GoKawiilNonprofit tied to SpaceXAI counsel pays salaries of National Design Studio staff
A WIRED investigation found that at least two members of the National Design Studio, a White House unit led by Joe Gebbia, are actually employed by a newly formed nonprofit called the America by Design Foundation rather than by the government itself. The foundation appears to be run by James Burnham, a former DOGE member who is now general counsel at Musk's SpaceXAI, though it remains unclear who funds the group or how much money it has.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The arrangement echoes earlier concerns about DOGE's staffing practices, where it was often unclear who employed or paid people working inside federal agencies. A public policy professor quoted in the report says such opacity around funding and employment is troubling whenever private-sector figures move into government roles, since it can blur accountability and raise conflict-of-interest questions. The structure could suggest that NDS, like DOGE before it, operates partly outside normal government hiring and disclosure rules.
- At least two NDS staffers are paid by the America by Design Foundation, not the federal government.
- The foundation appears linked to James Burnham, a former DOGE member now at Musk's SpaceXAI.
- Its funding sources and finances remain undisclosed, raising transparency concerns among policy experts.
Source: wired.com — Vittoria Elliott, 2026-10-07
Published there as: “A Mysterious Nonprofit Run by SpaceXAI’s Top Lawyer Is Paying the Salaries of Government Workers”
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