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Trump Administration Says Repeal of Obama Emissions Policy Will Cut Vehicle Prices by $2,400

The Trump administration announced Thursday that rolling back the Obama-era “endangerment finding” will reduce the average cost of a new vehicle by roughly $2,400, a move the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency say will ease financial pressure on both automakers and consumers.

President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin revealed that the administration is rescinding the 2009 policy first implemented under President Barack Obama. That rule enabled the EPA to regulate and limit emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases from vehicles and engines beginning with the 2012 model year.

Supporters of the repeal argue that the prior regulations imposed enormous expenses on manufacturers and buyers alike. One policy expert suggested that the economic impact of removing the rule could exceed the administration’s current projections.

“The EPA has estimated benefits to the economy from rescinding the endangerment finding for vehicles to be as much as $4.7 trillion for the period 2027-2055. This is a gross underestimate,” Steve Milloy, a former Trump EPA transition adviser and senior fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, told The Post.

“Because of this move, gas prices will remain low and car prices will decline,” the biostatistician and environmental lawyer added. “Lower gas prices and lower vehicle prices will ripple through the economy for decades to come.”

Milloy also emphasized that lifting emissions requirements could allow individuals and businesses to use money once spent on compliance and higher vehicle costs for other purposes.

“All these benefits are impossible to calculate. But there’s one thing for sure: The costs of regulating greenhouse gas emissions is incalculably large while providing absolutely no environmental benefit,” he said.

According to the EPA, eliminating the policy will also reduce “regulatory compliance costs” and avoid expenses tied to “purchasing equipment related to [electric vehicles],” which automakers ramped up production of following the 2009 rule.

Speaking at the White House, Zeldin declared that “manufacturers will no longer be burdened by measuring, compiling or reporting greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles and engines.”

Ford Motor Company, one of Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers, expressed support for the administration’s decision to withdraw the Obama standards.

“We appreciate the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice,” a spokesperson told The Post.

“Ford has consistently advocated for a single, stable national standard that aligns with customer choice, the market, societal benefit, and American job growth.”

Tim Pohanka, vice president and executive manager of Virginia’s Pohanka Automotive Group, said consumers could see savings but warned that price reductions may not be immediate or as steep as projected.

“Is there a potential opportunity for people to save? Yeah, there is. But it can’t be coupled with having to pay more at the gas pump, so it’s all relative,” Pohanka said.

“Would we see a price reduction of $2,400 right away on a car? Probably not,” he added. “I would have a hard time really saying exactly how that number would break out.”

Pohanka noted that car buyers are already grappling with rising costs and hopes the regulatory rollback will help reverse that trend.

“The cost of a car has outpaced inflation dramatically,” he pointed out.

Trump and Zeldin further announced that the automatic start-stop feature introduced under the endangerment finding will no longer be required in new vehicles. The system, designed to shut off engines when cars are idle, has been a point of frustration for some drivers.

Pohanka said removing such features could help reduce manufacturing expenses.

“Every time they put new components in the car, it adds cost,” he said. “When you start to look at auto-start, auto-stop buttons, it plays an impact on the car.

“Removing the complexity from that hardware will make a difference.”

He also remarked that the start-stop mechanism can cause “harm to the engine and battery components,” potentially increasing repair bills for owners.

Lauren Fix, an automotive analyst at The Car Coach, agreed that the policy change could lead to lower vehicle prices, though she questioned the exact savings figure cited by the administration.

“On every car brand, it’s going to be slightly different,” she explained.

Still, she maintained that “this is a win, making cars more affordable,” Fix continued.

“There are some people saying this is a bad thing, but the truth is you can’t always go with what the government says because they don’t know the industry – they don’t build cars.”

The FBI has unveiled additional identifying information about the individual suspected of abducting Nancy Guthrie and announced that it is significantly increasing the reward for information that could help solve the case.

“Today, the FBI is increasing its reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance,” the FBI’s Phoenix office posted on X.

Investigators said a forensic review of doorbell camera footage from the 84-year-old’s home in Tucson, Arizona, provided clearer details about the masked and armed person captured on video outside her residence.

According to the FBI’s Phoenix office, the suspected kidnapper is believed to be a man standing between approximately 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, with an average build. Authorities also noted that the individual was carrying a black, 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack at the time he appeared on the home’s doorbell camera.

