Sidestepping Congress, Donald Trump signs executive measures for coronavirus relief

President Donald Trump took executive action on Saturday to circumvent Congress and try to extend an array of federal pandemic relief, resorting to a legally dubious set of edicts whose impact was unclear, as negotiations over an economic recovery package appeared on the brink of collapse.

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It was not clear what authority Trump had to act on his own on the measures or what immediate effect, if any, they would have, given that Congress controls federal spending. But his decision to sign the measures — billed as a federal eviction ban, a payroll tax suspension, and relief for student borrowers and the unemployed — reflected the failure of two weeks of talks between White House officials and top congressional Democrats to strike a deal on a broad relief plan as crucial benefits have expired with no resolution in sight.

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Trump’s move also illustrated the heightened concern of a president staring down reelection in the middle of a historic recession and a pandemic, determined to show voters that he was doing something to address the crises. But despite Trump’s assertions on Saturday that his actions “will take care of this entire situation,” the orders also leave a number of critical bipartisan funding proposals unaddressed, including providing assistance to small businesses, billions of dollars to schools before the new school year, aid to states and cities, and the second round of $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans.

Trump accused the Democrats of holding up negotiations with demands for provisions that appeared to have little to do with the pandemic, though he made little mention of similar, seemingly unrelated items — including money for a new building for the FBI — in the $1 trillion proposal Republicans unveiled last month.

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Democrats have refused to agree to that plan, pressing instead for a far more expansive economic relief package, at least twice as large, that would extend $600-per-week enhanced federal jobless aid payments the Republicans are seeking to reduce if revived and provide billions more for schools, states and cities and food aid.

It was unclear whether the aid would even materialise if lawsuits are filed challenging their legality. Trump walked away from the lectern after just a few questions from reporters about his claim that he had the ability to circumvent Congress.