A nonprofit led by SpaceXAI’s top lawyer is covering the salaries of government employees. The arrangement connects a private organization to federal work through an unusual funding channel.
The group, called the National Design Studio, has operated as a successor to DOGE. Its members include workers on loan from the nonprofit tied to SpaceXAI’s general counsel.
A WIRED investigation identified the nonprofit’s role in paying those salaries. The payments support government staff assigned to the National Design Studio.
The nonprofit’s leadership includes SpaceXAI’s general counsel, linking a private company’s legal chief to public-sector staffing. Details about the group’s funding and decision-making remain limited.
The National Design Studio has not publicly disclosed the full scope of its operations. Its connection to DOGE suggests a continuing effort to reshape government functions.
Loan arrangements like these can blur the line between public agencies and private organizations. They also raise questions about oversight and accountability.
The nonprofit’s involvement may allow it to influence government work without standard federal hiring rules. Critics say such setups lack transparency.
Neither the nonprofit nor SpaceXAI has commented on the payments. The full extent of the arrangement is still unclear.