“We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving. Since February 1, 2026, the FBI has collected over 13,000 tips from the public related to this case,” the FBI said in the statement.

Officials further stated that agents are carefully evaluating each lead that comes in, assessing its reliability and determining how it can be “acted upon by law enforcement.”

A new crew led by a Jewish commander rocketed toward the International Space Station on Friday to replace the astronauts who returned to Earth early in NASA’s first medical evacuation. SpaceX launched the replacements as soon as possible at NASA’s request, sending the U.S., French and Russian astronauts on an expected eight- to nine-month mission […]

A 20-year-old Yeshiva University student was beaten by a group of masked attackers Thursday night inside a Washington Heights subway station, according to police and university officials.

Officers responded shortly after 7 p.m. to a 911 report of an assault at the 1 train station located at West 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, the NYPD said.

Police said four unidentified individuals punched and kicked the student, who attends the private Jewish university. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, a clinical assistant professor of Jewish values at Yeshiva’s Sy Syms School of Business, also confirmed details of the attack.

“A Yeshiva University student was violently assaulted tonight by a gang of masked thugs,” Bashevkin wrote in a post on X.

“This is beyond frightening for a visibly Jewish community in NYC,” he said.

Authorities said the victim was transported to Columbia University Irving Medical Center and was listed in stable condition.

University officials indicated that investigators do not believe the assault was bias-related.

“This evening at approximately 7 p.m., one of our students was assaulted in an unbiased attempted robbery off campus in the subway station at 181st Street,” a Yeshiva University spokesperson told The Post in a statement. “He is back on campus in good condition.

“YU Security is aware of the incident and is coordinating with law enforcement authorities.”

As of late Thursday, no suspects had been taken into custody. Police said the case remains under active investigation.

{Matzav.com}

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Genazym’s upcoming auction — including the will of the Chofetz Chaim and many other rare treasures.

Amid an expanding wave of arrests targeting Torah students classified as draft evaders, sharp criticism has been leveled at the IDF’s enlistment policy, with claims that the army is overlooking hundreds of chareidi men who have expressed interest in serving.

Speaking on the program “Hafuch Al Hafuch,” hosted by Rabbi Moshe Ben Loulou, commentator Kobi Segal accused the military of maintaining a gap between its public statements about manpower shortages and its actions on the ground. He argued that while enforcement against yeshiva students has intensified, the army has been slow to absorb chareidim who have volunteered to enlist.

Segal pointed to an IDF framework known as “Keilim Shluvim,” designed to integrate chareidim into driving roles in either regular or reserve service. According to him, approximately 500 chareidi men have registered for the program but remain without a concrete response. He said the pilot phase was deemed successful, yet those who signed up are still waiting. “There is a project in the IDF called ‘Keilim Shluvim’ to integrate chareidim into driving positions — about 500 soldiers who want to enlist,” Segal said, adding that in practice “they are simply waiting.”

He noted that the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit responded by saying that the candidates had registered but were not formally accepted. Segal expressed frustration that individuals actively seeking to serve remain at home without a clear explanation.

He further argued that the ongoing crisis surrounding the draft law may in some ways serve the army’s interests. “It’s good for the IDF that there is this crisis over the draft law — they show everyone that they are making arrests,” he said. The program’s host added an anecdote about a young man with a medical condition who was arrested despite, according to the account, not being eligible for enlistment in the first place. Judicial intervention was reportedly required to secure his release.

Segal summed up his position bluntly: “There are 500, and the IDF doesn’t want them — apparently it’s good for them that there is a crisis.” He said the situation highlights what he described as hypocrisy in the military’s conduct and raises serious questions.

In response, the IDF Spokesperson stated: “The ‘Keilim Shluvim’ program is a framework for training reserve personnel for driving roles in the IDF. This framework is intended for chareidi reservists while preserving their way of life. The program is part of a series of steps taken by the IDF to maximize available manpower and thereby reduce, as much as possible, the existing gap. The first pilot recently concluded, and in light of its success, it was agreed to formulate an expansion plan that will be approved in the near future by the relevant authorities. The report refers to the scope of raw potential for the program based on candidates who approached. As part of the process and in accordance with the agreed scope, responses will be provided to interested candidates who meet the required conditions.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Elise Stefanik, chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, is urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to launch a federal investigation into the administration of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after city health employees allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to organize a “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” that accused Israel of genocide. […]

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eliezer (Chayni) Marom: “This Is What Israel Must Demand from the United States”

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer (Chayni) Marom, former commander of the Israeli Navy, says Israel is at a highly sensitive moment as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump shape policy toward Iran. In a radio interview, Marom examined the evolving relationship between Jerusalem and Washington and explained why the American president is pressing for negotiations despite Israel’s reservations.

