Amy Gleason Appointed Acting DOGE Leader
The White House has appointed Amy Gleason as the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Gleason brings a background in health care technology and public service to the role. This appointment has drawn attention due to the controversies surrounding DOGE and its association with Elon Musk.
Gleason, 53, previously worked in the United States Digital Service (now renamed the US DOGE Service) from 2018 to 2021. During that time, she assisted in the federal Covid-19 response. She returned to government service in January after President Donald Trump took office.
DOGE has been involved in efforts to encourage federal agencies to cut budgets, decrease the workforce, and cancel contracts. These actions align with the priorities of billionaire Elon Musk, who serves as a senior advisor to Trump on government efficiency. However, the White House has clarified that Musk is not an employee of DOGE.
Before her return to government service, Gleason was Chief Product Officer at the Nashville-based health care startups Russell Street Ventures and Main Street Health. Both companies were founded by former Trump administration official Brad Smith. Additionally, Gleason runs a consulting firm, Gleason Strategies.
Beyond her professional experience, Gleason has been an advocate for juvenile myositis research. This is a rare autoimmune disease that affects her daughter. She has also spoken on the need for technological advancements in healthcare. In a 2020 TED talk, Gleason discussed her frustrations with how the health care system handles such diseases, calling for technology and data changes.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Gleason served as vice president for research at the Cure JM Foundation from 2014 to 2018. She also served as a co-founder and executive at Care Sync, a telehealth company located in Florida.
This appointment has occurred amid some controversy. More than 20 members of the former US Digital Service resigned in protest, accusing Musk of an attempt to “dismantle critical public services.”
