Madhu Gottumukkala failed polygraph test, then the bizarre move that shocked CISA insiders

Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), failed a polygraph examination in July 2025. Now, at least six career staff members face suspension after organizing the very test that Gottumukkala could not pass. The controversial case has sparked outrage among federal cybersecurity officials and raised serious questions about leadership accountability.

CISA Director’s Failed Polygraph Triggers Internal Investigation

In July 2025, Gottumukkala sought access to controlled access program materials — among the most sensitive intelligence shared with CISA by another U.S. spy agency. These materials required a counter-intelligence polygraph examination before viewing, according to multiple current and former cybersecurity officials interviewed by Politico.

Despite multiple advisers suggesting he did not need the access, and that lesser-classified versions of the materials were available without a polygraph, Gottumukkala persisted. He believed passing the test would not be difficult, according to current officials. Senior CISA staff had even declined to take the same polygraph in previous years, viewing it as unnecessary for their roles.

Staff Suspended After Organizing Required Test

The situation escalated dramatically after Gottumukkala failed the examination. On August 1, 2025, six CISA career staff members received letters from the DHS chief security officer stating they provided “false information” about the polygraph’s necessity. The six suspended officials included Jeffery Conklin (CISA’s chief security officer), Masoom Chaudhary (deputy chief of staff), Scott McCarthy (former acting chief security officer), Adam Bachman, Stacey Wrin, and Brian Dōne.

Three days later, on August 4, these same staffers were placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation. The message was clear: the people who executed proper security protocols faced consequences, while the official who failed the test did not.

Staff Member	Position	Status
Jeffery Conklin	Chief Security Officer	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4
Masoom Chaudhary	Deputy Chief of Staff	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4
Scott McCarthy	Former Acting Chief Security Officer	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4
Adam Bachman	Action Officer	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4
Stacey Wrin	Contractor, Security Office	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4
Brian Dōne	Intelligence Division Official	Put on administrative leave, Aug 4

DHS Says Test Was “Unsanctioned,” But Officials Cry Foul

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed that Gottumukkala “did not fail a sanctioned polygraph test.” Instead, she characterized the examination as “unsanctioned” because it was “coordinated by staff” rather than authorized by leadership with proper authority. She argued that “random bureaucrats can’t just order a polygraph. Polygraph orders have to come from leadership.”

“Instead of taking ownership and saying, ‘Hey, I screwed up,’ he gets other people blamed and potentially ruins their careers.”

— A Current CISA Official

However, current and former officials told Politico the DHS explanation is “comical.” One official noted that in any agency, the official taking the polygraph must sign off on their own request. “No action officer or assistant signs for their principal to go to a polygraph without them knowing,” the official stated. Another current CISA official bluntly said: “He ultimately chose to sit for this polygraph. There is only one person to blame for that.“

What Happened Before the Test Reveals the Real Story

According to Politico’s reporting, a senior CISA official initially rejected Gottumukkala’s first request for access in June 2025, determining there was no “urgent need-to-know” for him to view the classified materials. The official noted that even the agency’s previous deputy director had declined to access these same programs. Additionally, only a limited number of staff are authorized to review the program — a choice traditionally reserved for the Senate-confirmed director.

That senior official was placed on administrative leave in late June for reasons unrelated to the polygraph. Once removed from the decision-making role, a second access request signed by Gottumukkala himself was approved in early July. Current officials said other senior leaders had advised Gottumukkala that less-classified versions of the intelligence were available without requiring a polygraph, but he continued to push forward anyway.

Are Failed Polygraphs a National Security Concern?

A critical question remains unanswered: Should the CISA workforce be concerned that their acting director failed a counter-intelligence polygraph? Polygraphs are used throughout the nation’s intelligence community and the Pentagon to identify individuals with foreign connections or personal vulnerabilities that could endanger national security. Multiple officials raised alarm about this apparent contradiction.

“How is failing a polygraph not a concern when he’s supposed to be leading a national security agency?”

— A Fifth Current Official

Officials emphasized that polygraph failures can result from various factors — anxiety, technical errors, or other innocuous reasons. However, the concerning aspect is that Gottumukkala faced no apparent scrutiny from DHS following the failed test, despite holding access to CISA’s vast repository of sensitive cyber data. Instead, the focus shifted entirely to disciplining the staff who organized the screening.

What This Signals About Agency Morale and Stability Heading Forward?

CISA faces extraordinary instability. The agency has lacked a permanent, Senate-confirmed director since January 2025 when former Director Jen Easterly departed at the start of the Trump administration. Nearly a third of CISA’s workforce has departed since January, including many through reduction-in-force notices and voluntary resignations. Current officials describe working conditions as dire, with one telling Politico, “We’re a sinking ship. We’re like the Titanic.“

Gottumukkala, a former South Dakota IT official appointed as deputy director in May by new DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, now serves as acting head. Trump’s pick to lead the agency, Sean Plankey, remains awaiting Senate confirmation. If not confirmed soon, Gottumukkala could remain in the role indefinitely — a prospect that deeply worries cybersecurity professionals who question his judgment and accountability standards.