INTERNACIONAL
Who will be Elon’s successor? The top names in line for DOGE chief
With Elon Musk leaving his role at the White House as head of the Department of Government Efficiency and President Donald Trump saying DOGE’s work will continue, the question now in Washington is who will take the reins to become Musk’s successor.
Musk, who has led Trump’s waste-cutting task force from Inauguration Day until now, announced his departure in an X post this week, saying: «As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,»
Musk said the DOGE mission «will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.»
So, who will take Musk’s place? Right now, no one.
A senior White House official previously told Fox News Digital that «the DOGE employees at their respective agency or department will be reporting to and executing the agenda of the president through the leadership of each agency or department head.»
‘AMERICAN HERO’ OR ‘FAILURE’: ELON MUSK’S DOGE DEPARTURE DIVIDES CAPITOL HILL
With Elon Musk leaving his role at the White House as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, and President Donald Trump saying DOGE’s work will continue, the question now is: Who will take the reins to become Musk’s successor?
The official said DOGE is now part of the «DNA» of the federal government, and that it will keep operating as it already has.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that «the DOGE leaders are each and every member of the president’s cabinet and the president himself, who is wholeheartedly committed to cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government.»
These statements cast doubt on whether any singular individual will succeed Musk as the DOGE chief. However, if Trump finds a DOGE successor necessary and decides to shift gears, who could fill Musk’s shoes?
Amy Gleason
While Musk was never an official federal employee, Amy Gleason, a little-known government employee who also worked in the first Trump administration, has been serving as the official acting chief of the United States DOGE Service (USDS) since February.
DOGE STAFFING SHAKEUP AS ELON MUSK HANGS UP HIS HAT, WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMS
Amy Gleason has been serving as DOGE administrator. (Amy Gleason LinkedIn/Getty)
If the president decides to steer clear of any public-facing DOGE chief, it seems likely that he will keep Gleason on as a more behind-the-scenes DOGE leader at USDS.
Gleason, 53, is a career official who was recognized by the Obama administration as a «champion of change» for her work with several nonprofits researching and raising awareness about a rare autoimmune disorder known as Juvenile Myositis. Gleason previously worked in the first Trump administration in what was then called the U.S. Digital Service before leaving to work at Russell Street Ventures, which was founded by Brad Smith, another DOGE leader.
Keeping Gleason on as DOGE chief would allow the president to keep the agency’s efforts alive while following the structure of each cabinet head leading their own waste-cutting programs.
Russell Vought
As director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought has already been a central figure in DOGE’s waste-cutting efforts.
STATE DEPT SAYS DOGE’S CHANGES WILL BE PERMANENT AMID MUSK’S DEPARTURE
Then President Donald Trump’s nominee for Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is sworn in during the Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing in the Dirksen Senate Building on January 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vought already has plans to continue Musk’s efforts, even in his current role as OMB head. Vought is a close ally of Trump and a much more subdued personality than Musk, making him appear as a likely pick to take over DOGE.
However, Vought does come with his own political baggage, with many on the left labeling him a «Christian nationalist» and criticizing his role as a co-author of Project 2025. Still, he was successfully confirmed by the Senate in his current role as OMB director.
Vivek Ramaswamy
A one-time GOP presidential candidate-turned key Trump ally, Vivek Ramaswamy, has been widely reported as a top contender to replace Musk at the helm of DOGE. Ramaswamy co-led DOGE alongside Musk for a short period at the start of Trump’s second term. However, he stepped down from his DOGE leadership role in February to begin his run for Ohio governor.
Vivek Ramaswamy speaks before Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage at the campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024, in New York City. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Though Ramaswamy shares Musk’s and Trump’s vision for cutting government waste, it would seem unlikely he would rejoin the DOGE team any time soon with his eyes on winning the keys to the Ohio governor’s mansion in 2026.
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Elon Musk,DOGE,White House,Donald Trump,Karoline Leavitt
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Some U.S. military personnel have been told to leave bases in the Middle East, Fox News has learned.
The order comes amid widespread protests in Iran and threats to intervene from President Donald Trump. Qatar’s government confirmed that some U.S. personnel had departed from the Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military base in the Middle East.
Qatar’s International Media Office said the steps were part of broader efforts to safeguard the security of citizens and residents and to protect critical infrastructure and military facilities, adding that any further developments would be announced through official channels.
Trump said on Tuesday that he cut off meetings with the Iranian regime, saying there would be no contact until the government stops killing protesters. He also urged the Iranian people to «take over» the country.