Speaking on Kol Hai Radio’s “Central Edition,” Marom said Netanyahu traveled to Washington primarily to clarify Israel’s conditions for any potential negotiations with Tehran. He stressed the importance of direct, face-to-face meetings between leaders in order to convey critical messages clearly and without ambiguity.

According to Marom, a key issue discussed was Israel’s freedom of action. He said Israel must secure an understanding with the United States that if Washington ultimately refrains from military action, Israel retains the right to carry out what he described as a defensive strike to protect itself. He emphasized that Israel cannot live under the threat of Iranian missiles and that Netanyahu had to insist the United States maintain its defensive deployment in the region to back Israel should it be forced to act to prevent an existential danger.

Marom also addressed Trump’s motivation for pursuing diplomacy, pointing to domestic political pressures in the United States. He said Trump faces voters within his own party who want America to avoid foreign wars and focus instead on the economy and the cost of living. As a result, Marom argued, Trump must demonstrate that he has exhausted diplomatic options before considering military action.

On the operational front, Marom discussed reports of a second U.S. aircraft carrier heading to the Middle East. He said the carrier does not require re-crewing and noted that a maintenance period of roughly ten months would not impair its operational readiness. He described American military systems as built for rapid deployment and said their presence sends a powerful deterrent message, even if the immediate goal is to support diplomatic efforts with visible military strength.

In conclusion, Marom said Israel must carefully navigate this delicate period, balancing urgent security concerns with Washington’s broader strategic priorities. While coordination between the two governments remains close, he believes Netanyahu will need to continue underscoring the risks of Iran using negotiations to buy time, all while recognizing that the White House is ultimately guided by its commitments to American voters seeking stability and economic calm.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s administration secretly smuggled thousands of Starlink satellite communication terminals into Iran during last month’s nationwide protests, allowing some demonstrators to bypass regime-imposed internet blackouts, a new Wall Street Journal report reveals. The operation unfolded during the largest anti-government demonstrations Iran has seen in years, sparked by anger over political repression, economic hardship, […]

The son of a well-known rosh yeshiva was briefly taken into a police vehicle during a protest in Ashdod on Thursday evening and later released. The incident occurred near a demonstration held over the arrest of an avreich, Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, and could have escalated into a major public controversy had events unfolded differently.

Earlier in the day, talmidim of Yeshivas Grodna in Ashdod gathered to protest the detention of Rabbi Ben Dayan. During the demonstration, participants attempted to block a roadway, leading to confrontations with passersby who sought to prevent the obstruction.

The situation nearly spiraled into a far more dramatic episode when the son of one of the country’s prominent roshei yeshiva, who studies at Yeshivas Me’irat Shmua in the city, happened to pass through the area. He became involved in a discussion that developed between the protesting students and bystanders regarding the ongoing conscription dispute.

Police units that arrived on the scene to disperse the protest detained approximately ten yeshiva students, placing them in a patrol vehicle and removing them from the immediate area. The move was described as part of a familiar crowd-control tactic used in similar incidents.

It was noted that the young man in question is considered a draft evader, as are many yeshiva students under current policy. Had he been formally arrested and transferred to military police custody, the episode could have turned into an unprecedented situation involving the detention of a leading rosh yeshiva’s son on account of his Torah studies.

Beginning this Shabbos, Route 711 operated by the “Na’im Busofash” initiative will connect Shoham and Tel Aviv with a stop at Terminal 1 of Ben Gurion Airport — marking the first time a direct public transit route to the airport will operate on Shabbos. Until now, even as flights continued to depart and land on […]

A federal appeals court on Thursday declined to block a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to restore funding for the Gateway tunnel project linking New York and New Jersey, allowing construction support to restart as litigation continues.

The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit means the funding directive issued by a federal district judge can take effect for now, even as a lawsuit filed by the Democratic-led governments of New York and New Jersey moves forward. The appellate court indicated it will revisit the matter after hearing oral arguments scheduled for later this month.

