US Pres. Trump signs four executive orders on coronavirus relief aid

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus cases topping 5 million cases and two-week of US fiscal wrangling, US President Donald Trump signed four executive orders on Saturday, partly restoring enhanced unemployment payments the Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

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“The orders would provide an extra $400 per week in unemployment payments, less than the $600 per week passed earlier in the crisis. 

The orders would suspend the collection of payroll taxes till December, with people earning upto $100,000/ annum.

Orders would also stop evictions from rental housing that has federal financial backing and extend zero percent interest on federally financed student loans.”

Trump said: “I’m not saying they’re not going to come back and negotiate. Hopefully, we can do something with them at a later date.”    

This comes after the White House officials and congressional Democrats ended nearly two weeks of talks over the fiscal aid on Friday, with the two sides still about $2 trillion apart.