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. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your support.
If you could take a second and hit subscribe or the follow button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening on right now, I greatly appreciate it. It helps out the show tremendously and you'll never miss an episode. And each episode is about 10 minutes or less to get you caught up quickly. And please, if you want to support the show even more, go to patreon.com/stage Zero. And please take care of yourselves and each other. And I'll see you tomorrow.