A Mysterious Nonprofit Run by SpaceXAI’s Top Lawyer Is Paying the Salaries of Government Workers

Government employees working on technology projects are now being paid by a private nonprofit, obscuring funding sources and potential conflicts.

A nonprofit organization called the America by Design Foundation (NDS), reportedly run by SpaceXAI's top lawyer James Burnham, is paying the salaries of government workers detailed to the National Design Studio (NDS). At least two individuals, Amittai Groot and John Cafazza, are employed by the America by Design Foundation and are on loan to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through the Intergovernment Personnel Act. Documents show OPM will reimburse the foundation for a portion of Groot's salary, while the foundation covers his full salary and benefits, and appears to cover Cafazza's entire salary. The funding sources for the America by Design Foundation remain unclear, raising questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest, especially given Burnham's connection to SpaceXAI. The NDS, established in August 2025, has been responsible for launching government websites, and has a history of employing individuals through special designations and loan agreements, similar to a previous group called DOGE.

The structure and funding of the America by Design Foundation raise significant concerns about the ethical implications of private entities influencing government operations. The lack of transparency regarding who funds the foundation and the opaque nature of its personnel arrangements suggest a potential for undue influence, particularly given its connection to SpaceXAI and James Burnham's prominent role. This arrangement could bypass standard government hiring processes and oversight, creating a pathway for private interests to shape public initiatives.

This situation highlights a growing trend of private sector involvement in government technology projects, blurring the lines between public service and corporate influence. The use of programs like the Intergovernment Personnel Act, while intended to bring in specialized skills, appears to be exploited to circumvent traditional hiring safeguards. Future scrutiny will likely focus on the oversight mechanisms for such arrangements and the potential for regulatory loopholes to be exploited by tech companies seeking to embed personnel within government agencies.