The White House has named Amy Gleason as the acting leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gleason, a low-profile executive with a background in health care technology, previously served during the first Trump administration. Her appointment comes as DOGE continues its efforts to streamline government operations by pushing agencies to fire employees, cancel contracts, and implement budget cuts.
Despite speculation, the White House clarified that billionaire Elon Musk is not an employee of DOGE but serves as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump. Prior uncertainty surrounded the leadership of DOGE, even after an executive order by Trump called for the appointment of an administrator. Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had refrained from identifying the person in charge, noting that both career officials and political appointees were involved in managing DOGE.
Amy Gleason, 53, boasts an impressive resume, including a stint from 2018 to 2021 at the United States Digital Service, now known as the US DOGE Service. During this period, she collaborated with the White House on the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Gleason rejoined the agency in January after Trump's return to office. However, both DOGE and Gleason have not responded to inquiries for comments.
Following Gleason's appointment, more than 20 members of the former digital service resigned, openly criticizing Musk's involvement in dismantling vital public services. This mass resignation highlights the tension and controversy surrounding the DOGE initiative.
In the interim period, Gleason worked as the "chief product officer" at two Nashville-based healthcare startups: Russell Street Ventures and Main Street Health. Both companies, founded by health care entrepreneur Brad Smith, focus on serving underserved patient populations and providing data-driven support to rural primary care physicians.
Gleason's biography was recently removed from Main Street Health's website, but archived records show her significant contributions to federal COVID-19 response efforts and collaborations with agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Amy Gleason is also known for her advocacy work in curing juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease affecting her daughter. She has shared insights on the healthcare system's shortcomings in a 2020 TED talk, emphasizing the need for technological advancements. Gleason's professional journey includes roles such as vice president for research at the Cure JM Foundation and co-founding the telehealth company Care Sync.
Beyond her professional roles, Gleason runs a consulting firm, Gleason Strategies, further showcasing her dedication to improving the healthcare sector.
Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa.
