Wisconsin Department of Administration

Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld leads the Department, appointed by Governor Tony Evers. She oversees the state's central administrative functions including budget, facilities, procurement, and personnel. Blumenfeld also serves on the board of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, linking DOA operations to the state's pension investment governance.

The DOA Secretary holds an ex officio seat on the SWIB board of trustees, creating a structural link between the state's administrative arm and its investment authority. However, the DOA itself does not manage or direct SWIB's roughly $156B portfolio. SWIB operates independently as a trust for state pension assets, with investment staff making allocation decisions separate from DOA's facilities and budget purview.

The department's portfolio includes the Wisconsin State Capitol, the Governor's Executive Residence, the Hill Farms State Office Building in Madison, the Milwaukee State Office Building, and multiple General Executive Facility buildings on Webster Street. The DOA also manages a state central fleet that includes a Beechcraft King Air 350 and three Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

No. Unlike a family office, pension fund, or endowment, the DOA does not allocate to private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, or other financial instruments. Its capital deployment is entirely directed at public infrastructure — constructing, maintaining, and operating the physical assets that house state government. It functions as a facilities operator, not an investment manager.

The Secretary is appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin and serves at his pleasure. Governor Tony Evers appointed Kathy Blumenfeld to the role and reappointed her in January 2024. The Secretary reports directly to the Governor and sits on the SWIB board by virtue of the position, creating a governance chain from the elected executive through the administrative apparatus to the state's investment board.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) collaborates with the DOA on housing and economic development initiatives that leverage state resources. WHEDA operates as an independent authority focused on affordable housing and business financing, while the DOA provides administrative coordination and facilities support where programs intersect.

The Wisconsin Historical Foundation is recorded as a related philanthropic entity, functioning as the nonprofit fundraising partner for the Wisconsin Historical Society. While the DOA does not directly manage the Foundation, the state's administrative department coordinates with affiliated entities that support state heritage and cultural assets.