via The Hill News — The Trump administration on Friday moved to relax fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. The Transportation Department took aim at Obama-era standards, arguing that they exceed the scope of the government’s authority. The Obama administration set standards for both the whole vehicle and its engine. The Trump administration now says that the government…

(Reuters) -JetBlue and United Airlines have cleared the U.S. Department of Transportation’s review of their planned partnership which allows them to proceed with the implementation, the companies said on Tuesday. JetBlue had been seeking partnerships after a federal judge blocked its alliance with American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) in 2023. In May, JetBlue and United unveiled a partnership, dubbed "Blue Sky", that would allow travelers to book flights on both carriers’ websites, while interchangeably earning and using points in their frequent flyer programs. Under the agreement, JetBlue would also provide United access to slots at the congested JFK International Airport at New York for up to seven daily round-trip flights, set to begin in 2027. The company said that the partnership is expected to contribute $50 million more in incremental operating profit than it had initially planned. "We believe Blue Sky will enable each airline to offer its customers access to hundreds of new flights and destinations through a traditional interline agreement," said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s president in a statement. Spirit Airlines (OTC:SAVEQ) in June had urged the U.S. transportation body to reject the collaboration between the two carriers, saying it was anticompetitive and would prompt other large carriers to pursue similar deals. Antitrust officials under the Trump administration have been taking a more lenient approach to corporate deals, a shift from the stricter stance seen under Biden. In June, they approved several multibillion-dollar deals in just one week, signaling a greater willingness to settle with companies. More than 100 transactions have been granted shorter reviews this year, according to FTC data from July. JetBlue and United said that Blue Sky would begin introducing new customer benefits starting in fall 2025, rolling them out in phases.

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Airlines already have incentives to reimburse passengers voluntarily, the administration said

McCormack has served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy since January 2025.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants travelers to be on their best behavior and "dress respectfully" when they fly.