Welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you over the
next two weeks. We're evolving.
We'll be broadening our focus to cover all the tech Titans
shaping our world. And with that, our show will
become Stage 0. You'll still get the latest
insights on Elon Musk, plus so much more, so stay tuned for our
official relaunch at Stage 0, coming soon.
So why did an unofficial group tied to Elon Musk show up at the
National Gallery of Art to question its legal status?
So that's a surprise that rippled through the museum last
week after leadership met behind closed doors with
representatives from DOGE. Now, DOGE isn't a formal federal
agency. It's a Trump aligned must
connected group acting as an unofficial enforcement arm aimed
at cutting government spending and reshaping federal influence.
Now it's knocking on the doors of institutions that until
recently were considered politically untouchable.
The National Gallery isn't a government agency.
It's not part of the Smithsonian either.
It's common under misunderstanding.
It runs as a public private partnership.
Congress pays for basic operations, but acquisitions and
growth rely on a private trust created in 1936 by steel tycoon
Andrew Mellon. Knowing the exchange for his
donation of priceless artworks and funding for a museum
building, Mellon secured long term autonomy for the gallery,
protected by a trustee board that now includes billionaires
CE OS and even Chief Justice John Roberts.
Now, Doge's meeting with director Cayman Feldman and
legal counsel Luis Boquadano was described as a review of the
museum's legal standing. Feldman later told staff the
gallery has always worked with all administrations and intends
to continue doing so. But this isn't a routine check
in. It's part of a growing pattern.
In March, Doge was accused of forcing its way into the offices
of the US Institute of Peace. And a week ago, the Vera
Institute of Justice warned that DOGE intended to place its
people inside their organization.
Now the national galleries case is especially sensitive because
it holds both federal funding and cultural prestige.
It's unique hybrid structure gives it independence, something
Doge appears interested in redefining.
And Trump's administration has already taken steps to gain more
control over nonprofit entities that receive government support.
He appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center and issued an
order to increase oversight of the Smithsonian.
Now the National Endowment for the Humanities sought its staff
and its budget cut, with funds redirected to build Trump's
proposed National Garden of American Heroes.
Now, DOGE has no official legal authority, but its influence is
expanding. It targets institutions that
rely on federal dollars while claiming autonomy.
These visits, though technically informal, often lead to changes.
And for the gallery, the question is whether this
pressure will remain symbolic or become something that or become
something that forces structural change.
Now, the meeting may have been brief, Its impact won't be.
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