The interim head of the United States’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the agency responsible for protecting government secrets, reportedly uploaded sensitive contracting documents to the public version of ChatGPT after assuming office last summer. According to a Politico report, Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director of CISA, triggered multiple automated security warnings designed to prevent the theft or accidental disclosure of federal information.
The incident is notable because Gottumukkala, an Indian-origin aide to former President Donald Trump, had reportedly obtained special permission from CISA’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to use ChatGPT after joining the agency in May.
All information uploaded to the public ChatGPT platform is shared with OpenAI, the AI tool’s developer, and could potentially be used to answer prompts from other users. ChatGPT reportedly has more than 700 million active users. Meanwhile, the use of ChatGPT was blocked for other Department of Homeland Security employees at the time. Politico reported that Gottumukkala “forced CISA’s hand into making them give him ChatGPT, and then he abused it.”
Sensitive Information Uploaded
While none of the files uploaded by Gottumukkala were classified, they included CISA contracting documents marked “for official use only,” a designation for sensitive information not intended for public release. Cybersecurity sensors flagged the uploads multiple times in August, prompting an internal review to assess any potential impact on government security, though the outcome of the review remains unclear.
CISA’s Director of Public Affairs, Marci McCarthy, told Politico that Gottumukkala “was granted permission to use ChatGPT with DHS controls in place” for “short-term and limited” use. She emphasized the agency’s commitment to “harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to drive government modernization and deliver on” President Trump’s executive order aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in AI.
An internal CISA email appeared to clarify the timeline, stating: “Acting Director Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala last used ChatGPT in mid-July 2025 under an authorized temporary exception granted to some employees. CISA’s security posture remains to block access to ChatGPT by default unless granted an exception.”
Who Is Madhu Gottumukkala
Gottumukkala, of Indian origin, is the senior-most political official at CISA, responsible for securing U.S. government networks against sophisticated cyberattacks from adversarial nations, including Russia and China. He has over 24 years of experience in information technology, holding a PhD in Information Systems from Dakota State University, an MBA in Engineering and Technology Management from the University of Dallas, an MS in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University.
Gottumukkala has served as acting head of CISA since May, when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appointed him as deputy director. Trump’s nominee to lead CISA, DHS special adviser Sean Plankey, was previously blocked over a Coast Guard shipbuilding contract, and no date has been set for his new confirmation hearing. (Agencies)
