csmonitor--2020-03-23--What's holding up $1.8 trillion congressional rescue plan?

Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House churned late into the night over a now nearly $ 2 trillion economic rescue package , as the coronavirus crisis deepened , the nation shut down and the first U.S. senator tested positive for the disease .
As President Donald Trump took to the podium Sunday in the White House briefing room and promised to help Americans who feel afraid and isolated as the pandemic spreads , the Senate voted Sunday against advancing the rescue package .
But talks continued on Capitol Hill .
“ I think you 'll get there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : We have to help the worker .
We have to save the companies , '' Mr. Trump said .
Later , the president suggested the remedies may be more harmful than the actual outbreak , vowing to reassess after the 15-day mark of the shutdown .
“ WE CAN NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF , ” he tweeted .
Stock markets remain volatile .
In Tokyo , shares rose 2 percent , while in Europe major indexes were down about 4 percent .
Goldman Sachs said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract by about 1 % in 2020 on the back of a 24 % drop in the United States in the second quarter , a whopping two-and-a-half times as large as the previous postwar record , Reuters reported .
Inside the otherwise emptied out Capitol , the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats , who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers .
Republicans returned to the negotiating table .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , exiting the Capitol just before midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're very close , '' he said , adding negotiators would work through the night .
“ Our nation can not afford a game of chicken , '' warned Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , his voice rising on the Senate floor Sunday night .
His goal is to vote Monday .
The Senate will re-convene at 12 noon EST .
“ This bill is going to affect this country and the lives of Americans , not just for the next few days , but in the next few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure it is good , '' he said . '
'' There were some serious problems with the bill leader McConnell laid down .
Huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversight - you wouldn ’ t even know who is getting the money .
Not enough money for hospitals , nurses , PPE , masks , all the health care needs .
No money for state and local government , many of whom would go broke .
Many other things . ''
But Senator Schumer said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're getting closer and closer .
And I ’ m very hopeful , is how I ’ d put it , that we can get a bill in the morning.
” With a population on edge and shell-shocked financial markets poised for the new work week , Washington labored under the size and scope of the rescue package that 's more ambitious than any in recent times — larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined .
Democrats say the largely GOP-led effort did not go far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid , and fails to put restraints on a proposed $ 500 billion “ slush fund ” for corporations .
They voted to block its advance .
Democrats won a concession — to provide four months of expanded unemployment benefits , rather than just three as proposed , according to an official granted anonymity to discuss the private talks .
The jobless pay also extends to self-employed and so-called “ gig ” workers .
While the congressional leaders worked into the night , alarms were being sounded from coast to coast about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the nation 's health system .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had dire , urgent news from the pandemic ’ s U.S. epicenter : “ April and May are going to be a lot worse , ” he said Sunday on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” De Blasio all but begged Washington to help procure ventilators and other medical supplies .
He accused the president of “ not lifting a finger ” to help .
Trump urged Congress to get a deal done and , during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration was sluggish to act .
He cited his cooperation with the three states hardest hit — New York , Washington and California — and invoked a measure to give governors flexibility in calling up the national guard under their control , while the federal government covers the bill .
But even as Trump stressed federal-local partnerships , some governors , including Republican Greg Abbott of Texas , expressed unhappiness with Washington 's response .
The president himself took a swipe hours earlier at Gov .
J .
B. Pritzker , D-Ill. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very small group of certain other Governors , together with Fake News '' should not be “ blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings . ''
This came as the first senator , Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky , announced he tested positive for the coronavirus .
Paul , who is a doctor and close ally of the president , said in a tweet he was not showing symptoms and was in quarantine .
Senator Paul was seen at a GOP senators ' lunch on Friday and swimming in the Senate gym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His office said he left the Senate immediately after learning his diagnosis .
A growing list of lawmakers have cycled in and out of isolation after exposure , and two members of the House have said they tested positive .
Five senators were in self-quarantine Sunday evening and could not vote .
In recent days , Trump invoked the Defense Protection Act , a rarely used , decades-old authority that can be used to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators .
Officials said Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be compelled to act .
