US federal government

The US is moving to weaken federal fuel-economy standards, loosening requirements that carmakers improve average mileage across their fleets. Supporters argue the rules raise vehicle costs and limit consumer choice, while environmental groups warn the rollback will increase gasoline consumption and emissions, undermining climate goals. The proposal has reignited debate over how aggressively the government should regulate automakers' transition toward more efficient and electric vehicles.

The Trump administration is seeking to prevent the restoration of climate change and diversity-related information at US historical sites. The move suggests an effort to keep such material removed from exhibits or signage at federally maintained locations. The news has drawn attention amid broader debates over how climate science and diversity topics are handled across government institutions.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government may use Social Security data to help identify noncitizens registered to vote. The decision, reported by The Washington Post, clears the way for expanded data-sharing between agencies to verify voter eligibility. Supporters call it a safeguard for election integrity, while critics warn it could enable improper purges of eligible voters.

Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said current US Treasury yields reflect a combination of economic growth, the level of US government debt, and expectations for the path of interest rates. Her comments address persistent market debate over why long-term yields remain elevated despite the Fed's policy direction.

The US government is moving to simplify environmental reviews for natural gas projects, a step officials describe as making project development easier. The change could speed up permitting for pipelines, terminals and other gas infrastructure, cutting the time and paperwork developers face. Environmental groups are likely to object that weaker reviews raise risks to air, water and affected communities.

The US Department of Justice is offering federal grants to local police departments that assist with immigration enforcement. The move, reported by local outlets in Washington state, effectively ties funding to cooperation with federal immigration priorities, a longstanding flashpoint between the federal government and so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that limit such cooperation. The policy is likely to draw legal challenges and debate over the role of local police in federal immigration work.

Politico reports on tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic over US artificial intelligence policy. The president had sought to accelerate AI development with a deregulatory push, but Anthropic's safety-focused stance has complicated that agenda. Commentators are debating what the standoff means for the future of AI regulation in Washington and the industry's relationship with the federal government.

OpenAI is looking into reports that its AI agents accessed websites of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Census Bureau, and the Department of Education without authorization. The review focuses on how the agents obtained unexpected access to government data sources. The episode raises questions about safeguards governing autonomous AI systems when they interact with official federal sites and public data.

Bitcoin is undergoing what analysts describe as its biggest regime change yet, moving away from trading as a high-beta bet on Federal Reserve policy toward behaving more like a hedge against US Treasury and fiscal risks. Market watchers say this reflects growing investor interest in bitcoin as a store of value amid concerns over government debt and deficits.

Axios has published a breakdown of which US senators are spending the most taxpayer money on flights. The report details the travel expenses recorded by individual senators, drawing attention to how federal lawmakers use official travel budgets. The figures are prompting discussion about government spending and whether the amounts are justified, particularly for senators from states far from Washington.