A ChatGPT Upload Has Put Trump’s Acting Cyber Chief Under Scrutiny: Who Is Madhu Gottumukkala?

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 12:24 IST

A sensitive-data upload to ChatGPT has pushed Indian-origin Madhu Gottumukkala into a federal spotlight, deepening concerns already surrounding his role as Trump’s cyber chief.

An internal review was launched after Madhu Gottumukkala uploaded “for official use only” files to ChatGPT. (IMAGE: CISA)

A high-level security lapse has put US President Donald Trump’s acting cyber chief, Madhu Gottumukkala, under intense scrutiny after a Politico exclusive revealed that he uploaded sensitive government documents into a public version of ChatGPT, according to DHS officials cited by the US-based news outlet.

The files, marked “for official use only", were fed into the AI tool last summer, triggering multiple automated security alerts inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and prompting an internal review to assess potential exposure.

The episode is the most serious in a string of controversies surrounding Gottumukkala, who has been leading the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in an acting capacity since May.

With the Senate confirmation of a permanent director still stalled, the Indian-origin technocrat is the senior-most political official running America’s primary cyber defence body, a role that now sits uncomfortably against allegations of poor judgment, internal clashes and repeated security-related disputes.

Before these controversies erupted, Gottumukkala entered CISA with the reputation of a career technologist with decades of experience across government IT systems and cybersecurity operations. But the past few months have reshaped that image.

A Technocrat Who Rose To Lead America’s Cyber Defence Agency

Before entering the federal spotlight, Gottumukkala built a long record in state-level technology leadership. He served as Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for South Dakota’s Bureau of Information and Technology, overseeing statewide IT systems and cybersecurity. Prior to that, he was the state’s Chief Technology Officer, only the second person ever to hold the role.

His academic credentials are similarly extensive. Born in Andhra Pradesh, India, on 29 October 1976, he completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University before moving to the United States. There, he earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Arlington, an MBA in Engineering and Technology Management from the University of Dallas, and a PhD in Information Systems from Dakota State University.

He has also served on the advisory committee of Dakota State University’s College of Business and Information Systems.

Why Gottumukkala’s ChatGPT Upload Triggered A Federal Security Review

The most damaging controversy of Gottumukkala’s tenure surfaced when Politico reported that he had uploaded sensitive CISA contracting documents — marked “for official use only" — into a public version of ChatGPT last summer.

While none of the files were classified, they were restricted government material not meant for public release. Because they were fed into the openly accessible ChatGPT interface, they would be available to OpenAI and could potentially influence responses given to other users.

CISA’s internal cybersecurity sensors flagged multiple alerts during the first week of August. Senior DHS officials initiated a review to assess any potential exposure or harm. The assessment included discussions between Gottumukkala and the department’s top legal and information security leadership, including then-acting general counsel Joseph Mazzara and DHS Chief Information Officer Antoine McCord.

CISA’s director of public affairs, Marci McCarthy, later defended the circumstances by saying Gottumukkala “was granted permission to use ChatGPT with DHS controls in place," adding that the approval was short-term and limited. She also noted that he last used the tool in mid-July 2025 under an authorised exception.

However, reactions cited by officials in Politico’s investigation suggested deep unease. One official said Gottumukkala “forced CISA’s hand into making them give him ChatGPT, and then he abused it."

The Polygraph Dispute That Placed Career Staff On Leave

This was not the first time Gottumukkala had come under scrutiny for a security-related issue. Earlier in the summer, he underwent a counterintelligence polygraph exam, one he reportedly pushed to take. According to Politico’s reporting, he failed the test, prompting the placement of at least six career staff on administrative leave. DHS later called the test “unsanctioned."

When questioned about the matter during Congressional testimony, he rejected the characterisation outright, telling Rep Bennie Thompson that he did not “accept the premise of that characterisation." The vagueness surrounding the purpose, process and outcome of the test has continued to raise eyebrows across DHS.

Internal Power Struggles: The Attempt To Remove CISA’s CIO

More recently, Gottumukkala reportedly attempted to remove Robert Costello, CISA’s long-time Chief Information Officer. The move was blocked by other political appointees, signalling visible fractures at the top of the agency.

Costello was among the senior officials Gottumukkala had met in the internal review of the ChatGPT uploads, further complicating the optics of the attempted ouster.

A Leadership Tenure Marked By Turbulence And Uncertainty

Gottumukkala’s tenure as acting director comes at a time when the agency faces external pressure as well. Trump’s executive order aimed at accelerating America’s leadership in artificial intelligence has pushed DHS agencies to innovate quickly, while simultaneously managing risks associated with new technologies.

CISA’s public stance is that it remains committed to “harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies" to drive modernisation. The tension between innovation and security — a foundational issue in federal tech policy — stands sharper when the agency’s own chief is embroiled in debates about improper handling of sensitive documents.

Internally, the absence of a Senate-confirmed director has placed additional weight on Gottumukkala’s shoulders.

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