LIZ PEEK: TRUMP IS PUTTING AMERICA FIRST BY BACKING IRAN INTO A CORNER
Some U.S. military personnel have been told to leave military bases in the Middle East. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
«Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!» Trump wrote on Truth Social. «Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.»
«I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,» he added.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. may intervene against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime, but he has not offered details of any plans.
NETANYAHU AND RUBIO DISCUSS US MILITARY INTERVENTION IN IRAN AMID ONGOING NATIONWIDE PROTESTS: REPORT
Reports say Iranian authorities have killed more than 2,500 people, though the actual total could be much higher.
People gather during a protest on January 8, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. Demonstrations have been ongoing since December, triggered by soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, and have expanded into broader demands for political change. (Anonymous/Getty Images)
The White House confirmed on Monday that Trump was weighing whether to bomb Iran in reaction to the crackdown.
IRAN’S ‘DISTINCTIVE’ DRONE DEPLOYMENT SEES DEATH TOLL SOAR AMID VIOLENT PROTESTS
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that diplomacy remains Trump’s first option, but that the president «has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary.»
«He certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran. And unfortunately that’s something we are seeing right now,» she added.
President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene against the Iranian regime. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Iranian authorities have used deadly force against anti-regime protesters and have cut off public internet access in an effort to stop images and video from spreading across the globe.
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The protests represent the highest level of unrest Iran has seen since nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of morality police in 2022.
Reuters contributed to this report.
middle east,iran,world
INTERNACIONAL
Tensión máxima en Medio Oriente: EE.UU. evacúa a militares de su base en Qatar tras amenazas de Irán
Parte del personal en la base aérea de Al Udeid, el principal enclave militar de Estados Unidos en Qatar, recibió órdenes de evacuar antes del miércoles a la noche. Así lo reveló un funcionario norteamericano, que pidió mantener el anonimato por tratarse de un tema sensible.
La medida, según describió la fuente, es “de precaución” y se tomó luego de que un alto funcionario iraní mencionara el ataque con misiles que Irán lanzó contra esa base en junio, en represalia por bombardeos estadounidenses a instalaciones nucleares iraníes.
Leé también Irán: los escenarios que se abren tras las amenazas de Trump y la sangrienta represión de las protestas
El funcionario evitó dar detalles sobre si la evacuación es obligatoria u opcional, cuántas personas están involucradas o si afecta a militares, civiles o ambos. Argumentó que la seguridad operativa es prioritaria y que no se pueden brindar precisiones en este contexto.
Qatar confirmó la evacuación y habló de “tensiones regionales”
El gobierno de Qatar reconoció que la evacuación se lleva adelante “en respuesta a las tensiones regionales actuales”. En un comunicado oficial, la oficina de prensa aseguró que el país “continúa implementando todas las medidas necesarias para salvaguardar la seguridad y protección de sus ciudadanos y residentes como prioridad principal, incluidas acciones relacionadas con la protección de infraestructura crítica e instalaciones militares”.
Leé también Trump apoyó las protestas en Irán y les pidió a los manifestantes que “tomen el control de las instituciones”
Por su parte, el Pentágono y el Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. evitaron hacer comentarios sobre la situación o sobre posibles alertas de seguridad para diplomáticos y civiles estadounidenses en Qatar. En junio, la embajada norteamericana en Doha solo había emitido un aviso de “refugio en el lugar”, pero no llegó a recomendar la evacuación.
Irán redobla la presión y recuerda el ataque a la base
La tensión escaló después de que Ali Shamkhani, asesor del líder supremo iraní, el ayatolá Alí Jamenei, publicara en la red social X: “El presidente de Estados Unidos, que habla repetidamente sobre la agresión inútil contra las instalaciones nucleares de Irán, haría bien en mencionar también la destrucción de la base estadounidense en Al-Udeid por misiles iraníes. Sin duda ayudaría a crear una comprensión real de la voluntad y capacidad de Irán para responder a cualquier agresión”.
El ataque iraní a la base de Al Udeid en junio, que alberga a miles de militares estadounidenses, marcó un punto de inflexión en la región. Según el Comando Central del ejército de EE.UU., ningún personal estadounidense o qatarí resultó herido, aunque un oficial militar qatarí reconoció que uno de los 19 misiles disparados no fue interceptado y golpeó la base. El entonces presidente Donald Trump minimizó el hecho y aseguró que “apenas se causaron daños”.
