DOGE Chain of Command Revealed in Court Filing, Showing Musk is Not the Boss

The internal workings of the United States DOGE Service (USDS) are now a little less mysterious. A recent court filing has revealed that Elon Musk, often seen as the face of DOGE, is not an employee of the agency nor does he report to its acting chief. According to the filing, Musk serves as a Senior Advisor to the White House, not as a direct leader of DOGE.

Amy Gleason, the acting administrator of DOGE, clarified in her court declaration, "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." So, while Musk's name might be synonymous with DOGE's public image, the reins of authority remain elsewhere.

Despite Musk’s prominent role in promoting DOGE’s cost-cutting initiatives, including slashing federal overspending and fraud, the filing also emphasized that he has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself." He works solely as an advisor, leaving the actual decision-making to a chain of command that begins with the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles.

Gleason, previously a member of the United States Digital Service created under President Obama, now oversees the renamed USDS and its newly established DOGE service. Under her leadership, DOGE teams have been tasked with identifying and eliminating overspending in various government agencies. These teams, however, report to their respective agency heads and not to Gleason, further showcasing how decentralized the initiative is.

Since its inception, DOGE has reportedly saved $115 billion through workforce reductions, contract cancellations, and other cost-cutting measures. President Trump has enthusiastically praised DOGE's efforts in public speeches, often detailing examples of terminated federal grants that he deemed wasteful. And yes, his list of slashed expenditures included bizarre items like $8 million for transgender mice research—because apparently, that's a line item in someone's budget somewhere.

While Republicans laud DOGE’s accomplishments, its operations have sparked significant backlash, especially from Democrats and federal employees. Protests have erupted in Washington, D.C., and critics have singled out Musk for his involvement, despite his limited official role. Still, Musk’s star power undoubtedly gives DOGE an outsized spotlight, whether you love it or hate it.

As Amy Gleason continues to quietly lead DOGE’s behind-the-scenes work, her reputation as a "world-class talent" and apolitical administrator has been noted by her colleagues. Perhaps DOGE’s success lies not in its celebrity connections but in the grind of people like Gleason who are working long hours to make it all happen.