The dynamic of cutting government while also cutting out those who answer to voters has alarmed even some fiscal conservatives who have long pushed for Congress to reduce spending.

The spending cuts loom over negotiations to prevent a government shutdown at the end of next week, and the White House is stepping up its outreach to GOP lawmakers.

Republican senators told tech billionaire Elon Musk at a closed-door meeting Wednesday that his aggressive moves to shrink the federal government will need a vote on Capitol Hill, sending a clear