CISA is getting a new acting director after less than a year
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, is getting a new acting director, as ABC reports, less than a year after Madhu Gottumukkala took over the agency as deputy director and acting director in May 2025.
CISA Executive Deputy Director for Cybersecurity Nick Andersen will become the agency’s new acting director, while Gottumkkala will now serve as director of strategic implementation at DHS. The change in leadership comes just a month after reports that Gottumkkala uploaded sensitive documents to ChatGPT. Gottumkkala had requested special permission to use ChatGPT, although AI was prohibited for other DHS employees.
Gottumkkala’s departure follows a downturn at CISA over the past year, as the agency was “gutted out and politicized” by the Trump administration, leading to budget cuts, layoffs and a loss of trust from local leaders. CISA also still does not have a Senate-confirmed director. Trump nominated Sean Plankey for the role last year, then reappointed him in January. Plankey previously served in the first Trump administration.
