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 White House has asked leading US AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to reserve access to their new frontier models for US government safety testing before sharing them with independent evaluators. The request signals Washington's push to place federal review ahead of third-party assessment as advanced AI systems are rolled out. Commentators are weighing what this means for the balance between government oversight and independent scrutiny of leading AI developers.

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.

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.

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.

Germany is creating a digital archive to preserve American climate data that researchers fear could be removed or altered under the Trump administration. The project, described as a digital Noah's Ark, would store US government climate datasets outside the United States. Scientists say safeguarding records on temperatures, emissions and extreme weather is vital for ongoing research, and the initiative reflects growing concern that federal climate information may no longer be reliably maintained.

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.