COVID-19 Relief Negotiations

It has been a very confusing week for negotiations on an additional COVID-19 relief package. Negotiations were continuing between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin when the President—back at the White House after receiving treatment for COVID-19 over the weekend—stated Tuesday on Twitter that he had told negotiators to halt conversations until after Election Day. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also stated this week that he thought an additional relief package “unlikely” before the election.

But then, in what has become a regular occurrence in Washington DC now, President Trump seemed to reverse course and began tweeting his support for a “big” COVID relief package, and there are now reports in the press that the President has supported a package totaling $1.8 trillion. You will remember that the House of Representatives passed two COVID relief packages, one over $3 trillion and another estimated at $2.2 trillion. Negotiations will continue and we will update you on the content of a package, should an agreement be reached.