“ We are a country not based on nationalizing our business , ” said Trump , who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats .
Two days after he lashed out at a reporter who asked about his message to frightened Americans , Trump said , `` For those worried and afraid , please know as long as I am your president , you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you.
” But minutes later , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Utah , was one of those in isolation , he declared `` Romney 's in isolation ?
Gee , that ’ s too bad . ''
Trump said he was not being sarcastic .
The urgency to act is mounting , as jobless claims skyrocket and the financial markets are set to re-open Monday eager for signs that Washington can soften the blow of the healthcare crisis and what experts say is a looming recession .
Stock futures declined sharply as Trump spoke Sunday evening .
Officials late Sunday put the price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 2 trillion .
That does not include additional measures being taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the economy .
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin , who was leading a third day of nonstop talks on Capitol Hill , said the plan was meant to prop up the nation ’ s weakened economy for the next 10 to 12 weeks .
Central to the package is as much as $ 350 billion for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home .
There is also a one-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , or $ 3,000 for a family of four , as well as the extended unemployment benefits .
Hospitals , Mnuchin said , will get approximately $ 110 billion for the expected influx of sick patients .
The treasury secretary said a significant part of the package will involve working with the Federal Reserve for up to $ 4 trillion of liquidity to support the economy with “ broad-based lending programs.
” But Democrats , including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , have pushed for add-ons , including food security aid , small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They warned the draft plan 's $ 500 billion for corporations does not put enough restraints on business , saying the ban on corporate stock buy-backs is weak and the limits on executive pay are only for two years .
“ We 're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family , or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends , ” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
“ We 're here to help workers , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday he wanted to ensure that any company that received public money could n't use it to buy back their stock and raise its value .
The president , when pressed by a reporter , dodged a question as to whether his own business would seek federal funds .
With Sunday 's failed vote , Senator McConnell angrily blamed Pelosi , who returned to Washington for a top-level meeting , saying she “ poured cold water ” over the draft plan .
But any measure from the Senate also needs to pass the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drafts of both bills circulating among lobbyists but not yet released to the public .
They were obtained by The Associated Press .
Bev Banks contributed .
Associated Press writers Colleen Long , Hope Yen , Mary Clare Jalonick , Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , Alan Fram and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Andrew Taylor, Jonathan Lemire, and Lisa Mascard

Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House churned late into the night over a now nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package. As the coronavirus crisis deepened, the nation shut down and the first U.S. senator tested positive for the disease.
As President Donald Trump took to the podium Sunday in the White House briefing room and promised to help Americans who feel afraid and isolated as the pandemic spreads, the Senate voted Sunday against advancing the rescue package. But talks continued on Capitol Hill.
“I think you'll get there. To me it's not very complicated: We have to help the worker. We have to save the companies," Mr. Trump said.
Later, the president suggested the remedies may be more harmful than the actual outbreak, vowing to reassess after the 15-day mark of the shutdown. “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF,” he tweeted.
Stock markets remain volatile. In Tokyo, shares rose 2 percent, while in Europe major indexes were down about 4 percent. Goldman Sachs said on Monday it expected global real GDP to contract by about 1% in 2020 on the back of a 24% drop in the United States in the second quarter, a whopping two-and-a-half times as large as the previous postwar record, Reuters reported.
Inside the otherwise emptied out Capitol, the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats, who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. Republicans returned to the negotiating table.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, exiting the Capitol just before midnight, struck an optimistic note: “We're very close," he said, adding negotiators would work through the night.
“Our nation cannot afford a game of chicken," warned Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., his voice rising on the Senate floor Sunday night. His goal is to vote Monday. The Senate will re-convene at 12 noon EST.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y, also sounded an optimistic note.
“This bill is going to affect this country and the lives of Americans, not just for the next few days, but in the next few months and years - so we have to make sure it is good," he said. '"There were some serious problems with the bill leader McConnell laid down. Huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversight - you wouldn’t even know who is getting the money. Not enough money for hospitals, nurses, PPE, masks, all the health care needs. No money for state and local government, many of whom would go broke. Many other things."
But Senator Schumer said they were making progress in dealing with those issues. "We're getting closer and closer. And I’m very hopeful, is how I’d put it, that we can get a bill in the morning.”
With a population on edge and shell-shocked financial markets poised for the new work week, Washington labored under the size and scope of the rescue package that's more ambitious than any in recent times - larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined.
Democrats say the largely GOP-led effort did not go far enough to provide health care and worker aid, and fails to put restraints on a proposed $500 billion “slush fund” for corporations. They voted to block its advance.
Democrats won a concession - to provide four months of expanded unemployment benefits, rather than just three as proposed, according to an official granted anonymity to discuss the private talks. The jobless pay also extends to self-employed and so-called “gig” workers.
While the congressional leaders worked into the night, alarms were being sounded from coast to coast about the wave of coronavirus cases about to crash onto the nation's health system.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had dire, urgent news from the pandemic’s U.S. epicenter: “April and May are going to be a lot worse,” he said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
De Blasio all but begged Washington to help procure ventilators and other medical supplies. He accused the president of “not lifting a finger” to help.
Mr. Trump urged Congress to get a deal done and, during the Sunday briefing, responded to criticism that his administration was sluggish to act. He cited his cooperation with the three states hardest hit - New York, Washington, and California - and invoked a measure to give governors flexibility in calling up the national guard under their control, while the federal government covers the bill.
But even as Mr. Trump stressed federal-local partnerships, some governors, including Republican Greg Abbott of Texas, expressed unhappiness with Washington's response. The president himself took a swipe hours earlier at Gov. J. B. Pritzker, D-Ill., saying that he and “a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News," should not be “blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings."
This came as the first senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, announced he tested positive for the coronavirus. Paul, who is a doctor and close ally of the president, said in a tweet he was not showing symptoms and was in quarantine.
Senator Paul was seen at a GOP senators' lunch on Friday and swimming in the Senate gym pool on Sunday morning, heightening concerns. His office said he left the Senate immediately after learning his diagnosis.
A growing list of lawmakers have cycled in and out of isolation after exposure, and two members of the House have said they tested positive. Five senators were in self-quarantine Sunday evening and could not vote.
In recent days, Mr. Trump invoked the Defense Protection Act, a rarely used, decades-old authority that can be used to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators. Officials said Sunday that it would be used voluntarily and businesses would not be compelled to act.
“We are a country not based on nationalizing our business,” said Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats.
Two days after he lashed out at a reporter who asked about his message to frightened Americans, Mr. Trump said, "For those worried and afraid, please know as long as I am your president, you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you.”
But minutes later, when he learned that rival Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was one of those in isolation, he declared "Romney's in isolation? Gee, that’s too bad."
Mr. Trump said he was not being sarcastic.
The urgency to act is mounting, as jobless claims skyrocket and the financial markets are set to re-open Monday eager for signs that Washington can soften the blow of the healthcare crisis and what experts say is a looming recession. Stock futures declined sharply as Mr. Trump spoke Sunday evening.
Officials late Sunday put the price tag of the ballooning rescue package at nearly $2 trillion. That does not include additional measures being taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the economy.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, who was leading a third day of nonstop talks on Capitol Hill, said the plan was meant to prop up the nation’s weakened economy for the next 10 to 12 weeks.
Central to the package is as much as $350 billion for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home. There is also a one-time rebate check of about $1,200 per person, or $3,000 for a family of four, as well as the extended unemployment benefits.
Hospitals, Mr. Mnuchin said, will get approximately $110 billion for the expected influx of sick patients.
The treasury secretary said a significant part of the package will involve working with the Federal Reserve for up to $4 trillion of liquidity to support the economy with “broad-based lending programs.”
But Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have pushed for add-ons, including food security aid, small business loans and other measures for workers.
They warned the draft plan's $500 billion for corporations does not put enough restraints on business, saying the ban on corporate stock buy-backs is weak and the limits on executive pay are only for two years.
“We're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “We're here to help workers, we're here to help hospitals.”
Mr. Trump said Sunday he wanted to ensure that any company that received public money couldn't use it to buy back their stock and raise its value.
The president, when pressed by a reporter, dodged a question as to whether his own business would seek federal funds.
With Sunday's failed vote, Senator McConnell angrily blamed Ms. Pelosi, who returned to Washington for a top-level meeting, saying she “poured cold water” over the draft plan. But any measure from the Senate also needs to pass the House.
The details are coming from drafts of both bills circulating among lobbyists but not yet released to the public. They were obtained by The Associated Press.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press with contributions from Bev Banks, Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Hope Yen, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Alan Fram, and Padmananda Rama.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-23--When fighting bureaucracy means disbanding a pandemics office

Without such an office , “ can you invent it as a posse at the last minute ?
” asks a member of President George W. Bush ’ s NSC .
“ Yes .
But would it be more effective if it ’ s already on the spot ?
Yes .
And it could act faster.
” Among the groups to be disbanded : a pandemics office founded by President Barack Obama , now folded into a broader directorate that works on nuclear proliferation and terrorism .
The question today , of course , is : Could it have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area , in particular , where it could have been helpful .
It had expertise to coordinate across different agencies , especially in the early stages of the outbreak .
Founded more than 70 years ago as an advisory board for the president on matters of national security , it has grown into a bureaucracy of its own – often pulled this way and that by the agendas of those assigned to it .
For President Donald Trump , the National Security Council ( NSC ) must have seemed like an ideal place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drain the swamp .
When PBS journalist Yamiche Alcindor recently asked President Donald Trump about his decision to disband the National Security Council ’ s office for pandemics , Mr. Trump said the question was “ nasty.
” But it pointed to a fundamental tension in Mr. Trump ’ s view of government .
Can he “ streamline ” a government that he feels has become too bloated while maintaining its ability to act effectively ?
The administration sees this as essential work , returning the NSC to its core function as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving the president – instead of a growing bureaucracy pursuing a variety of agendas .
[ Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall . ]
But some former NSC officers from both Republican and Democratic administrations worry that Mr. Trump has cut into the meat of the NSC .
The disbanding of the pandemics office in 2018 under John Bolton , which was then folded into a broader directorate on issues such as nuclear proliferation and terrorism , shows the costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We live in an era of recurrent crises of this kind [ like coronavirus ] that come with greater velocity , greater impact , and cost , and we need a facility within ... the White House that has the authority to see around corners , see things early , act very quickly , and bring about accountability and coordination of the U.S. response , ” says Stephen Morrison , director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington .
“ That has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House pandemics office .
“ Some of the sluggishness and confusion that we have seen bedevil this effort since the very beginning ... [ is connected to the ] absence of effective structures within the White House itself , ” he adds .
That ’ s because a pandemics office could have filled a vital role from the first moments of the crisis – coordination .
Organizations had to spend valuable time getting on the same page .
“ In a crisis like this you don ’ t go to HHS [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to manage it .
You go to the White House where presumably you have the expertise developed to work across all the relevant agencies , ” says Peter Feaver , who was a strategic planner for President George W. Bush ’ s NSC .
“ Can you invent it as a posse at the last minute ?
Yes , ” he adds , “ But would it be more effective if it ’ s already on the spot ?
Yes .
And it could act faster.
” Moreover , when the pandemics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it lost expertise .
“ Amid a pandemic , we should prefer a team with sufficient seniority to guarantee access and trust , ” says Loren DeJonge Schulman , the NSC ’ s director of defense policy during President Barack Obama ’ s first term .
“ These are not matters you want to learn on the job in crisis.
” The National Institutes of Health leader who has become a fixture at daily White House coronavirus briefings acknowledges the team ’ s absence is felt .
“ It would be nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the NIH ’ s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told Congress March 11 .
What is the NSC for ?
To Mr. Trump , however , the NSC had become something that was never intended .
National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien said recently that the NSC had “ ballooned ” to 250 staff members under President Obama .
Mr. O ’ Brien reduced it to 175 when he took his job , and it is now at 110 , he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to re-create the State Department or the Pentagon ” within the White House , he said .
But in shrinking , the NSC has become too much of a “ yes , sir ” body that tells the president what he wants to hear , says Ms. DeJonge Schulman , who is now a national security expert at the Center for a New American Security in Washington .
