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The New York Times describes the federal government’s efforts to both exploit and control Elon Musk. His genius is simultaneously a principal source of America’s greatness — and by extension the U.S. bureaucracy’s — and locus of rebellion against the venality, dysfunction and stupidity of the status quo.
Mr.Musk’srocketcompany,SpaceX,effectivelydictatesNASA’srocketlaunchschedule.TheDefenseDepartmentreliesonhimtogetmostofitssatellitestoorbit.Hiscompanieswerepromised$3billionacrossnearly100differentcontractslastyearwith17federalagencies.
AsMarioNawfalbrutallyputit:“SpaceXwilldo80%ofallmasstoorbitthisyear.Chinawilldo12%.Therestoftheworldwilldo8%.ThatincludesBoeing,Lockheed,andeveryoneelse.” Ontheotherhand,theNewYorkTimeshastenstoadd,“hehasthrownhisfortuneandpowerbehindformerPresidentDonaldJ.Trumpand,inreturn,Mr.TrumphasvowedtomakeMr.Muskheadofanew‘governmentefficiencycommission’withthepowertorecommendwide-rangingcutsatfederalagenciesandchangestofederalrules.̶
