Musk-Backed Super PAC Shakes Up Pro-Trump Field Program

A new super PAC with ties to Elon Musk is shaking up its field operation, in a major change to what has been envisioned as a significant canvassing program working on behalf of former President Donald J. Trump.

The decision is a stark reversal for the group, America PAC, and reveals a rocky start for Mr. Musk and his allies in their first stab at significant political work.

The group had already paid millions of dollars to a field vendor to start a significant organizing effort that is, for now, in disarray. It had hopes of spending upward of $160 million on the endeavor, an idea that had already struck some Republican paid-canvassing experts as highly ambitious.

America PAC had planned to hire hundreds of canvassers through the field vendor, a prominent organizing firm called In Field Strategies, as it worked to turn out voters for Mr. Trump. Now, it has ended its relationship with the company, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The super PAC, which was recently taken over by Phil Cox, a prominent Republican operative, had spent more than $15 million with In Field, according to federal filings.

It will now have to build its operations from scratch, with not much time before early voting begins. Mr. Cox has his own affiliated paid-canvassing firm, called Blitz Canvassing, though it is unclear how involved it will be in the reconstituted effort. The group plans to have multiple canvassing operations involved, according to a person close to the super PAC.

In Field had already hired 15 to 20 paid canvassers in Wisconsin, according to a person with knowledge of the operation. The person, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said canvassers who had relocated to the state were told at a meeting this month that the PAC had abruptly terminated their work, which had been set to continue through the election, after just a few weeks.

In Field was also planning on being active in Arizona, Georgia and Ohio, among other states. The company had flown canvassers from across the country to Atlanta for several days of in-person training on how to talk to voters, the person said.

America PAC has drawn attention from Mr. Trump’s team and is planning on striking a data-sharing agreement to coordinate with the Trump campaign, according to a person with knowledge of the plan. It is likely to still reach such a deal even with these changes, the person said.

Representatives for the super PAC, which has taken pains to remain under the radar, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The group was co-founded this spring by Mr. Musk and is being funded by many of his allies, including Joe Lonsdale, a major Republican donor. Mr. Lonsdale had persuaded many of his friends to financially support the America PAC. It is not clear how much Mr. Musk plans to donate.