“ The NSC staff is not there to implement the president ’ s every desire , but to make sure he has the best options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perspective on agency views , ” she adds .
Some also suspect that the downsizing aims to reduce the number of career officials – the “ deep state ” – seeing them not as a source of expertise but as a potential den of disloyalty .
“ It ’ s just not the case that the NSC O ’ Brien took over was too big , especially given the complexity and variety of issues the president has to deal with , ” says Mr. Feaver , who is now a public policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina .
“ What is the case is that Trump didn ’ t think he needed any NSC staff.
” Mr. Trump ’ s impeachment was largely launched by a whistleblower assigned to the White House from an outside agency – the CIA .
The president ’ s preoccupation with “ the agencies ” suggests to Mr. Feaver that the streamlining “ is fueled by the same mindset that gives him concern about the so-called deep state , but it reflects a high level of insecurity and a unilateral approach to loyalty.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Brien says he is trying to return the NSC to the model created by the legendary Brent Scowcroft under President George H.W .
Bush – a focus on implementing the president ’ s policies .
“ If you can ’ t get on board with [ the president ] , you ’ re probably better off back in your agency or ... running for Congress , ” he told a crowd at the Heritage Foundation to laughter .
But others have a different view of Mr. Scowcroft ’ s legacy .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rice “ believed the NSC staff should focus on coordinating policy and advising the president , not implementation that should go to agencies – a fundamentally Scowcroftian view , ” says Ms. DeJonge Schulman .
Ms. Rice , too , undertook a “ right-sizing effort , ” worried that the NSC had begun taking over agency duties .
But the NSC ’ s key role was “ making sure agency perspectives get a fair hearing and fair evaluation with the president , ” Ms. DeJonge Schulman adds .
Beyond that , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
“ Brent Scowcroft didn ’ t need an office on cyber , but it ’ s a necessity now , ” says Mr. Feaver .
“ In the same way , the judgment was made at some point that pandemics were going to become a bigger problem in our current time and so necessitated more high-level attention at the White House.
” To him , “ that view has been borne out.
” [ Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
@ @ @ @

Without such an office, “can you invent it as a posse at the last minute?” asks a member of President George W. Bush’s NSC. “Yes. But would it be more effective if it’s already on the spot? Yes. And it could act faster.”
Among the groups to be disbanded: a pandemics office founded by President Barack Obama, now folded into a broader directorate that works on nuclear proliferation and terrorism. The question today, of course, is: Could it have made any difference? Experts point to one area, in particular, where it could have been helpful. It had expertise to coordinate across different agencies, especially in the early stages of the outbreak.
“More bureaucracy!” is perhaps not the best rallying cry. But what if streamlining leads to disbanding a pandemics office? The current crisis highlights both sides of the issue.
Founded more than 70 years ago as an advisory board for the president on matters of national security, it has grown into a bureaucracy of its own – often pulled this way and that by the agendas of those assigned to it.
For President Donald Trump, the National Security Council (NSC) must have seemed like an ideal place to make good on his pledge to drain the swamp.
When PBS journalist Yamiche Alcindor recently asked President Donald Trump about his decision to disband the National Security Council’s office for pandemics, Mr. Trump said the question was “nasty.”
But it pointed to a fundamental tension in Mr. Trump’s view of government. Can he “streamline” a government that he feels has become too bloated while maintaining its ability to act effectively?
The administration sees this as essential work, returning the NSC to its core function as an advisory body of several executive branch secretaries serving the president – instead of a growing bureaucracy pursuing a variety of agendas.
Why We Wrote This “More bureaucracy!” is perhaps not the best rallying cry. But what if streamlining leads to disbanding a pandemics office? The current crisis highlights both sides of the issue.
[Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.]
But some former NSC officers from both Republican and Democratic administrations worry that Mr. Trump has cut into the meat of the NSC. The disbanding of the pandemics office in 2018 under John Bolton, which was then folded into a broader directorate on issues such as nuclear proliferation and terrorism, shows the costs of such downsizing, they say.
