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CISA faces a crisis of leadership as a new No. 2 is appointed but no official top dog steers the nation's lead civilian cyber agency. The appointment comes at a time when CISA navigates budget cuts, brain drain, and growing threats from foreign governments and financially motivated criminals.
CISA faces a crisis of leadership with no official top dog despite appointing Madhu Gottumukkala as deputy director. The agency is navigating a budget crisis, with proposed cuts by the Trump administration that could exacerbate an exodus of top officials. Some employees, including Lauren Pentrack and Mihai P, have resigned or expressed concerns about the DRP program, citing lack of fit and uncertainty about the future. The controversy surrounding CISA's budget cuts and leadership vacuum has sparked debate among lawmakers and security experts. CISA faces criticism for its role in amplifying disinformation and participating in a "censorship industrial complex".
The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is facing a crisis of leadership, with a new No. 2 appointed but still no official top dog to steer the nation's lead civilian cyber agency. The appointment of Madhu Gottumukkala as deputy director marks a significant development in CISA's efforts to address the growing threats to critical infrastructure, budget cuts, and brain drain.
Gottumukkala's background is one of experience in technology and cybersecurity, having served as commissioner and chief information officer for the state of South Dakota's Bureau of Information and Technology. Prior to that, he held a position as South Dakota's second-ever chief technology officer. His appointment comes at a time when CISA faces numerous challenges, including a barrage of threats from foreign governments, financially motivated criminals, and the Trump administration.
The agency is currently navigating a budget crisis, with the Trump administration proposing to slash CISA's budget by $491 million - about 17 percent - as Secretary Kristi Noem vows to "put CISA back on mission" and prevent any overreach. The proposed cuts would exacerbate the exodus already underway, with top officials resigning in recent months.
Lauren Pentrack, an infosec specialist at CISA, recently expressed her struggles with leaving federal service under a voluntary Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), which allows eligible employees to voluntarily resign but still receive pay and benefits through September 30. "I struggled with this decision for a long time," she wrote on LinkedIn, "but ultimately could not risk the looming possibility of a RIF."
The DRP has been widely criticized by former CISA officials, who have spoken out about their concerns regarding the agency's leadership and priorities. Another CISA employee, Mihai P, who took part in the program, expressed his decision to leave as follows: "The DRP seemed like a good deal," he told The Register. "And it just wasn't a good fit for me."
The controversy surrounding CISA's budget cuts has sparked debate among lawmakers and security experts, with some arguing that the agency is essential to defending against threats from China and ignoring Russia while others have expressed concerns about election security interference and disinformation.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) recently stated at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that he couldn't get an answer on how many CISA employees had been fired or pushed out of the agency, citing Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's refusal to disclose the information. The Register asked DHS for a specific headcount but received no response.
In recent weeks, CISA has faced criticism from various quarters, including concerns about censorship and the role of social media companies in amplifying disinformation. The agency has been accused of participating in a "censorship industrial complex" by some lawmakers and security experts.
The controversy surrounding CISA's leadership vacuum highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the agency. As one former official noted, "Cybersecurity is national security," emphasizing the importance of effective communication between government agencies and industry partners.
The future of CISA remains uncertain, with questions surrounding its leadership and priorities. One thing is clear: the agency's ability to address growing threats to critical infrastructure depends on having a strong, effective leader who can navigate complex issues and prioritize cybersecurity in all aspects of their work.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/CISAs-Leadership-Vacuum-A-Crisis-of-Security-and-Governance-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/05/19/cisa_deputy_director_gottumukkala/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/cisa-has-a-new-no-2-but-still-no-official-top-dog/ar-AA1F5jnd
https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/19/cisa_deputy_director_gottumukkala/
Published: Mon May 19 18:48:11 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
