DOGE chain of command revealed in court filing, showing Musk is not the boss

The acting administrator of the United States DOGE Service, Amy Gleason, recently clarified in a court filing that Elon Musk is not an employee of the agency and does not report to her. Gleason emphasized that Musk is actually a Senior Advisor to the White House, rather than a member of the DOGE service.

In her declaration included in the court filing, Gleason stated, “Elon Musk does not work at USDS. I do not report to him, and he does not report to me. To my knowledge, he is a Senior Advisor to the White House.” This statement sheds light on the internal workings of the office and dispels any misconceptions about Musk’s role within the agency.

Despite Musk being the public face of DOGE for months, Gleason made it clear that he does not possess any actual or formal authority to make government decisions. He is working in an advisory capacity to the President, as confirmed by a White House official in a separate court filing earlier this year.

Gleason, who was recently identified as the acting chief of DOGE, provided further insight into the operations of the government office in her declaration. She explained that she oversees all employees and detailees at USDS and reports directly to the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles.

In addition to managing USDS, Gleason also oversees the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, which was established by President Trump in January and is set to expire in 2026. Under Trump’s executive order, agency chiefs were tasked with creating their own DOGE teams to identify and eliminate overspending within their respective agencies.

Members of agency DOGE teams consist of agency employees or detailees who do not report to Gleason or anyone else at USDS. These teams are supervised by the agency heads or their designees. Gleason clarified that USDS detailees assigned to agency DOGE teams are supervised by personnel from the agency to which they are detailed.

Gleason, described by former colleagues as “world-class talent,” is known for her dedication and apolitical approach to her work. DOGE, under her leadership, has saved an estimated $115 billion in government spending through various cost-cutting measures and initiatives.

Despite the significant savings achieved by DOGE, the agency has faced backlash from Democrats and federal employees who have criticized the mass terminations and investigations carried out under Trump’s administration. Protests have been staged outside federal buildings, with some specifically targeting Musk for his involvement with DOGE.

Overall, Gleason’s declaration provides valuable insight into the organizational structure and operations of the United States DOGE Service, clarifying misconceptions and highlighting the agency’s efforts to reduce government overspending.