The head of Kristi Noem’s security agency reportedly failed the lie detector test required to view sensitive spy material — then blamed his underlings and suspended them.
Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which began under the Homeland Security Secretary when she was governor of South Dakota, failed a polygraph in July that was required to view the “most sensitive intelligence programs” shared by a spy agency, Politico reported Sunday. He then allegedly placed at least six people involved in organizing and scheduling the polygraph on leave in retaliation.
“Instead of taking ownership and saying, ‘Hey, I made a mistake,’ he’s blaming other people and potentially ruining their careers,” a current official told Politico, adding that Gottumukkala’s tenure at CISA was “a nightmare” for the $3 billion agency.
Madhu Gottumukkala was appointed deputy director of CISA in May. / cisa.gov
The former South Dakota government IT official has repeatedly asked to take the polygraph test, even though he has not been asked to see classified materials or serve as the Senate-confirmed leader of the agency, which is the nation’s main defense against cyber threats. Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, Sean Plankey, is currently awaiting Senate confirmation.
But Gottumukkala was relentless and eventually passed the test, which is usually used to determine whether a person has foreign connections or personal liabilities that could compromise the government’s most sensitive information.
Then it failed. And the finger-pointing began.
On Aug. 1, at least six people involved in scheduling and approving the polygraph received a letter informing them that their access to classified national security information had been suspended for allegedly misleading Gottumukkala into taking the test in the first place, five current officials and one former official told Politico.
“This action is being taken because of information received by this office that you may have participated in providing false information to the acting head of the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) about the existence of a requirement for a polygraph examination before accessing certain programs,” the letter states.
Three days later, they were told they had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation — sending shockwaves through the agency over what officials described as Gottumukkala’s childish retaliation.
“We’re a sinking ship. We’re like the Titanic,” one current official said of the agency, which has lost nearly a third of its staff since Trump returned to the White House.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told Politico that Gottumukkala “did not fail a sanctioned polygraph test.”
“An unauthorized polygraph test was administered by staff, misleading CISA management,” McLaughlin wrote. “The employees in question have been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of an investigation. We expect and demand the highest standards of performance from our employees and hold them directly accountable for following all policies and procedures. Gottumukkala has the full and complete support of the Secretary and is focused on returning the agency to its statutory mission.”
The interim director was socializing at a holiday reception with the French ambassador, Laurent Bili, on Saturday. / CISA/Insta / CISA
Politico asked for further clarification on what constitutes an “unsanctioned” polygraph, to which McLaughlin responded, “Random bureaucrats cannot simply order a polygraph. Polygraph orders must come from management who have the authority to order them.”
Meanwhile, current and former officials said it was “ridiculous” for the Department of Homeland Security to argue the polygraph was unsanctioned because officials must approve their own polygraph requests to the agency.
“In the end, he chose to sit on this polygraph,” another current official told the press. “There’s only one person to blame for this.”
Another expressed concern that Noem’s agency seemed more focused on covering his piece than addressing a much more serious issue.
“How is failing a polygraph not a problem,” the official asked, when “he’s supposed to be running a national security agency?”
Noem made headlines amid rumors that she had been removed from Trump’s cabinet. / JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
Noem publicly praised Gottumukkala, an apparent “motorcycle enthusiast and old western movie buff,” calling him “the right person” to push forward “extreme” investments in South Dakota when she announced his appointment as the state’s commissioner of the Office of Information and Telecommunications in September 2024.
“He will focus on putting our citizens first, protecting their data and helping all state governments serve the people of South Dakota,” she said at the time.
Prior to his appointment to Noem’s leadership, Gottumukkala was the senior director of IT for business solutions at Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States.
“I am deeply grateful to Governor Noem for his confidence in me and eager to make a significant impact by promoting innovative and safe technology solutions in our state,” Gottumukkala said at the time.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Gottumukkala for comment.