White House Floats Sending Checks To Out-Of-Work Americans ‘Immediately’

March 17, 2020
President Donald Trump, joined by members of the Coronavirus Task Force, speaks about the coronavirus in the press briefing room at the White House on March 16, 2020. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
|
March 17, 2020

The White House held another coronavirus task force news briefing on the outbreak this morning, during which the administration encouraged Americans to file their taxes on time, but announced the government would allow interest-free payment deferments for those who owe money to the IRS.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also announced the administration was “looking” at putting in place some form of means-tested cash assistance to Americans out of work because of the outbreak.

“We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” he said. “And what we heard from hardworking Americans, many companies are now shut down whether bars or restaurants, Americans need cash now and the President wants to get cash now. I mean now or in the next two weeks.”

In the 90 minute press conference, President Trump also threw cold water on his feud with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), the vice president urged construction companies to donate their respiratory masks to medical professionals and White House health expert Deborah Birx suggested some of the initial COVID-19 tests used around the world were faulty, “resulting in false positives and potentially false negatives.”

Continue scrolling to read our coverage of the press briefing in real time.

Watch Live

More Less

The White House held another coronavirus task force news briefing on the outbreak this morning, during which the administration encouraged Americans to file their taxes on time, but announced the government would allow interest-free payment deferments for those who owe money to the IRS.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also announced the administration was “looking” at putting in place some form of means-tested cash assistance to Americans out of work because of the outbreak.

“We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” he said. “And what we heard from hardworking Americans, many companies are now shut down whether bars or restaurants, Americans need cash now and the President wants to get cash now. I mean now or in the next two weeks.”

In the 90 minute press conference, President Trump also threw cold water on his feud with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), the vice president urged construction companies to donate their respiratory masks to medical professionals and White House health expert Deborah Birx suggested some of the initial COVID-19 tests used around the world were faulty, “resulting in false positives and potentially false negatives.”

Continue scrolling to read our coverage of the press briefing in real time.

Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: