Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

12/21/2025 12:00 PM EST


At least six career staffers at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were suspended with pay this summer after organizing a polygraph test that the agency’s acting director, Madhu Gottumukkala, failed.

The Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into whether the staff provided “false information” about the need for the test — which was scheduled after Gottumukkala sought access to certain highly sensitive cyber intelligence shared with the agency.

This article is based on interviews with eight current and four former U.S. cybersecurity officials, including multiple Trump administration appointees, who have either worked closely with Gottumukkala or have knowledge of the polygraph examination and the chain of events that followed. They were granted anonymity for fear of retribution.

The incident this July and the subsequent fallout — which has not been reported before — have angered career staff, alarmed fellow Trump administration appointees and raised questions about Gottumukkala’s leadership of the nearly $3 billion cyber defense agency.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/21/cisa-acting-director-madhu-gottumukkala-polygraph-investigation-00701996

[yellow dahlia]

1. Of course!

Everything is broken...everything is compromised.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Is this guy a Russian asset?

[yellow dahlia]

3. Good question.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Sounds like a lot of national security people are quitting because of Trump.

Not helping our national security when the well trained and experienced people are leaving.

[yellow dahlia]

6. Exactly. Just more levels of concern.

[NotHardly]

5. Ya think?

[Irish_Dem]

7. I think that is a given with anyone Trump has hired.

[charliea]

10. Well, Homer Simpson would say:

DOH!

My interest would be in what questions were asked and which ones did he fail?
What was the reason for the suspension of the senior staff?
Who ordered the suspension? Secretary Noem's DHS encompasses CISA
IANAL but is that something that a FOIA request could access?

Lastly, to gauge how much of Putin's governing style the current administration has already adopted let's ask the questions: Are all the suspended staff still accounted for? Is Madhu Gottumukkala, the Acting Director, still in charge while he fails a polygraph? This happened in July so did Kristi Noem shield her appointee instead of safeguarding national security?

Bonus question: Kash Patel waved a polygraph for Dan Bongino (soon to return to RWNJ podcasting) and a couple of other senior staff. Will he reinstate the requirement or just declare polygraphs unreliable and a waste of resources?

[iemanja]

8. Lying is a threat to national security

The director is obviously covering something up, but instead they suspend the people who set up the test. Treason is a requirement to work in Trump's regime.

[BOSSHOG]

9. For fear of retribution

Leadership through fear and intimidation. There are no leaders in his administration. In any department. Incompetent individuals who know not where they are going and know not what to do if they get there. Brought to you by the Republican Party and those hoodwinked into voting for them

[reACTIONary]

11. "Lie" detector tests are bullshit...

.... they detect nerviousness, not lies. They should be done away with.

[Ford_Prefect]

12. Madhu Gottumukkala is neither qualified nor competent to run such an agency. A seriously dangerous situation.

Sean Plankey, nominated by Trump, cannot get confirmed and would as bad if not worse. Between Noem, Trump, Gottumukkala, Plankey, along with other Noem appointees and hires, CISA is in very bad shape and represents a critical resource neutered by this administration.