CISA replaces acting director after a bumbling year on the job
Source: TechCrunch
Background
This week it was reported that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is in dire shape after a year of cuts, layoffs, and furloughs under the Trump administration. The agency, which oversees cybersecurity and technical protection across the federal government, has now replaced its acting director.
Leadership Change
The agency has replaced Madhu Gottumukkala as acting director. Gottumukkala’s tenure was marked by several security incidents, including the uploading of sensitive government documents to ChatGPT. Staffing at CISA was reduced by one‑third, and Gottumukkala reportedly failed a counterintelligence polygraph required to view classified documents. He also suspended several career officials, including the agency’s chief security officer.
Before joining CISA as deputy director, Gottumukkala served as chief technology officer of South Dakota under then‑governor (now Secretary of Homeland Security) Kristi Noem.
ABC News was the first outlet to report Gottumukkala’s departure. In a statement shared with TechCrunch, CISA spokesperson Marci McCarthy said Gottumukkala had done a “remarkable job.” McCarthy announced that Nick Andersen will replace Gottumukkala as CISA’s new acting director. Gottumukkala has been moved to a new role as director of strategic implementation within the Department of Homeland Security, which houses CISA.
Prior to his appointment as acting director, Andersen served as the agency’s top official overseeing its cybersecurity division.
Senate Confirmation
CISA still has not had a permanent Senate‑confirmed director since Trump returned to office. McCarthy said the Trump administration has chosen Sean Plankey to be the agency’s permanent director, a nomination that requires a majority vote in the U.S. Senate.
The White House re‑nominated Plankey in January 2026 after Senator Ron Wyden blocked his nomination the previous year. Wyden’s hold was tied to the release of an unclassified report describing cybersecurity flaws at major telecommunications companies, following hundreds of hacks attributed to the China‑backed group Salt Typhoon. The Senate has not yet scheduled a hearing for Plankey’s nomination.
Recent Departures
Nextgov reported that CISA lost another senior official, Bob Costello, the agency’s chief information officer responsible for overseeing IT systems and data policies. According to the report, Gottumukkala attempted to transfer Costello but was blocked by unnamed political appointees. CISA spokesperson McCarthy did not comment on Costello’s departure when asked by TechCrunch.
Sources
- U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is in dire shape – TechCrunch
- Security headaches: uploading sensitive government docs to ChatGPT – TechCrunch
- Staffing slashed by one‑third – Politico
- Counterintelligence polygraph investigation – Politico
- ABC News report on Gottumukkala’s departure – ABC News
- Nick Andersen’s leadership profile – CISA
- Re‑nomination of Sean Plankey – White House
- Senator Wyden blocks Plankey’s nomination – TechCrunch
- Report on Salt Typhoon hacks – TechCrunch
- Bob Costello departure – Nextgov