Elon Musk Not in Charge of DOGE, Court Filings Reveal

Court documents have clarified that Elon Musk does not hold a leadership position within the United States DOGE Service, contrary to public perceptions.

Recent court filings have shed light on the internal structure of the United States DOGE Service (USDS), revealing that Elon Musk, despite being a high-profile figure associated with the agency, does not hold any formal authority within it. Amy Gleason, the acting administrator of DOGE, stated in a declaration included in a recent court filing that Musk is not an employee of USDS and does not report to her, nor does she report to him. Instead, Musk serves as a Senior Advisor to the White House, a position that does not grant him decision-making power within DOGE.

Gleason, who oversees all employees and detailees at USDS, reports directly to the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. Her role was thrust into the spotlight following President Donald Trump’s executive order in January, which renamed the office from the United States Digital Service to the United States DOGE Service. This executive action also led to the creation of agency-specific DOGE teams tasked with identifying and eliminating overspending within their respective departments.

These revelations come amidst ongoing public and political scrutiny of DOGE’s operations, with the agency claiming to have saved approximately $115 billion in government spending through various cost-cutting measures. President Trump has frequently praised DOGE’s efforts, highlighting specific instances of what he describes as federal waste during public addresses.

However, the agency’s aggressive approach to reducing government expenditure has not been without controversy. Protests led by Democrats and federal employees have targeted DOGE and Musk, accusing them of undermining federal services and jobs. Despite these tensions, the court filings clarify the operational hierarchy of DOGE, emphasizing that Musk’s role is advisory and not executive.