US cyber agency chief of Indian origin leaks sensitive data

US Cybersecurity – (Web Desk) – Madhu Gottumukkala, the Indian-origin acting head of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is under investigation after allegedly uploading sensitive government contracting documents to the public version of ChatGPT. While the files were not classified, they carried a “For Official Use Only” label, which indicates information that should not be shared publicly, Gulf News reported.

The incident triggered internal cybersecurity alerts and prompted a review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to a detailed report by Politico, four DHS officials familiar with the case said the uploads set off multiple automated security warnings designed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of government data.

🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING:

U.S. Cyber Agency (CISA) Chief Madhu Gottumukkala an Indian origin reportedly uploaded sensitive U.S. government documents into a public ChatGPT.

Now all those sensitive Internal documents are accessible to the public — a major blow to U.S. security. pic.twitter.com/8jgou0chLZ

— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) January 29, 2026

Gottumukkala, who has been acting CISA director since May 2025, had received a temporary exception from the agency’s Office of the Chief Information Officer to use ChatGPT while exploring artificial intelligence tools. At the time, most DHS employees were blocked from accessing the public platform due to security concerns.

Cybersecurity systems flagged several uploads in August 2025, including multiple alerts during the first week. Following these warnings, senior DHS officials launched an internal review to determine whether the disclosures posed any security risks. The results of that review have not yet been made public.

CISA’s Director of Public Affairs, Marci McCarthy, told Politico that Gottumukkala “was granted permission to use ChatGPT under DHS controls.”

The official added that the use was “short-term and limited”. She said the agency continues to block access to ChatGPT by default unless an exception is approved. The statement also said Gottumukkala last used ChatGPT in mid-July 2025 under an authorised temporary exception.

Information entered into the public version of ChatGPT is shared with OpenAI and may be used to help generate responses for other users. OpenAI has said the tool has more than 700 million total active users.

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By contrast, internal AI systems approved for DHS staff, such as the department’s proprietary chatbot DHSChat, are designed to prevent data from leaving federal networks.

Gottumukkala discussed the uploads with senior DHS officials after the activity was detected, and then-acting general counsel Joseph Mazzara and DHS chief information officer Antoine McCord were involved in reviewing potential risks.

Gottumukkala also met with CISA’s chief information officer Robert Costello and chief counsel Spencer Fisher regarding proper handling of “For Official Use Only” material.

The incident has added to scrutiny of Gottumukkala’s leadership.

It may be noted that at least six career staff were placed on leave after Gottumukkala failed a counterintelligence polygraph exam that he had pressed to take, though DHS described the test as “unsanctioned”.

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During recent congressional testimony, Gottumukkala said he did not “accept the premise” that he had failed the exam.

Gottumukkala is currently the senior-most political official at CISA, the federal agency tasked with defending US government networks and critical infrastructure from sophisticated cyber threats, including those linked to Russia and China.