Tag: cost

  • Elon Musk’s DOGE launches agency accounts to solicit cost savings tips

    Elon Musk’s DOGE launches agency accounts to solicit cost savings tips

    Elon Musk’s Department of Government of Efficiency (DOGE) on Monday launched new social media accounts for a slate of federal agencies to make it easier for the public to provide tips about waste, fraud and abuse.

    David Sacks, who is serving as the Trump White House’s artificial intelligence and crypto czar, wrote in a post on X, “There are now @DOGE accounts for every department, exposing the waste, fraud and abuse. Awesome.”

    DOGE accounts were created on X for more than two dozen agencies. Those accounts are listed as affiliates with the main DOGE account.

    The posts said that “DOGE is seeking help from the public!” and instructed the public to “DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste, fraud and abuse relating to the agency.

    WHAT HAS DOGE CUT SO FAR?

    Elon Musk’s DOGE launched new affiliate accounts on X for public suggestions in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/GC Images / Getty Images)

    Among the agencies with new DOGE-oriented accounts on X include:

    • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    • Department of Defense (DOD)
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    • Department of Transportation (DOT)
    • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    • Department of Justice (DOJ)
    • Department of Labor (DOL)
    • Department of Energy (DOE)
    • Treasury Department
    • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
    • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    • Commerce Department
    • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
    • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
    • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
    • National Science Foundation (NSF)
    • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
    • Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
    • Department of Education (ED)
    • Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
    • Social Security Administration (SSA)
    • National Park Service (NPS)
    • Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
    • Department of the Interior (DOI)
    • Small Business Administration (SBA)
    • State Department
    • Government Services Administration (GSA)

    DOGE ASKS PUBLIC FOR ‘INSIGHTS’ ON POTENTIAL WASTE AT SEC

    DOGE and Elon Musk X accounts

    DOGE has a website where it’s spotlighting its cost-cutting efforts. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    As of early Tuesday, the accounts have only solicited suggestions from the public about identifying and addressing waste, fraud and abuse, but haven’t posted DOGE’s cuts at the respective agencies.

    DOGE launched a website last week that was updated on Monday to include a “wall of receipts” that features the DOGE team’s moves to cancel various contracts and leases to save money.

    The website also features a pair of top 10 lists breaking down the agencies where DOGE has saved the most money through canceling contracts and which agencies saw the largest contract savings as a percentage of the agency’s budget.

    USAID logo with big crack

    DOGE has targeted USAID as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to move it into the State Department. (Getty Images/Photo illustration / FOXBusiness)

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    The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which DOGE and the Trump administration are looking to absorb into the State Department, topped both lists. 

    The Department of Education ranked second in terms of total contract savings, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was second in terms of savings as a share of the agency budget.

  • Ford CEO says tariffs bringing ‘a lot of cost and a lot of chaos’

    Ford CEO says tariffs bringing ‘a lot of cost and a lot of chaos’

    Ford CEO Jim Farley said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s tariff push has so far brought “a lot of cost and a lot of chaos” to the auto industry despite the president’s aims to help the industry.

    “President Trump has talked a lot about making our U.S. auto industry stronger, bringing more production here, more innovation to the U.S., and if this administration can achieve that, it would be one of the most signature accomplishments,” Farley said at an analyst conference in Detroit.

    “So far, what we’re seeing is a lot of cost and a lot of chaos,” he added.

    Farley also said that if Trump’s 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada are implemented and remain in effect for the long term, it would “blow a hole” in the U.S. auto industry, with rivals from Asia and Europe poised to benefit.

    FORD EXPECTING MOUNTING EV LOSSES THIS YEAR

    Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that tariffs on Mexico and Canada would “blow a hole” in the U.S. auto industry over the long term. (Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    “Let’s be real honest: Long term, a 25% tariff across Mexico and Canada borders would blow a hole in the U.S. industry that we have never seen,” Farley said. “Frankly, it gives free rein to South Korean, Japanese and European companies that are bringing 1.5 million to 2 million vehicles into the U.S. that wouldn’t be subject to those Mexican and Canadian tariffs. It would be one of the biggest windfalls for those companies ever.”

    “Meanwhile, we’re USMCA-compliant with almost all of our content, finished vehicles and components going across the borders. To have the kind of a size of tariff would be devastating,” Farley said.

    Ticker Security Last Change Change %
    F FORD MOTOR CO. 9.21 -0.03 -0.32%
    GM GENERAL MOTORS CO. 46.70 +0.13 +0.28%
    STLA STELLANTIS NV 13.09 +0.12 +0.93%

    FORD EXECUTIVE BELIEVES TRUMP AND MUSK WANT TO ‘STRENGTHEN’ THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY

    Manufacturing workers in auto industry

    Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that foreign automakers would benefit if Trump’s 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada are implemented. (Photographer: Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is less exposed to fallout from tariffs on Canada and Mexico than its crosstown rival General Motors or Stellantis, the parent company of brands such as Jeep and Dodge, analysts said.

