CISA Appoints New Director Following Challenging Year

This week it was reported that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is in poor condition after cuts under the Trump administration, with the agency now replacing its top acting leader. Madhu Gottumukkala was replaced as acting director of CISA following a challenging year. Gottumukkala faced difficulties leading the agency and caused issues by uploading sensitive documents to ChatGPT. The agency’s staffing was reduced by one-third, and he failed a counterintelligence polygraph, leading to suspensions of several officials, including the chief security officer. Before being nominated as CISA’s deputy director, Gottumukkala served as chief technology officer of South Dakota. ABC News first reported Gottumukkala’s departure. CISA spokesperson Marci McCarthy stated Gottumukkala did a “remarkable job,” and announced Nick Andersen as the new acting director. Gottumukkala has been moved to director of strategic implementation at the Department of Homeland Security, which includes CISA. Andersen previously led CISA’s cybersecurity division. The agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since Trump’s return to office. The Trump administration nominated Sean Plankey as the permanent director, pending Senate approval. Plankey was re-nominated after previously being blocked by Sen. Ron Wyden, who demanded an unclassified report on cybersecurity flaws be released. Plankey’s nomination hearing has not been scheduled. Additionally, CISA lost another senior official, Bob Costello, its chief information officer. Attempts by Gottumukkala to transfer Costello were blocked by political appointees. McCarthy did not comment on Costello’s departure but did not dispute it.