DHS drops investigation into former acting CISA chief’s failed polygraph exam
DHS drops investigation into former acting CISA chief’s failed polygraph exam
Publish Date: 2026-03-30 08:00:00
Source Domain: www.nextgov.com
The Department of Homeland Security has dropped a probe into seven Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency staffers who were placed on leave after arranging a counterintelligence polygraph exam that the agency’s former acting director failed, according to two DHS officials familiar with the matter.
The investigation was closed about a week ago and the staffers were cleared, one of the officials said. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to communicate details of the non-public investigation.
The move is a major reprieve for CISA staff who arranged the counterintelligence polygraph for then-acting director Madhu Gottumukkala. Gottumukkala failed the polygraph in July 2025, which was needed for access to a highly sensitive intelligence program.
The staff involved were subsequently placed on leave. At least five career CISA staff members and one contractor involved in scheduling or approving the polygraph examinations were impacted, and received letters from DHS Acting Chief Security Officer Michael Boyajian informing them their security clearances were suspended.
The news of the investigation being dropped was first reported by Politico, which also first reported the initial story about the polygraph incident late last year.
“The investigation has concluded, and this matter has been handled internally,” a DHS spokesperson said.
Nextgov/FCW has also asked Gottumukkala for comment.
“We are pleased that the CISA personnel punished by previous DHS and CISA leadership for doing their jobs have been cleared of wrongdoing and invited back to work, as we demanded three months ago,” said a joint statement from Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., top lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee that has jurisdiction over CISA.
“We cannot, and will not, tolerate political leadership punishing career employees for faithfully executing their security mission,” they added. “We thank the…
