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What to know about Donald Trump’s planned ‘national energy emergency’ declaration

Published

1 year ago

January 20, 2025

What to know about Donald Trump’s planned ‘national energy emergency’ declaration

Incoming President Donald Trump will declare a “national energy emergency” and roll back Biden-era environmental protections after he’s sworn into office, White House officials said Monday morning.

The new administration will enact a suite of reforms geared towards boosting U.S. fossil fuel production at a time when the country has set records as the biggest energy producer in the history of the world.

Those reforms will include reopening parts of Alaska for energy exploration, and getting rid of a requirement on auto manufacturers to phase down greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

Officials touted the plans as a way to lower costs for consumers and supply energy for technologies important for national security. They will set back the country’s progress when it comes to addressing climate change.

What will the executive orders say?

By declaring a national emergency on energy, Trump will make it a priority of his administration to increase the domestic production of oil and other forms of fossil-fuel energy, officials said. It comes as U.S. crude oil production has already hit an all-time high over the past year.

Another executive order by Trump will roll back environmental protections in parts of Alaska, which officials called a “geostrategic” location, after Biden took action to limit both oil and gas drilling and mining in the state.

The scope of the Alaska order wasn’t immediately clear, though Trump has promised to work to overturn Biden’s recent action to ban offshore drilling on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The administration will also end the so-called “electric vehicle mandate,” Trump’s phrase for a Environmental Protection Agency rule that requires auto manufacturers cut greenhouse gas emissions by half in new light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning in 2027.

Trump, who campaigned on lowering costs for consumers, will also sign a presidential memorandum directing government agencies to focus on bringing down inflation.

Other actions are aimed at cutting “red tape” and “regulations” that have hurt the American economy, officials said. It wasn’t immediately clear which regulations Trump will target.

What could be the impact?

The suite of reforms will slow the country’s progress when it comes to addressing climate change, a trend that has made weather calamities more common worldwide and imposes large costs on the global economy every year.

The effect on consumer prices is difficult to predict, analysts say. Increasing the world’s energy supply would likely bring down costs for consumers in the long run, and energy is a key part of the U.S.’ strategy on the world stage. At the same time, the policy tools available to the president are limited, and they could take a while to translate into lower prices at the gas pump.

Trump’s decision to end the clean vehicle rules will hinder the electric vehicle industry, which has created thousands of jobs across the U.S., including in Arizona. Some analysts believe that market forces will still drive a transition to electric vehicles in the long term.

‘Drill, baby, drill’

Talking to reporters Monday morning, incoming administration officials touted the effort as delivering on Trump’s promise to “drill, baby, drill” to deliver for the country’s economy.

They will help the U.S. “stay at the global forefront” of technology and provide power for technologies important for national security, like artificial intelligence, officials said.

“If I don’t win, you will have no auto industry in two to three years,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan last year. “China’s going to take all of your business because of the electric car.”

USA TODAY’s Joey Garrison contributed to this report.

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Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California

Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 3 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “weak,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown. All times on the map are Pacific time. The New York Times

A minor earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.5 struck in Central California on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The temblor happened at 7:17 a.m. Pacific time about 6 miles northwest of Pinnacles, Calif., data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Pacific time. Shake data is as of Monday, March 2 at 10:20 a.m. Eastern. Aftershocks data is as of Monday, March 2 at 11:18 a.m. Eastern.

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US says Kuwait accidentally shot down 3 American jets

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

US says Kuwait accidentally shot down 3 American jets

The U.S. and Israel have been conducting strikes against targets in Iran since Saturday morning, with the aim of toppling Tehran’s clerical regime. Iran has fired back, with retaliatory assaults featuring missiles and drones targeting several Gulf countries and American bases in the Middle East.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” Central Command said.

“The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” it added.

In a separate statement later Monday, Central Command said that American forces had been killed during combat since the strikes began.

“As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries,” it said.

Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” Central Command added.

This story has been updated.

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Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war

Smoke rises over Konarak naval base in southern Iran on Sunday. The base was one of hundreds of targets of U.S. and Israeli forces throughout the country.

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Commercial satellite images are providing a unique look at the extent of damage being done to Iran’s military facilities across the country.

The U.S. and Israeli military campaign opened with a daytime attack that struck Iranian leadership in central Tehran. Smoke was still visible rising from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound following the attack that killed the supreme leader.

An image by the company Airbus taken on Saturday shows the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Iran’s Leadership House in central Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening wave of attacks.

Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026

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Israel and the U.S. have gone on to strike targets across the country. Reports on social media indicate that there have been numerous military bases and compounds attacked all over Iran, and Iran has responded with attacks throughout the Middle East.

U.S. forces have also been striking at Iran’s navy. In a post on his social media platform, President Trump said that he had been briefed that U.S. forces had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels. U.S. Central Command did not immediately confirm that number but it did say it had struck an Iranian warship in port.

An image captured on February 28 shows a ship burning at Iran's naval base at Konarak.

An image captured on Saturday shows a ship burning at Iran’s naval base at Konarak.

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Numerous satellite images show burning vessels at Konarak naval base in southern Iran. Images also show damage to a nearby airbase where hardened hangers were struck by precision munitions.

Hardened aircraft shelters at Konarak airbase were struck with precision munitions.

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And there was extensive damage at a drone base in the same area. Iran has launched numerous drones and missiles toward Israel and U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Many drones have been intercepted but videos on social media show that some have evaded air defenses and caused damage in nearby Gulf countries. In Dubai, debris from an Iranian drone damaged the iconic Burj Al Arab, according to a statement from Dubai’s government.

Buildings at an Iranian drone base at Konarak were destroyed in the strikes.

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Iran’s most powerful weapons are its long-range missiles. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have hidden the missiles deep inside mountain tunnels. Images taken Sunday in the mountains of northern Iran indicate that some of those tunnels were hit in a wave of strikes.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran declared 40 days of mourning. Satellite images showed mourners gathering in Tehran’s Enghelab square on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told NPR on Sunday that Iran will continue to fight “foreign aggression, foreign domination.”

A White House official told NPR that Trump plans to talk to Iran’s interim leadership “eventually,” but that for now, U.S. operations continue in the region “unabated.”

A large crowd of mourners fill Enghelab Square in Tehran on Sunday, following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

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