Republicans defend Musk as simply carrying out Trump’s slash-and-burn campaign promises. Democrats accuse him of amassing illegal, unaccountable power.
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump ’s blessing, sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance.
The speed and scope of his work has been nothing short of stunning. In a little more than two weeks since Trump took office, the world’s richest man has created an alternative power structure inside the federal government for the purpose of cutting spending and...