Controversy Erupts Over AI Use by Acting U.S. Cybersecurity Head

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Washington: The senior official temporarily leading the United States’ cybersecurity agency has drawn intense scrutiny after reportedly submitting sensitive federal documents into a publicly accessible version of ChatGPT, according to multiple news outlets.

 Madhu Gottumukkala, the Indian-origin acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) the federal body charged with defending government networks is at the centre of the controversy. The materials he uploaded last summer were marked “for official use only”, a designation that signals restricted access due to sensitivity, even if not formally classified.

The incident was flagged by internal security systems, prompting a review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to determine whether the disclosures posed any risk to national cyber defences. The use of ChatGPT had been blocked for most Department of Homeland Security employees at the time, but Gottumukkala had been granted special access soon after assuming his role in May 2025.

Government officials and cybersecurity experts have raised concerns because content uploaded to the public version of ChatGPT can be processed by its owner, OpenAI, and potentially influence responses given to other users. With hundreds of millions of active users worldwide, this raised questions about the prudence of placing sensitive documents into such an environment.

CISA spokesperson Marci McCarthy said in a statement that Gottumukkala was allowed to use ChatGPT under controlled terms and for a limited period, and that the agency remains committed to balancing technological innovation with secure operations. However, the exact findings of the internal review have not been publicly disclosed.

The episode adds to ongoing debates in Washington over how federal officials should engage with powerful artificial intelligence tools while safeguarding government information. As agencies increasingly explore AI for efficiency, the incident underscores the challenges of managing sensitive data in an era of rapid technological change.