Leé también Un manifestante irrumpió en la embajada de Irán en Londres y retiró la bandera oficial durante una protesta
La situación se da mientras continúan las protestas antigubernamentales en Irán y Trump advierte que está dispuesto a tomar acciones militares en apoyo a los manifestantes. En este clima, funcionarios iraníes y qataríes mantuvieron contactos en las últimas horas. El secretario del Consejo Supremo de Seguridad Nacional de Irán, Ali Larijani, habló por teléfono con el primer ministro qatarí, jeque Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, quien reafirmó el respaldo de Qatar a “todos los esfuerzos de desescalada y soluciones pacíficas para mejorar la seguridad y estabilidad en la región”.
Qatar también quedó en el centro de otras tensiones regionales, como el ataque israelí en septiembre a la sede del liderazgo político de Hamás en Doha, mientras se discutía una propuesta de alto al fuego para Gaza.
La evacuación en la base de Al Udeid refleja el delicado equilibrio que enfrenta Qatar, atrapado entre las amenazas cruzadas de Irán, Estados Unidos e Israel, y la necesidad de proteger a su población y a las fuerzas extranjeras que operan en su territorio.
Estados Unidos, Irán, Qatar
INTERNACIONAL
House Dem lashes out at ‘racist’ MN fraud probe amid major investigation in his own state
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As House Oversight Democrats denounced a hearing on Minnesota’s sprawling fraud scandal as politically motivated, Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., took it further — calling the investigation «partisan and racist.»
But back in California, state auditors have repeatedly flagged major programs as «high-risk» for waste and improper payments, raising fresh questions about whether Min is dismissing scrutiny he wouldn’t want aimed at his own state.
During a House Oversight Hearing earlier this month on the fraud issues in Minnesota, Min said, «We have not seen evidence of any type of fraud on the scale we’re talking about» in California. Min added during the hearing that he had concerns about the ongoing fraud in Minnesota, which has included a significant portion of Somali immigrant perpetrators, but said he had issues with the probe because it appeared Trump was only targeting Democrat-led states, and not Republican-led states as well.
MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR JACOB FREY ADMITS FRAUD CRISIS IS REAL, SAYS ‘EVERYBODY COULD HAVE DONE MORE’ TO PREVENT IT
Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., called a federal oversight hearing looking into widespread fraud in Minnesota «partisan and racist,» leading some critics to call him out for turning a blind eye to widespread fraud in his own state. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«I have concerns about this hearing as well as recent actions by the Trump administration. It’s hard for me not to look at this hearing in the context in which it’s taking place and not see this as a partisan and racist hearing,» Min complained.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on these accusations from Min but did not receive a response in time for publication.
«Democrats will do anything to deflect from the fraud that has been allowed to run rampant on their watch, including playing the race card,» House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said. «First, it’s not racist to call out criminal behavior. Second, I wonder what Congressman Min’s constituents have to say about him not taking fraud seriously when California taxpayers are also being robbed blind to the tune of $72 billion.»
Representative Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, during a television interview at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A report released by the California State Auditor’s office last month found several state agencies wasted or misused millions, which follows other audits showing many billions being lost to waste, fraud and abuse in the state, according to California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.
MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL SPARKS PUSH TO SCRUTINIZE BILLIONS IN BIDEN-ERA ENERGY GRANTS
«It’s totally ridiculous,» Hilton told Fox News Digital of Min’s comments that there is no evidence of California fraud. «We’ve already seen state auditor reports that have characterized tens-of-billions-of-dollars as being improperly spent, starting from the audit of state homelessness spending.»
California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton clapped back at Congressman Dave Min’s (D-Calif.) claim that there is no evidence to suggest widespread fraud in the state. (John Phillips/Getty Images for TechCrunch)
According to Hilton, there are criminal prosecutions ongoing in California pertaining to homelessness spending by officials.
Meanwhile, seven state agencies in California have been denoted as «high-risk» for fraud, waste and abuse by the State Auditor’s office, while an extra agency was also added to the list of vulnerable programs that is regularly kept.
«Vulnerable Democrat Dave Min is more outraged by an oversight hearing than the billions in fraud hurting Americans in Minnesota and California,» said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez. «For Min, accountability isn’t a principle, it’s a problem.»
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Fox News Digital reached out to Min for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
minnesota fraud exposed,california,state and local,house of representatives politics,politics,hearings house of representatives politics
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