#1 out of 16
politics1d ago
Noem refused to fire 'asleep at the wheel' ally fearing it would make her look bad
- Noem delayed firing Gottumukkala, moving him to a new DHS role to avoid political backlash.
- Gottumukkala, once acting director of CISA, faced staff concerns over competence and aggressive contracting cuts.
- Insiders said Gottumukkala alienated staff and fellow Trump appointees with aggressive contracts decisions.
- A staffer was suspended over a provocative gesture toward a Tesla Cybertruck in the parking lot.
- Noem and adviser Corey Lewandowski worried a firing would reflect poorly on her amid immigration crackdown scrutiny.
- Report sources linked the move to political calculations rather than personnel reform.
- Gottumukkala previously led South Dakota's IT operations before joining CISA.
- The piece ties leadership choices to broader DHS immigration and cybersecurity policy tensions.
- Inside accounts attribute the friction to management style and contractor negotiations at CISA.
- The article cites Politico as a source on Gottumukkala’s reassignment and its motivations.
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