White House confirms DOGE has an official acting administrator—not Musk
What's the story
The White House has confirmed the appointment of Amy Gleason as the Acting Administrator for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This marks the first official confirmation of who will head this team, which is a part of Elon Musk's advisory group under the Donald Trump administration. Despite Musk's heavy involvement in DOGE, he doesn't have an official leadership role in the team.
Career profile
Gleason's professional background and role in DOGE
As per her LinkedIn profile, Gleason joined the US Digital Service in January 2025, as a Senior Advisor. She previously worked as Chief Product Officer at Russell Street Ventures from December 2021 to November 2024. She was also a digital services expert at the US Digital Service between October 2018 and December 2021. As Acting Administrator of DOGE, Gleason now reports directly to White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles.
Agency operations
DOGE's establishment and access to sensitive data
DOGE was created by an executive order from President Trump on January 20, which also renamed the US Digital Service. The order appointed teams of "special government employees" across federal agencies. Since its inception, associates of Musk with ties to his private businesses have gained extensive access to government systems and sensitive data sets, including personal information of millions of Americans.
Agency scrutiny
Gleason's role and DOGE's legal challenges
A White House official claimed Gleason has been serving as a liaison with other agencies. However, it is still unclear if she was recently appointed or has been in the role for some time. The announcement comes as DOGE faces increased scrutiny over its operations, amid legal challenges from state attorneys general and reports of 21 USDS employees resigning in protest over "significant security risks" created by the agency.