Fresh turmoil in US as Trump fails to sign $900bn Covid relief bill into law
Millions of Americans have temporarily lost their unemployment benefits after President Donald Trump failed to sign the Covid relief bill into law.
US p resident-elect Joe Biden had warned of "devastating consequences" if Mr Trump continued to delay signing
Despite this the Saturday deadline passed with no movement from the outgoing p resident.
The package worth $900bn (£665 bn) was approved by Congress after months of difficult negotiations. Mr Trump refused to sign the bipartisan package as he was demanding larger Covid-19 relief cheques.
The bill includes the payment of $600 to Americans earning less than $75,000 a year. Mr Trump wants Americans to receive $2000 but Republicans in Congress refused to agree to the change.
In a tweet on Saturday evening, Mr Trump again defended his position on the issue, blaming China for the coronavirus outbreak.
The coronavirus economic relief is part of a $2.3 trillion spending package that includes $1.4tn for normal federal government spending.
A partial government shutdown will begin tomorrow unless legislators pass a stopgap bill before then.
About 14 million Americans would be affected by a lapse in unemployment benefit payments and new stimulus cheques.
Mr Bid en described Mr Trump's refusal to sign the bill as an abdication of responsibility . "It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don't know if they'll be able to make ends meet be cause of President Donald Trump's refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority," Mr Biden said.
He praised the example of members of Congress in compromising and reaching a bipartisan agreement, adding: "President Trump should join them and make sure millions of Americans can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads in this holiday season."
Mr Trump defended his position.
"I simply want to get our great people $2000 rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill," Mr Trump tweeted from Palm Beach, where he is spending the Christmas holiday.
The coronavirus aid relief bill – with the larger budget bill rolled in – overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives and Senate last Monday but, a day later, Mr Trump issued an implied veto threat, describing the package as a "disgrace" full of "wasteful" items.
He balked at the annual aid money for other countries in the federal budget, arguing that those funds should instead go to struggling Americans.
Mr Trump's decision to bat the measure back to Capitol Hill stunned politicians since he has largely stayed out of negotiations.
Treasur y S ecretar y Steven Mnuchin proposed the $600 payments early this month and many have questioned why the president waited until now to object.
"I've been talking to people who are scared they're going to be kicked out from their homes, during the Christmas holidays, and still might be if we don't sign this bill," said US representative Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat.