The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced plans to expand its free tax filing program, Direct File, nationwide by 2025. During the 2024 tax season, over 140,000 users successfully filed returns using Direct File, saving an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees. While the pilot program focused on simple filings, the IRS will provide more details on the expansion later this year.
In other news, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet approved Boeing to increase its 737 Max production. In February, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to develop a quality improvement plan following a door plug incident on an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Boeing’s CEO has stated that the company has received over 30,000 comments on how to improve their operations.
Moderna is currently working on a bird flu vaccine and has confirmed that the U.S. government is close to funding a late-stage trial for it. The government is also reportedly in discussions with Pfizer about a similar vaccine. Most cases of bird flu are found in livestock workers who are in close contact with infected poultry or cattle.
Finally, a survey conducted by LendingTree has revealed that 78% of Americans now view fast food as a luxury rather than a cheap and quick meal option. Due to higher prices, many people are cutting back on items like Big Macs and Chalupas, with two-thirds of survey respondents expressing surprise at their recent fast-food bills. This shift in perception is a result of higher inflation, marking a significant cultural change in how fast food is perceived in the United States.
