Trump’s Indian-Origin Acting Cyber Defence Chief Uploaded Sensitive Files To ChatGPT: Report

Gottumukkala, as the acting director of CISA, had requested the agency's Office of the Chief Information Officer for special permission to use OpenAI's popular AI tool - ChatGPT, Politico reported. He reportedly made the request soon after arriving at the cyber defence agency in May 2025, three officials from the Department of Homeland Security were cited as saying.

At the time of Gottumukkala's request, the use of the AI app was blocked for other DHS employees.

The DHS officials stated that none of the files uploaded by the acting chief were classified, but that they comprised CISA contracting documents that were "for official use only" -- information that is sensitive and not for public release.

The uploads were reportedly flagged by CISA's cybersecurity sensors last August, with multiple such warnings being observed in the month's first week alone.