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Photo: Yuri Gripas / Bloomberg |
Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans expire today after US President Donald Trump failed to sign the new package of benefits and costs related to the pandemic, which totals 2.3 trillion. dollars He said that was not enough to help people, Reuters reports.
This week, the head of state surprised both Republicans and Democrats by saying he was unhappy with the bill, which provides $ 892 billion in much-needed Covid-19 benefits, including an extension of special unemployment benefits that They expire on December 26. and 1.4 trillion. dollars for ordinary public spending.
Without Trump’s signature, around 14 million people could lose these additional benefits, according to data from the Labor Ministry. The partial suspension of the government will begin on Tuesday, unless the situation changes.
After months of controversy, just last weekend Republicans and Democrats agreed on a package endorsed by the White House. Trump, who will hand over power to President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, did not object to the terms of the deal before Congress voted on it Monday night.
But since then, he has complained that too much money has been spent on special interests, cultural projects and foreign aid, while the one-time aid of $ 600 for millions of troubled Americans is too small. He insists that the amount be increased to $ 2,000.
“Why don’t politicians want to give the people $ 2,000 instead of just $ 600? … Give the money to our people,” the billionaire president wrote on Twitter on Christmas Day. He spent most of his vacations playing golf at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Many economists agree that aid is too small, but say immediate support is welcome and necessary.
A source familiar with the situation said Trump’s objections to the bill surprised many White House officials. Although the president’s strategy regarding the bill remains unclear, he has not vetoed and may still sign the document in the coming days.
Today, Trump is expected to remain at his mansion, where the bill was sent, and awaits his decision.
Biden, whose election victory Trump refused to acknowledge, is spending the holidays at his home in Delaware. He has no public appearances scheduled for Saturday.
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