The White House has finally revealed the name of the person legally running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing Amy Gleason as the acting administrator of the agency. This move comes after days of uncertainty and obfuscation in courtrooms, the press, and within the pseudo-department itself.

Gleason's appointment was announced by an unnamed White House official to CNBC and other media outlets, and her LinkedIn profile indicates that she previously served in the US Digital Service (which has since been converted to serve DOGE's efforts) and worked for the healthcare investment firm Russell Street Ventures. However, it remains unclear when she was given her current title or whether there are plans for a permanent head of DOGE.

This development is significant because it designates Gleason as a likely target for the ongoing legal challenges over DOGE's access to sensitive data and freezing of government funds. These challenges have been led by numerous state attorneys general and private actors who argue that DOGE is operating illegally. By naming Gleason as the acting administrator, the White House may be attempting to shield Elon Musk, who is widely acknowledged as the de facto leader of DOGE, from legal liability.

Despite the government's insistence that Musk has no formal association with DOGE, he has been repeatedly identified as overseeing the agency's overall operation. This has led to a series of awkward exchanges in courtrooms, including a recent hearing in which a Department of Justice lawyer, Bradley Humphreys, told Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly that he didn't know if anyone led the organization at all.

The government's reluctance to name a formal administrator for DOGE has been a subject of controversy, with critics arguing that it is an attempt to insulate Musk from legal accountability. The agency's access to sensitive data and its freezing of government funds have raised concerns about the potential for abuse of power, and the lack of transparency around its leadership has only added to the uncertainty.

As the legal challenges to DOGE continue to mount, Gleason's appointment as acting administrator may be seen as an attempt to create a buffer between the agency and its de facto leader. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will be enough to quell the concerns of DOGE's critics, or whether it will simply be seen as a further attempt to obscure the agency's leadership and operations.

In the broader context, the controversy surrounding DOGE highlights the ongoing debate around the role of technology in government and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of sensitive data and government funds. As the agency continues to evolve and expand its reach, it is likely that these issues will remain at the forefront of public debate and scrutiny.