Washington: After weeks of avoiding direct answers, the White House has confirmed that Amy Gleason is the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gleason, a former healthcare technology consultant and U.S. Digital Service (USDS) official, has been named to lead the controversial cost-cutting initiative.
The Trump administration had faced mounting pressure to disclose who was officially overseeing DOGE. Earlier this month, the administration stated in a court filing that billionaire Elon Musk, whom President Donald Trump had previously indicated was in charge, had no official authority over the program. Musk’s involvement has become a focal point in legal challenges questioning the legality of DOGE’s actions, particularly concerning its access to sensitive government payment systems.
Gleason, who served in the first Trump administration, has taken on a role that involves liaising with other government agencies. However, it remains unclear whether she was recently appointed or had been serving in the position for some time. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has been a senior adviser since last month. She did not immediately respond to a message sent through the platform.
A former USDS staffer told Reuters that Gleason returned to the agency ahead of Trump’s inauguration to help facilitate the transition. Since Trump’s second term began on January 20, the USDS was rebranded as DOGE and has implemented aggressive downsizing efforts, leading to thousands of job cuts across federal agencies.
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According to an executive order establishing DOGE, the administrator reports directly to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Gleason’s professional background includes experience as an independent consultant, as well as holding leadership roles at a healthcare venture capital firm and a rural healthcare organization.
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Earlier this month, the White House stated in a legal filing that Musk is a White House employee and serves as a senior adviser to the president. The administration clarified that Musk is an unpaid “special government employee,” a designation that denotes a temporary role.
Gleason previously worked at the U.S. Digital Service from 2018 to 2021 before rejoining the administration.
