Revenue from IRS audits plunged 35% in fiscal 2025 as the agency shed thousands of enforcement workers, according to a new report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, an agency watchdog. The IRS collected a total of $6.5 billion from audits in fiscal 2025, which ended Sept. 30, down from $10 billion a year earlier,…
A Trump administration effort aimed at discouraging Americans on food stamps from using the government nutritional aid to buy soda is having an impact, a new study shows. Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cut their sugary drink purchases by more than 12% from January to June of this year after new state-level restrictions…
In the thick of his competitive reelection race in Michigan, Republican Rep. Tom Barrett joined Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a sprawling 400-acre apple orchard, farm, and winery. They touted Trump administration efforts to improve the American diet, including the removal of some artificial dyes from processed foods. “We had…
Federal officials announced sharp water cuts for the next two years on Friday for three Western states that rely on the imperiled Colorado River. Under the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan, California, Nevada and Arizona will collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually during that period, with the possibility of larger cuts depending on…
Walmart said it is using billions of dollars in tariff revenue to lower prices as the company moves to appeal to consumers experiencing an affordability pinch due to higher inflation. The Arkansas-based retailer, which reported its earnings on Thursday, has received “substantially all” of the $2.9 billion in tariff refunds it was eligible for, executive…
Washington — A former federal prosecutor who was fired earlier this year for her previous work on a case against activists accused of blocking an entrance to an abortion clinic sued the Justice Department on Monday, arguing her ouster was driven by unlawful political retaliation. Sunita Doddamani, previously an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern…
The Food and Drug Administration conducted just under 1,000 foreign food safety inspections in 2025, and the farm in Mexico believed to be at the center of the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. was not one of them. A federal law enacted to prevent diseased and dirty food from reaching Americans’ plates requires the…
Washington — The Supreme Court just over a month ago expanded presidential power when it struck down removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission, clearing the way for the president to fire members of certain independent boards and commissions at-will. But as the high court considered the legality of Congress’ efforts to shield…
The next foodborne illness outbreak could be much worse. That’s the concern of food safety leaders across the U.S. who are raising alarms over federal cuts they say have made it harder to detect and stop the spread of foodborne illnesses, such as the recent outbreaks of cyclospora, which has sickened thousands in dozens of…
