White House officials have confirmed that billionaire Elon Musk is overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) while an acting administrator has been appointed to the role. Amy Gleason, a low-profile executive with expertise in healthcare technology, has been named as the acting leader of DOGE. This department is responsible for streamlining federal agencies and identifying billions of dollars in government waste.
Gleason's identity was revealed after a reporter questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about who is actually running DOGE. President Donald Trump's executive order to create DOGE called for the appointment of a DOGE administrator, prompting the inquiry.
Leavitt explained that Elon Musk has been tasked with overseeing the DOGE effort, with career officials and political appointees assisting in the day-to-day operations of the department. Political appointees have been onboarded at various agencies to collaborate with President Trump's Cabinet in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse.
Gleason, aged 53, previously worked at the United States Digital Service from 2018 to 2021, an agency that has since been renamed the US DOGE Service. During her tenure, she collaborated with the White House on the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Following Trump's return to office in January, Gleason rejoined the agency to continue her work.
