Amy Gleason has been appointed as the acting administrator of the US DOGE Service, the agency responsible for housing the temporary Department of Government Efficiency. This announcement was made by a White House official to CNN on Tuesday, after weeks of speculation regarding Elon Musk's role and authority over DOGE.
Gleason brings a wealth of experience from her background in health care and her previous work at the US Digital Service, an office established by President Barack Obama and most recently linked to DOGE. Her role with DOGE was initially reported by the Washington Examiner. Additionally, she contributed during President Donald Trump's first term, including a position on the White House Coronavirus Task Force's data team, led by Dr. Deborah Birx, due to her strong technology background.
Despite pledges of full transparency, the White House has struggled to identify the administrator of DOGE publicly, even during Tuesday's press briefing. While Elon Musk has been the initiative's public face and has issued social-media directives to government workers, the White House maintains that his status is that of a special government employee, rather than a full-time worker.
"So, the president tasked Elon Musk to oversee the DOGE effort," stated Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier on Tuesday when questioned about the administration of the initiative. "There are career officials and political appointees who are helping run DOGE on a day-to-day basis."
During a court appearance on Monday, Justice Department attorneys faced intense questioning about the identity of the administrator but were unable to provide a definitive answer. "Who’s involved? Who’s in charge? Who’s giving them direction?" asked Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly as the hearing examined DOGE's access to sensitive data systems at the Treasury Department.
Judges, including Kollar-Kotelly, have expressed concerns about the lack of clarity regarding DOGE's structure, which they believe impedes their ability to resolve emergency disputes. There are potential constitutional issues raised, depending on the chain of command at DOGE and those responsible for the significant decisions impacting federal government operations in recent weeks.
The White House official did not disclose the duration of Gleason's tenure as the acting administrator. This evolving situation continues to attract attention as stakeholders seek transparency and clarity in the management and decision-making processes within DOGE.
CNN’s Michael Williams contributed to this report.
