Ahead of the upcoming election, FTC Chair Lina Khan has faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, with members of both parties calling her “partisan” and “unhelpful.” Prominent Democratic donors, including billionaires Reid Hoffman, Barry Diller, and Mark Cuban, have even called for her removal. Last week, a report from the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee accused her of pushing a far-left agenda and weaponizing the agency.

Elon Musk, owner of X and supporter of former President Donald J. Trump, posted Thursday on his platform, predicting that “Ms. Khan will be fired soon.”

Few government officials have drawn such strong bipartisan focus leading into an election, making speculation about Ms. Khan’s future — appointed in 2021 by President Biden — one of Washington’s most-discussed topics.

At just 35, Ms. Khan’s role as head of the FTC, traditionally an agency operating with little spotlight, has been notably high-profile. Her tenure symbolizes the stakes of the Biden administration’s robust policy to rein in corporate power, a program that could be rolled back by either candidate if they win.

FTC and Justice Department oversight has recently led to the collapse of multi-billion dollar corporate deals, while agency lawsuits could potentially dismantle significant American brands like Google, Amazon, and Ticketmaster’s parent company. Ms. Khan has championed new regulations on artificial intelligence, simplified the cancellation of online subscriptions, and banned noncompete agreements that prevent employees from working with rival firms.

The business community’s backlash, along with opposition from Washington allies, has been intense — and it’s been building as the election nears.

“Chair Khan is clearly determined to fulfill the radical left’s agenda,” Representative James R. Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, stated last week, unveiling a House Oversight Committee report critical of her leadership.

In a September interview with The New York Times, Ms. Khan acknowledged the intense criticism but downplayed it. She noted, “When you say something like, ‘Well, there’s a lot of visceral dislike of what our agency is doing,’ I think you have to, first of all, figure out which are the voices that you’re privileging and focusing on. We try to keep the full country in mind, rather than just those with access to power.”

In a separate September interview on 60 Minutes, Ms. Khan expressed her willingness to stay in her role. An FTC spokesperson declined to comment.

Many observers believe that if Mr. Trump wins, he will replace Ms. Khan, as presidents typically select leaders from their own party to head agencies like the FTC. Bill Kovacic, a former FTC chairman, remarked, “The likelihood that she would serve long, even weeks, under a Trump administration, I think, is close to zero.”

Her fate in a possible administration led by Vice President Kamala Harris, however, is harder to predict. Ms. Khan’s seven-year term as an FTC commissioner ended in September, and a new president could either appoint another commissioner as chair or nominate someone new altogether, which would require her to step down upon Senate confirmation.

Ms. Khan, who gained recognition as a scholar for her critiques of unchecked corporate giants like Amazon, became the youngest leader in the agency’s over 100-year history.

Early in her term, she revived a Trump-era FTC lawsuit to break up Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The agency has also sued Amazon, accusing it of monopolistic practices, and unsuccessfully tried to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC is currently challenging Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons.

Ms. Khan’s critique of corporate concentration has sparked strong resistance from the business sector. Amazon and Meta have called for her to recuse herself from investigations, citing her previous criticisms. Lobbying groups have also voiced complaints, with some alleging she stifles economic activity.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has criticized her approach to merger reviews, with Neil Bradley, its chief policy officer, stating, “This is not her job. Her disregard for norms, rules, and legal requirements to push her agenda is deeply concerning.”

Mark Cuban commented via email that he hasn’t influenced any personnel decisions in a Harris administration, while spokespeople for Hoffman and Diller offered no additional insights.

On the other hand, Jonathan Kanter, head of antitrust at the Justice Department, has operated under less public scrutiny. Although his agency has also taken legal action against major companies like Google, Apple, and LiveNation, his profile remains comparatively lower.

Ms. Khan has received praise from Democratic lawmakers and even Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Mr. Trump’s running mate, for her efforts against Big Tech.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont recently posted on X, “Lina Khan is the best FTC Chair in modern history. By taking on corporate greed & illegal monopolies, she’s doing an outstanding job protecting consumers and workers from exploitation.”

In an October post on X, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned, “Anyone goes near Lina Khan and there will be an out and out brawl.”on X, “Anyone goes near Lina Khan and there will be an out and out brawl.”