DHS Disputes Report on Cybersecurity Official’s Polygraph
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is challenging reports that Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), failed a lie detector test. This comes after questions arose about his access to very private information and an internal review.
Some news reports claim Gottumukkala wanted access to a special intelligence program. This program requires a lie detector test to check if someone might be a security risk. It’s also been said that several CISA staff members were put on leave because they supposedly misled leaders about this requirement.
DHS strongly disagrees with these claims. They say the lie detector test in question wasn’t approved. They also state that any actions taken against staff followed the rules.
A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, said that Gottumukkala did not fail an authorized lie detector test. She added that the employees were put on leave while an investigation takes place.
McLaughlin emphasized that DHS expects high standards from its employees and holds them responsible for following policies. She also said that the Secretary of DHS fully supports Gottumukkala in his work to focus the agency on its main goals.
Reports also said that Gottumukkala failed a lie detector test in July. The test was to see if he could access a sensitive intelligence program shared with CISA by another U.S. agency.
This intelligence program has strict rules about who can see it. The agency providing the information requires CISA staff to pass a lie detector test before getting access.
Most CISA employees don’t need access to such highly private information or a lie detector test to get hired. However, these tests are common in the Pentagon and intelligence community to protect important government secrets.
It’s been reported that some staff members questioned whether Gottumukkala needed access to the intelligence. But he kept pushing for it, even if it meant taking a lie detector test.
One report claims that an initial request for access was turned down because it wasn’t seen as urgent. Later, after a change in staff, a second request signed by Gottumukkala was approved.
Despite being told that access to the sensitive material wasn’t essential for his job, Gottumukkala continued to seek it, according to reports.
Officials have cautioned that failing a lie detector test doesn’t always mean someone is untrustworthy. It could be due to things like worry or technical problems. Lie detector test results are not usually allowed as evidence in court.
Shortly after the lie detector test, some staff members involved in scheduling it were told their access to classified information was suspended. This was because they might have given false information to Gottumukkala about the need for the test. These employees were later placed on paid leave while an investigation is conducted.
Gottumukkala was made CISA’s deputy director in May. Before that, he worked for South Dakota’s government, overseeing technology and cybersecurity efforts. CISA has said that Gottumukkala has many years of experience in technology and cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.
