Washington, D.C. – After weeks of speculation, the Trump administration has officially named Amy Gleason as the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—but her location has raised eyebrows.
When CBS News reached out to Gleason, she confirmed she was in Mexico but declined to comment further.
Key Takeaways:
- Amy Gleason is now officially leading DOGE, according to a White House official.
- The announcement came hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to name DOGE’s leader at a press briefing.
- Elon Musk “has no actual or formal authority” at DOGE, according to a federal court filing.
- Chris Hayes (MSNBC) criticized the fact that DOGE’s administrator is abroad while the department carries out mass layoffs.
Chris Hayes’ Reaction:
“The administrator of the crew that’s firing employees willy-nilly—people who do cancer research, care for veterans, and manage national parks—is taking a vacation in Mexico???”
Who is Amy Gleason?
Gleason’s Background:
- Senior Adviser at U.S. Digital Services (USDS).
- Expert in healthcare technology & IT consulting.
- Former Vice President for Research at Cure JM Foundation.
- Co-founder & former COO of CareSync, a healthcare data management company.
- Recognized by the Obama administration as a “Champion of Change” for her work in digitizing medical records.
Why Was There Confusion About DOGE’s Leadership?
- For weeks, the White House refused to confirm DOGE’s leadership.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dodged questions about who was running DOGE.
- Federal filings later stated Musk has no formal decision-making authority at DOGE, despite his high-profile involvement.
Criticism Over Gleason’s Absence
Why Is DOGE’s Leader in Mexico?
- Gleason has only been in office for a month and was already out of the country when CBS News reached her.
- Critics say her absence raises concerns about DOGE’s operations, especially as it oversees mass layoffs and budget cuts.
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on DOGE’s Turmoil:
“Why couldn’t the White House say her name earlier today? Why is she in Mexico? What is going on??”
