“If Democrats continue to hold this critical relief hostage, I will act under my authority as President to get Americans the relief they need,” Trump said during a press briefing.
Trump laid out a plan to use executive orders to extend enhanced unemployment benefits through the end of the year (though he declined to say at what level those benefits would be extended), defer student loan payments and forgive interest “until further notice” (a policy that will likely apply only to federal loans) and extend an eviction moratorium for certain renters.
Negotiations on Friday reached what could be a permanent impasse after a self-imposed deadline came and went without an agreement or any significant progress; White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that they would recommend Trump move ahead with executive action after Friday’s unsuccessful meeting.
Trump also said he would use an executive order to defer the payroll tax through the end of the year, and possibly longer, with that deferment being retroactive to July 1.
