The White House has confirmed that Amy Gleason is serving as the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a newly created agency established by President Donald Trump through executive order in January.
A White House official stated that Gleason, a former senior adviser with the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), is now leading the agency, which was designed to streamline government operations and reduce inefficiencies.
Clarifying Leadership and Elon Musk’s Role
Speculation regarding DOGE’s leadership arose after a court filing revealed that Elon Musk, despite being widely reported as spearheading the department’s cost-cutting initiatives, is not officially a part of the agency.
Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, clarified that Musk is an employee of the White House Office, where he serves as a senior adviser to the president.
Who is Amy Gleason?
According to her LinkedIn profile, Gleason has been a senior adviser at USDS since January 2025. The agency, originally created during the Obama administration to modernize government technology, was rebranded as the U.S. DOGE Service following Trump’s inauguration.
Before joining the government, Gleason had an extensive background in healthcare technology. She was previously a digital services expert at USDS from 2018 to 2021, working under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
An archived White House biography states that she began her career in nursing before transitioning into technology-focused roles. Her work in digitizing medical records earned her recognition as a “Champion of Change” under the Obama administration.
Prior to working in government, she served as vice president of research at the Cure JM Foundation for nearly five years. She also co-founded CareSync, where she held executive roles as chief operating officer and chief strategy officer.
DOGE’s Controversial Actions
Established by executive order, DOGE’s mission is to eliminate unnecessary regulations, cut federal spending, and restructure government agencies. However, the department’s methods have raised concerns among government employees and watchdog groups.
On Tuesday, more than 20 federal employees resigned from a department absorbed by DOGE, stating they refused to participate in actions that could endanger sensitive data or disrupt essential services.
DOGE officials have reportedly been auditing federal agency budgets and gaining access to internal computer systems.
Access to Sensitive Government Data
Recent reports suggest DOGE has obtained access to highly sensitive government information.
- The Associated Press reported that DOGE accessed Treasury Department data, including Social Security systems.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that DOGE agents had entered their systems earlier this month.
- New York Magazine reported that DOGE personnel visited the Commerce Department’s Maryland headquarters, where they accessed IT systems.
- DOGE allegedly took over the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) funding, removed leadership, and restricted employee access to classified materials.
While the White House maintains that DOGE is working to improve government efficiency, critics argue that the agency’s actions raise serious concerns about oversight, data security, and accountability .