    That’s because more of Ford’s manufacturing base is located within the U.S. and the vehicles that it does import from outside the country tend to be less profit-rich than the products its rivals import.

    FORD MUSTANG MACH-E SALES SURPASS TRADITIONAL MUSTANG

    Ford logo

    Ford execs said the company sources much of its steel and aluminum domestically, so those pending tariffs wouldn’t be as harmful to its operations. (Jeff Kowalsky / Getty Images)

    Ford is considering areas in which it can build up inventory to prepare for potential 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, executives said Tuesday. 

    Those tariffs were planned to take effect in early February, but Trump delayed them until at least March after Canada and Mexico announced border security measures.

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    Trump’s announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum that are scheduled to take effect next month was discussed with Ford executives noting the company gets 90% of its steel from the U.S. and about 10% from Canada, while the company’s aluminum is also primarily sourced domestically.

    Reuters contributed to this report.

  • Super Bowl 2025: What this year’s game meal with cost

    Super Bowl 2025: What this year’s game meal with cost

    Wells Fargo economists said navigating the supermarket for the Super Bowl food will be a challenge, as game-day food pricing will fluctuate like a “seesaw.” Some fan favorites will cost as much as 12% more compared with last year, while others will see significant price decreases. 

    A menu of food and drinks for 10 people is estimated to cost just over $139, Wells Fargo Chief Agricultural Economist Michael Swanson said in a recent report. It’s in line with the same price paid in 2024, which was only about 10 cents more.

    “Consumers are faced with the new challenge of becoming ‘food fluent’ given ongoing price fluctuation,” the report said. The reason for this is that some categories can grow supply much faster, like field vegetables versus avocados, which take years to expand. Secondly, some categories just have strong consumer demand, according to Swanson.

    A menu of food and drinks for 10 people is estimated to cost just over $139, Wells Fargo Chief Agricultural Economist Michael Swanson said in a recent report. (Scott Suchman for The Washington Post  / Getty Images)

    “Unlike the last four years, there are both food prices that are falling as well as rising,” Swanson told FOX Business. “The option the last couple of years were whether they went up a lot or a little.”

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    He said that there are “important categories that are noticeably lower than last year.” For instance, he referenced categories like frozen pizza, which saw its price decline year over year. 

    “That speaks to a competitive supply taking advantage of good harvests for crops,” Swanson said.

    But this seesawing means that consumers will have choices that can save them money. For instance, Swanson noted that consumer demand drove up costs for things like avocados and chicken wings, but consumers can use shrimp tacos for savings with lower prices than a year ago.

    If saving money this year is top of mind, Swanson said this year’s Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute pricing chart identifies what to avoid. 

    Chart showing food price differences from last year. (Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute )

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    Vegetables: 

    Certain vegetables like broccoli saw costs fall 7.2% compared with 2024. But cherry tomatoes are up 11.9% compared with this time last year.

    Avocados: 

    Fresh avocado prices are up 11.5% compared with a year ago. Prepared guacamole dip is up only 1.5% over the same period. Making guacamole from scratch, despite the rise in avocados, will be cost-effective, according to Wells Fargo. 

    Avocados are seen in a grocery market in New York. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Chicken Wings: 

    Chicken wing prices are up 7.2% versus last year. 

    Shrimp: 

    Whole frozen shrimp have come down 4% compared with last year.   

    Snacks 

    The costs for tortilla and potato chips are down, with the total cost of chips and guacamole dip two cents higher than in 2024. 

    Beverage 

    Beer and wine prices are up 2% compared with last year. Consumers who are opting for soda should grab two-liter bottles versus 12-ounce cans.

  • Trump’s AI czar flags report indicating DeepSeek’s true cost of developing its AI models

    Trump’s AI czar flags report indicating DeepSeek’s true cost of developing its AI models

    President Donald Trump’s artificial intelligence (AI) czar, David Sacks, is pointing to evidence that China’s DeepSeek AI startup spent a lot more money developing its models than has been reported.

    DeepSeek sent the U.S tech sector into turmoil on Monday after reporting that it had spent only $5.567 million to train its DeepSeek-V3 AI model, which is purportedly competitive with some AI models developed in the United States that cost billions. 

    David Sacks, CEO of Zenefits, speaks during 2016 TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, California, September 13, 2016.  (Reuters/Beck Diefenbach / Reuters)

    “New report by leading semiconductor analyst Dylan Patel shows that DeepSeek spent over $1 billion on its compute cluster,” Sacks wrote on X on Friday. “The widely reported $6M number is highly misleading, as it excludes capex and R&D, and at best describes the cost of the final training run only.”

    THE DEEPSEEK AI CHATBOT BURST ONTO THE SCENE: ARE FEARS ABOUT IT OVERBLOWN?

