The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has appointed Amy Gleason as its acting administrator. Gleason, a seasoned executive with expertise in health care technology, previously worked in the first Trump administration. DOGE has been actively advocating for budget cuts within government agencies, a move supported by entrepreneur Elon Musk and his associates.
Despite Musk's involvement, the White House clarified that he is serving as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and not as a DOGE employee. The appointment of an administrator for DOGE was mandated by an executive order signed by Trump last month, leading to speculation about who would fill the role.
Gleason, aged 53, has a background in the United States Digital Service, now known as the US DOGE Service, where she collaborated with the White House on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She rejoined the agency in January after Trump's re-election. Gleason's recent roles include serving as the chief product officer at two health care startups based in Nashville.
Her work at Russell Street Ventures and Main Street Health, both founded by health care entrepreneur Brad Smith, focused on innovative health care solutions for underserved populations. Russell Street Ventures aimed to launch and scale companies catering to vulnerable patient groups, while Main Street Health supported primary care physicians in rural areas with data-driven strategies for value-based care.
Gleason's professional portfolio also includes Gleason Strategies, a consulting firm. Beyond her career, Gleason is an advocate for juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease affecting children, including her own daughter. She has spoken at TED events about improving health care systems through technology and data enhancements.
Prior to her current roles, Gleason held positions at the Cure JM Foundation and was involved in the founding of Care Sync, a telehealth company based in Florida. Her diverse background underscores her commitment to leveraging technology for positive health care outcomes.
