15
Trump then became more willing to
push back on his medical advisers, say-
ing they want to “shut down the whole
world” and “you can’t do that.” The
President’s new emphasis served to un-
dermine the clear, consistent messaging
crucial in a public-health crisis. Nor is
the vacillation necessarily over. Trump’s
natural inclination is to ease restrictions
on commerce, a senior Administration
official noted, but “if information comes
back to him and doctors say there could
be severe physical harm,” he may be
open to extending limits on large gath-
erings. States are free to leave their own
restrictions in place or impose new
ones, and Trump may leave it to them to
take the lead, the official said. Yet some
will surely take their cues from the Pres-
ident if he relaxes the federal guidance.
“It’s a nightmare,” the Administra-
tion official says of the situation. “It’s a
freaking nightmare.” □In the early hours of March 25,
the Senate and White House
reached a landmark deal on
a $2 trillion relief package
for millions of Americans
and businesses hurt by the
coronavirus pandemic. The
bargain, agreed to after days of
nonstop negotiations, paves the
way for the largest aid package
in U.S. history. Lawmakers were
still negotiating details midweek,
but expected to vote the bill
into law within days. “This is a
wartime level of investment into
our nation,” said Senate majority
leader Mitch McConnell after
announcing the deal. Here are six
key provisions.DIRECT PAYMENTS TO
AMERICANS. American
taxpayers earning up to $75,
will receive $1,200, and couples
earning up to $150,000 will
receive $2,400. Beyond those
amounts, payments will decrease
for individuals earning up to
$99,000 and couples earning
$198,000. Congressional
aides said details were still
coming together, but that every
child in single- and two-parent
households earning less than
$198,000 will also receive a
$500 payment. It is unclear when
the payments will start.EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE. The government
will provide people who are
unemployed with a $600 weekly
stipend for up to four months, on
top of benefits already provided
by states. These payments will go
to people who have been laid offor furloughed, and to out-of-work
members of the gig economy.$150 BILLION FOR HEALTH
CARE. The deal allots
$150 billion for the health care
system and hospitals, which have
been sounding the alarm that
they will soon exceed capacity
and are already running low on
critical supplies; $100 billion will
go directly to hospitals, and the
additional funds will go toward
supplies, medical research and
workforce increases.LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
Lawmakers say they are
allocating at least $360 billion
to help small businesses and
nonprofits. Much of that will go
to businesses to pay workers,
mortgage interest and rent.
Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey
said businesses of up to 500
employees are eligible for this
assistance.LOANS TO STATE GOVERN-
MENTS AND INDUSTRIES. The
Treasury Department will create
a fund worth $500 billion or more
to assist local and state govern-
ments and industries hit by the
pandemic. According to Toomey,
the Treasury will also make
$46 billion in direct financial
assistance, including $25 billion
to airlines, $17 billion for national
security and $4 billion for cargo.OVERSIGHT OF CORPORATE
USE OF FUNDS. Democrats
fought for stringent oversight
of the Treasury fund, arguing
that Trump, Vice President Mike
Pence and Treasury Secretary
Steven Mnuchin could personally
benefit from the funds without
anyone knowing. The GOP agreed
to appoint an inspector general
to oversee the fund, and any
businesses controlled by Trump,
Pence, Mnuchin, or heads of
executive departments or their
spouses, in-laws or offspring are
barred from receiving loans.
—Alana Abramson and
Philip ElliottWhat’s in the $2 trillion bailoutChuck Schumer
led negotiations
for Senate
Democrats ▷BRMEMO.indd 15 3/25/20 6:08 PM