    After revealing the $5.5 million figure in its report, DeepSeek had added, “Note that the aforementioned costs only include the official training of DeepSeek-V3, excluding the costs associated with prior research and ablation experiments on architecture, algorithms, or data.”

    Earlier this week, tech mogul Palmer Luckey slammed the U.S. media for widely reporting the $5 million figure from DeepSeek, accusing the press of ignoring that a significant portion of the Chinese AI company’s infrastructure costs were still unknown.

    Anduril founder Palmer Luckey

    Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, during an interview on “The Circuit with Emily Chang” at Anduril’s headquarters in Costa Mesa, California, US, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.  (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    US REPORTEDLY INVESTIGATING WHETHER CHINA’S DEEPSEEK USED RESTRICTED AI CHIPS

    “I think the problem is they put out that number specifically to harm U.S. companies,” Luckey told FOX Business’ “That Claman Countdown.” “You had a lot of useful idiots in U.S. media kind of just mindlessly reporting that that’s the case, and neither China nor the media nor DeepSeek has any kind of incentive to correct the record as a lot of U.S. companies like Nvidia crashed to the tunes of hundreds of billions of dollars.”

    DeepSeek’s model appears able to match the capability of chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama but at a fraction of the development cost. It also rose to No. 1 on the Apple App Store over the weekend and reportedly can use reduced-capability chips from Nvidia.

    Those revelations slammed the U.S. tech sector on Monday.

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    “There’s a reason they put out the news that way, and if the stock market is any indication, it’s accomplishing exactly what they hoped to,” Luckey added. “So, look: We can recognize that Chinese AI is a real competitive threat without losing our minds over it and falling for CCP [Chinese Communist Party] propaganda.”

  • Philadelphia sports fan proves acting out can cost you your job

    Philadelphia sports fan proves acting out can cost you your job

    In today’s digital world, it’s increasingly difficult to for employees get away unscathed if they act out in public, even if it’s not considered to be egregious.

    Trial attorney and co-managing partner at New-York based Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP, Misty Marris told FOX Business that employee conduct outside the work place can easily follow you right back into the office, and it can even cost someone their job. 

    It’s nothing new and yet, time and time again, there are occurrences when someone, including sports fans, go too far and subsequently, loses from their job. 

    5 MOST INFAMOUS FAN MOMENTS IN SPORTS

    One of the latest examples happened this week when a Philadelphia Eagles fan at the center of a vile incident during the NFC wild-card game in Philadelphia lost his job at a New Jersey-based DEI-focused consulting firm this week.

    The fan, identified as Ryan Caldwell, was seen in the viral video getting into the face of a female Green Bay Packers fan and calling her a “dumb c—” while her fiancé recorded the situation. He also taunted the man with other disgusting gestures. 

    Offices, in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, US, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    “Camera phones and social media have really blurred the line between what is work related when it comes to off the clock activities,” Marris said. 

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    However, “whether an employee can get fired for actions taken outside the workplace is pretty fact specific”, according to Marris. 

    It depends on several factors including the nature of the conduct as well as what state the employee and employer are located in. Additionally, private companies are not bound by first amendment protections, which means an employee’s public statements or actions can be taken into consideration by the employer, according to Marris. 

    But “something does not need to be egregious to result in a termination, although with everything in the law there are exceptions,” Marris said.

    Workers in an office

    Employees at tech startup company Fast work at their desks in the office on March 24, 2021 in San Francisco, California.  (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Jam Press)

    According to Marris, most states follow “at-will” employment, which means an employee can be fired for any reason or no reason, except for protected class status, which is a legal status that protects people from discrimination.

    But this doesn’t apply to government employees, union members, or those with employment contracts, where termination rules are based on the terms of their agreements.

    Many contracts or union agreements include “for cause” clauses, which define acceptable reasons for termination. Additionally, some companies have policies protecting employees for lawful activities outside the workplace, even for at-will employees.

    Some companies might also have policies about lawful activities outside the workplace that could provide protection even when an employee is “at will,” according to Marris. 

    Manhattan psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert told FOX Business that employees should “develop an ability to keep strong emotions in check and overall good mental health.” 

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    “This starts with understanding the situations that are likely to provoke you. Instead of reacting impulsively, take a moment to pause and consider the potential consequences of your actions,” Alpert said, adding that “techniques such as deep breathing, stepping away from the situation, or redirecting your energy toward something constructive can make a significant difference.” 

    tired or stressed businessman in office

    A usinessman sitting in front of computer in office (iStock / iStock)

    If people turn to therapy, it’s vital that therapists equip them with practical tools to make meaningful changes, according to Alpert, who is the author of, “Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days.”

    “True progress comes from learning to take responsibility and ownership of your behavior, and implementing strategies that help you maintain composure in challenging situations. By doing so, you not only safeguard your personal and professional reputation, but also demonstrate the kind of composure and maturity that others respect and admire,” he said.