Tong Announces the End of Her State Service

Amy Tong, a household name and respected leader in California’s gov tech circles, has stepped away from her role as senior counselor to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Tong announced that Jan. 31 marked the end of her 31-year career in public service in a LinkedIn post late Thursday.

“It was a difficult decision, but with the support of my family and Gov. Newsom, it is the right one for me at this time,” she wrote.

Tong’s career in state government began in 1994 and spans a number of executive roles that included the agency CIO for the California Department of Health and Human Services, CIO and director of the California Department of Technology, director of the Office of Data and Innovation, and secretary of the Government Operations Agency.

“In the past decade, I am humbled and honored to have the confidence from both Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as their respective state CIO and director of technology, director of Office of Data and Innovation, secretary of Government Operations and, most recently, senior counselor to the governor,” she wrote in the announcement.

As GovOps secretary, Tong was responsible for oversight of several high-profile state departments and projects, including the Franchise Tax Board, the Census Office, the Financial Information System for California, the departments of General Services, Human Resources, Tax and Fee Administration, Technology and the Office of Data and Innovation.

In March 2025, Tong was tapped to serve as a senior counselor to the governor, passing oversight of GovOps to Nick Maduros. Her new role would see her focused on three key areas: efficiency, technology and innovation, she told Industry Insider — California in March 2025.

“Along with a fantastic team of colleagues, we have made transformative changes in procurement, project delivery, workforce development, cybersecurity and rapid crisis response; backed by an agile and human-centered approach, with tech and innovation, AI and an entrepreneurial mindset in the large bureaucracy,” Tong said. “We strived for a more efficient, effective and engaged government for all Californians — CA Breakthrough.”

Tong has also served as a sort of adviser to industry, at times offering stark and realistic appraisals of the state’s financial future and how vendors could prove their value to the departments. Late last year, Tong highlighted the bleak financial situation the state was in — a $12 billion shortfall on the heels of the previous year’s $47 billion deficit — calling on the vendor community to be partners in the efficiency push the state was undertaking.

“I think this is actually really an opportunity, because you’ve got willing ears to hear what is the maximization of the current tool that you can have,” she said during a September member briefing. “So please have your conversations with all those entities that you’re interacting with. If they have your suites, but [are] using 10 percent of it, please show them how to stretch it another 10 percent more.”

While she may be stepping away from the ranks of California government, she noted that she will be looking for the “next step” in her career after assisting with the transition in the coming months and taking a break to spend time with her family.

“I am incredibly grateful to those who have mentored me, guided me, and supported me throughout this journey, and I look forward to your continued counsel while I discover the next step in my career,” she wrote.