Tech, Law and Money Shake Up the U. S. Landscape

The federal government is tightening its grip on new technology and financial tools, while companies face legal and economic pressure. The Food and Drug Administration announced it will pay extra bonuses to employees who finish drug reviews quickly, hoping to speed up approvals for patients in need. At the same time, a leading artificial‑intelligence firm is refusing to give the Pentagon unrestricted access to its chatbot. The company says it cannot allow its system to be used for mass spying or fully autonomous weapons, and threatens that the military may pull its contract if demands are not met. Social media giant Meta is moving to protect teens by alerting parents when a child searches for words linked to self‑harm. The alerts will go through email, text or WhatsApp and are intended to give parents a chance to intervene without flooding them with false alarms. Retailer Walmart has agreed to pay $100 million after the Federal Trade Commission accused it of misleading gig drivers about their earnings. The settlement will require Walmart to verify driver pay and ensure tips are shared fairly, after the company allegedly hid that some tips would be split among multiple drivers.The White House promotes new “Trump accounts” as tax‑advantaged savings for children, but many states refuse to honor the federal exemption. While Washington and a few other states treat these accounts like any other investment, up to twenty‑one states plan to tax the earnings, creating uncertainty for parents who want to save for their kids. FedEx has pledged to refund customers if a court forces the administration to return billions of tariffs it collected. The package delivery giant will share any money it recovers with the businesses that paid extra for imported goods, a first among major carriers. Finally, financial‑tech company Block announced it will cut 40 percent of its staff—about 4, 000 people—as it embraces new AI tools. CEO Jack Dorsey said the move is part of a rapid shift toward smaller, flatter teams that can work more efficiently with advanced technology. Investors reacted positively, sending the company’s stock sharply higher.