“The Trump administration’s legal stay to avoid funding the Gateway Tunnel has expired,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) wrote on social media. “Donald Trump needs to follow the law and get the project back on track immediately.”

The dispute centers on the $16 billion Gateway initiative, which would construct two additional rail tracks beneath the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey to Penn Station in Manhattan. The Transportation Department suspended its financial support for the project last fall.

Federal officials have maintained that the pause is tied to a broader review of whether the project complies with federal requirements. President Trump reportedly told Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) last month that he would lift the funding hold if Schumer agreed to rename Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport in his honor.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas directed the administration to restart funding after the Gateway Development Commission instructed contractors to halt work pending the return of federal payments.

Vargas, who was appointed by President Biden, sided with New York and New Jersey, finding that the funding freeze likely violates federal regulations and describing the move as arbitrary and capricious.

Government attorneys argued that complying with the order would require the immediate release of approximately $200 million and asked the 2nd Circuit to temporarily block the ruling.

“The government will be forced to disburse those sums without any obvious mechanism for recovering them later if the government prevails on appeal,” the Justice Department cautioned in court filings.

The district judge had agreed to delay enforcement of her order until late Thursday afternoon to give the appellate court time to act. She acknowledged that the administration raised substantial questions about whether she has jurisdiction to hear the case, noting that it might belong in a specialized court that handles federal contract disputes.

As the deadline approached, the 2nd Circuit issued a short order setting oral arguments for the week of Feb. 23 but declined to pause the lower court’s directive in the interim, effectively allowing funding for the project to resume for now.

{Matzav.com}

Rubio on the war in Ukraine: It’s terrible. People are suffering. It’s the coldest time of year. That’s why wars are bad, and that’s why we’ve worked so hard for over a year now to try to bring this one to an end.

Sec. Rubio: The world is changing very fast right in front of us. The old world is gone … We live in a new era in geopolitics, and it’s going to require all of us to sort of re-examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.

A highly classified whistleblower complaint involving DNI Tulsi Gabbard centers on an intercepted conversation between two foreign nationals referencing Jared Kushner. •⁠ ⁠Senior administration officials described the claims regarding Kushner as false and warned against disclosures that could expose sensitive intelligence capabilities. •⁠ ⁠The complaint remained within intelligence channels for months before reaching Congress in […]

Sec. Wright in Venezuela: “North of $100M will be invested to upgrade and increase the crude capacity of this facility… we were at a Chevron field earlier today. They’re on target to double production in that particular field in the next 12-18 months.”

A new Channel 14 mandate survey paints an updated picture of the political arena, showing Likud maintaining its strength, Naftali Bennett’s party losing ground, and the right-wing bloc inching up to 66 seats. In the question of suitability for prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu widens his lead.

According to the poll, the right-religious bloc would secure 66 Knesset seats if elections were held today, reflecting a slight uptick compared to previous measurements.

Likud remains stable at 35 mandates, unchanged from the prior survey. The Joint List climbs to 13 seats, positioning itself as the second-largest faction after Likud. In contrast, Bennett’s party and Shas each drop one seat compared to last week and now stand at 10 mandates apiece.

The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, gain one seat and reach 10 mandates. United Torah Judaism holds firm with 9 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu remains steady at 8 mandates, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party posts a two-seat gain to reach 8 as well.

Elsewhere in the field, Otzma Yehudit retains 7 seats. Religious Zionism adds one mandate to reach 5, and Yesh Atid also gains a seat, bringing it to 5. Blue and White once again fails to cross the electoral threshold, underscoring the party’s continued struggle to regain relevance.

When broken down by blocs, the survey shows a clear advantage for the right: 66 seats for the right-wing bloc, 41 for the left, and 13 for Arab parties. The numbers point to a comfortable edge for the right overall, even as internal shifts occur among its component parties.

In the head-to-head question of who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Netanyahu not only leads but expands his margin following his recent visit to Washington, earning 57% support. Bennett trails with 19%, followed by Gadi Eisenkot at 13%, Yair Lapid at 5%, Avigdor Lieberman at 4%, and Benny Gantz at just 2%. The findings indicate a substantial and ongoing gap at the top of the leadership rankings, in Netanyahu’s favor.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI announced it has increased the reward to $100,000 for information in the investigation into the reported abduction of Nancy Guthrie. Authorities say the case remains active and that forensic and video evidence are being examined.