President Trump and top Republican lawmakers are mounting fresh opposition to extending enhanced unemployment benefits to the millions of Americans who are still out of work, even as the administration prepared to release new jobless figures today that illustrate the ongoing devastation wrought by the novel coronavirus, the Washington Post reported. The reluctance by the White House and top GOP leaders drew sharp rebukes from congressional Democrats, who argue that the coronavirus outbreak threatens to further ravage the U.S. workforce unless the government authorizes additional aid. Their clash could intensify in the next six weeks, as policymakers stare down a July deadline while the country’s labor market is expected to only worsen. More than 36 million Americans already have sought unemployment benefits over eight weeks, the Labor Department reported in its most recent update, with many more expected to join their ranks in the agency’s imminent report. At issue is the enhanced unemployment aid that Congress approved in late March, which includes an extra $600 in weekly payments to out-of-work Americans. On Tuesday, President Trump articulated his reluctance to extend those benefits during a closed-door lunch with Senate Republicans, many of whom share his concern that the expanded federal payments deter people from returning to work. The enhanced benefits expire in July. Top congressional Republicans signaled support for paring back these benefits during a meeting on Tuesday attended by Vice President Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Party leaders also agreed to delay another round of coronavirus aid for three to four weeks.
