increasingly utilized by the federal government to identify leaks. It has been reported that Gottumukkala did not pass the test, though the details surrounding these events remain unclear.