The acting director of CISA, Madhu Gottumukkala, approved a management-directed reassignment for CIO Robert Costello last Thursday, but other senior DHS political appointees objected and DHS headquarters halted the move by Friday. The dispute follows internal concerns about Gottumukkala’s handling of a failed July polygraph that led to paid suspensions, and it highlights wider morale worries after roughly one-third of CISA staff left in the past year. Officials said the reassignment reflected tensions over policy and contracting, and all sources praised Costello’s technical expertise and integrity.
Acting CISA Director’s Attempt To Reassign CIO Robert Costello Halted After DHS Appointees Object
The acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) moved last Thursday to reassign the agency’s chief information officer, Robert Costello, but the effort was blocked after other senior political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raised objections, according to three officials with knowledge of the matter.
What Happened
Officials said Costello received a management-directed reassignment late last Thursday, giving him roughly one week to accept a transfer to another DHS component or to resign. The decision reportedly had direct approval from acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala. Other senior political appointees — who were not notified in advance — reacted strongly and pressed DHS headquarters to pause the reassignment. By Friday, DHS headquarters had paused and then fully stopped the move, the officials said. All three sources spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of retaliation.
Context And Internal Friction
The episode unfolded amid broader concerns at CISA about Gottumukkala’s judgment after his handling of a failed polygraph exam in July, which POLITICO first reported. DHS described the exam as "unsanctioned," and at least six career employees involved in arranging the test were placed on paid administrative leave afterward. Some career staff and fellow political appointees had expressed alarm over that incident.
Two of the officials said friction between Costello and Gottumukkala stemmed from repeated policy disagreements, and two cited disputes over contracting decisions. All three officials praised Costello’s integrity and performance and described him as one of CISA’s leading technical experts.
Staffing Concerns
A former senior DHS official familiar with the fallout said the attempted reassignment alarmed staff because Costello is seen as one of the agency’s top remaining technical talents. The source noted that roughly 1,000 employees — about one-third of CISA’s workforce — have left the agency in the past year amid workforce changes under the current administration, intensifying concerns about institutional knowledge loss and morale.
In a statement, Marci McCarthy, CISA’s Director for Public Affairs, said senior personnel decisions are made at the highest levels of DHS headquarters and are not made “in a vacuum, independently by one individual, or on a whim.” She added that CISA is committed to transparency, accountability, and high standards of leadership, and encouraged caution about reporting based on "inaccurate or incomplete information" from disgruntled staff.
Background On Robert Costello
Costello, an Air Force veteran, previously held senior IT roles at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He has served as CISA’s CIO for more than four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Costello, Nick Anderson (CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity), and Gottumukkala did not respond to requests for comment.
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