His unusual governing arrangement with President Trump is opening Republicans up to being yoked politically to Mr. Musk, who polls show is broadly unpopular.

In an attempt to motivate their voters and donors, a leading Democratic outside group recently launched ads in nearly two dozen House races to seize on Elon Musk’s role in slashing jobs in the federal government and paint GOP incumbents as willing to cut spending on health care for children and elderly to benefit billionaires.

The government is headed toward a shutdown unless a deal is reached by March 14. And disagreements over DOGE may be the biggest roadblock.

For decades, conservatives in Congress have talked about the need to cut government deeply, but they have always pulled back from mandating specific reductions, fearful of voter backlash. Now, President Donald Trump’s administration is trying to make major cuts in government through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency,

President Donald Trump touted Elon Musk's performance as the leader of DOGE, lauding him for cutting a swath of the federal workforce and uncovering waste, fraud and abuse.