As Congress races to come together on a fifth coronavirus stimulus package with cases skyrocketing across the country, the Trump administration is actively working to block "billions of dollars" in federal funding for testing and the Centers for Disease Control, according to a new report from the Washington Post.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump exits the Oval Office and walks toward Marine ... [+] 
Congress is readying for a frantic push to come together on a fifth coronavirus stimulus package with just 11 days to act before lawmakers break for August recess and as the U.S. continues to break records for new daily cases.
The Post reports that Trump administration officials are trying to persuade Senate Republicans to remove billions of dollars in funding for coronavirus testing and the CDCvfrom a stimulus proposal GOP senators will release this week.
The White House request has reportedly "angered" GOP senators, and some Republicans have pushed back, adamant the funding should stay in the bill.
The Post report comes as Trump continues to swipe at the CDC: on Friday, the president said he "doesn't agree" with the CDC. director's mask guidance and earlier, the Trump administration stripped the agency of control over coronavirus data.
The Trump administration has sent mixed messages about its priorities for a fifth package, part of an "epic clash" occurring in the White House, Fox Business reported this week.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is pressing for another round of stimulus checks and even extending some variation of the $600 expanded unemployment program, while other administration officials want to work around the edges with proposals like a payroll tax holiday.
"We have not heard a peep from McConnell or the Republicans or the administration on any proposal, even though we've been asking for weeks and weeks and weeks," Schumer said on a conference call Friday about the GOP stimulus bill, CNN reported.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney penned an op-ed in CNBC this week in which he argued the U.S. still has a "testing problem." "Any stimulus should be directed at the root cause of our recession: dealing with Covid," Mulvaney writes. "I know it isn't popular to talk about in some Republican circles, but we still have a testing problem in this country."
Trump administration pushing to block new money for testing, tracing, and CDC in upcoming coronavirus relief bill ( Washington Post)
Schumer says McConnell and Republicans refuse to meet with Democrats on stimulus as GOP proposal looms (CNN)
Op-ed: We still have a coronavirus 'testing problem in this country' (CNBC)
Mnuchin Stakes Out Aggressive Stance On Stimulus As Rest Of White House Hedges ( Forbes)
I cover national politics for Forbes. Previously, I've written for TIME, Newsweek, the New York Daily News and VICE News. I also launched my own startup, Newsreel, a
...
All Rights Reserved © 2024
