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Hand-picked by Noem, so yeah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu_Gottumukkala https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu_Gottumukkala > In April 2025, secretary of

by ceejayoz 10mo ago

Hand-picked by Noem, so yeah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu_Gottumukkala https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu_Gottumukkala > In April 2025, secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem named Gottumukkala as the deputy director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; he began serving in the position on May 16. That month, Gottumukkala told personnel at the agency that much of its leadership was resigning and that he would serve as its acting director beginning on May 30.

lm28469 10mo ago
> Gottumukkala had requested to see access to a controlled access program—an act that would require taking a polygraph Are the US ok? It's 2026 not 1926
- ceejayoz 10mo ago
  The Feds love polygraphs. Still very much in active use.
- htek 10mo ago
  The polygraph is still used for security vetting, today. No word on whether they still read a lamb's entrails for portents or consult the dead with a Ouija board.
  - rbanffy 10mo ago
    > No word on whether they still read a lamb's entrails for portents or consult the dead with a Ouija board. Don’t give RFK Jr ideas.
- tremon 10mo ago
  It's actually a few minutes to 1929, so that checks out.
  - rbanffy 10mo ago
    Feels like 1935
- jabroni_salad 10mo ago
  These days I think that thing's main purpose is to bounce people who would otherwise request access that they don't really need. If it isn't worth sitting down for the machine you don't really need it.
  - Jach 10mo ago
    > Gottumukkala failed the polygraph in the final weeks of July. The Department of Homeland Security began investigating the circumstances surrounding the polygraph test the following month and suspended six career staffers, telling them that the polygraph did not need to be administered. This is pretty insane though.
pstuart 10mo ago
This is what you get when you prize personal loyalty over competence. This issue is the one thing that gives me some hope that they can be ousted -- they are collectively too stupid and motivated only by their self interests to hold their power indefinitely.
- rbanffy 10mo ago
  Does anyone in this administration actually trusts each other’s personal loyalties? I wouldn’t.
Terr_ 10mo ago
More context is that he was promoted under Noem in her old job too, just before the Presidential election. > On Tuesday, Gov. Kristi Noem announced Gottumukkala's appointment as CIO. In a statement, she said he will prioritize the state’s citizens, their data and government service delivery. https://www.govtech.com/workforce/south-dakota-governor-appoints-new-cto-to-serve-as-cio https://www.govtech.com/workforce/south-dakota-governor-appo...

lm28469 10mo ago

> Gottumukkala had requested to see access to a controlled access program—an act that would require taking a polygraph Are the US ok? It's 2026 not 1926

ceejayoz 10mo ago
The Feds love polygraphs. Still very much in active use.
htek 10mo ago
The polygraph is still used for security vetting, today. No word on whether they still read a lamb's entrails for portents or consult the dead with a Ouija board.
- rbanffy 10mo ago
  > No word on whether they still read a lamb's entrails for portents or consult the dead with a Ouija board. Don’t give RFK Jr ideas.
tremon 10mo ago
It's actually a few minutes to 1929, so that checks out.
- rbanffy 10mo ago
  Feels like 1935
jabroni_salad 10mo ago
These days I think that thing's main purpose is to bounce people who would otherwise request access that they don't really need. If it isn't worth sitting down for the machine you don't really need it.
- Jach 10mo ago
  > Gottumukkala failed the polygraph in the final weeks of July. The Department of Homeland Security began investigating the circumstances surrounding the polygraph test the following month and suspended six career staffers, telling them that the polygraph did not need to be administered. This is pretty insane though.

pstuart 10mo ago

This is what you get when you prize personal loyalty over competence. This issue is the one thing that gives me some hope that they can be ousted -- they are collectively too stupid and motivated only by their self interests to hold their power indefinitely.

rbanffy 10mo ago
Does anyone in this administration actually trusts each other’s personal loyalties? I wouldn’t.

Terr_ 10mo ago

More context is that he was promoted under Noem in her old job too, just before the Presidential election. > On Tuesday, Gov. Kristi Noem announced Gottumukkala's appointment as CIO. In a statement, she said he will prioritize the state’s citizens, their data and government service delivery. https://www.govtech.com/workforce/south-dakota-governor-appoints-new-cto-to-serve-as-cio https://www.govtech.com/workforce/south-dakota-governor-appo...