“We live in an era of recurrent crises of this kind [like coronavirus] that come with greater velocity, greater impact, and cost, and we need a facility within ... the White House that has the authority to see around corners, see things early, act very quickly, and bring about accountability and coordination of the U.S. response,” says Stephen Morrison, director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “That has been missing” with the disbanding of the White House pandemics office.
“Some of the sluggishness and confusion that we have seen bedevil this effort since the very beginning ... [is connected to the] absence of effective structures within the White House itself,” he adds.
That’s because a pandemics office could have filled a vital role from the first moments of the crisis – coordination. Organizations had to spend valuable time getting on the same page.
“In a crisis like this you don’t go to HHS [Health and Human Services] and ask them to manage it. You go to the White House where presumably you have the expertise developed to work across all the relevant agencies,” says Peter Feaver, who was a strategic planner for President George W. Bush’s NSC.
“Can you invent it as a posse at the last minute? Yes,” he adds, “But would it be more effective if it’s already on the spot? Yes. And it could act faster.”
Moreover, when the pandemics group was moved into a larger directorate, it lost expertise. “Amid a pandemic, we should prefer a team with sufficient seniority to guarantee access and trust,” says Loren DeJonge Schulman, the NSC’s director of defense policy during President Barack Obama’s first term. “These are not matters you want to learn on the job in crisis.”
The National Institutes of Health leader who has become a fixture at daily White House coronavirus briefings acknowledges the team’s absence is felt. “It would be nice if the office was still there,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Congress March 11.
What is the NSC for?
To Mr. Trump, however, the NSC had become something that was never intended. National security adviser Robert O’Brien said recently that the NSC had “ballooned” to 250 staff members under President Obama. Mr. O’Brien reduced it to 175 when he took his job, and it is now at 110, he added.
“The NSC is not there to re-create the State Department or the Pentagon” within the White House, he said.
But in shrinking, the NSC has become too much of a “yes, sir” body that tells the president what he wants to hear, says Ms. DeJonge Schulman, who is now a national security expert at the Center for a New American Security in Washington.
“The NSC staff is not there to implement the president’s every desire, but to make sure he has the best options, evaluation or risk and cost, and perspective on agency views,” she adds.
Some also suspect that the downsizing aims to reduce the number of career officials – the “deep state” – seeing them not as a source of expertise but as a potential den of disloyalty.
“It’s just not the case that the NSC O’Brien took over was too big, especially given the complexity and variety of issues the president has to deal with,” says Mr. Feaver, who is now a public policy professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “What is the case is that Trump didn’t think he needed any NSC staff.”
Mr. Trump’s impeachment was largely launched by a whistleblower assigned to the White House from an outside agency – the CIA. The president’s preoccupation with “the agencies” suggests to Mr. Feaver that the streamlining “is fueled by the same mindset that gives him concern about the so-called deep state, but it reflects a high level of insecurity and a unilateral approach to loyalty.”
Golden days
For his part, Mr. O’Brien says he is trying to return the NSC to the model created by the legendary Brent Scowcroft under President George H.W. Bush – a focus on implementing the president’s policies.
“If you can’t get on board with [the president], you’re probably better off back in your agency or ... running for Congress,” he told a crowd at the Heritage Foundation to laughter.
But others have a different view of Mr. Scowcroft’s legacy. Under Mr. Obama, National security adviser Susan Rice “believed the NSC staff should focus on coordinating policy and advising the president, not implementation that should go to agencies – a fundamentally Scowcroftian view,” says Ms. DeJonge Schulman.
Ms. Rice, too, undertook a “right-sizing effort,” worried that the NSC had begun taking over agency duties. But the NSC’s key role was “making sure agency perspectives get a fair hearing and fair evaluation with the president,” Ms. DeJonge Schulman adds.
Beyond that, there are limits to a model from three decades ago.
“Brent Scowcroft didn’t need an office on cyber, but it’s a necessity now,” says Mr. Feaver. “In the same way, the judgment was made at some point that pandemics were going to become a bigger problem in our current time and so necessitated more high-level attention at the White House.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
To him, “that view has been borne out.”
[Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.]


csmonitor--2020-03-25--Coronavirus test: What makes a good leader in times of crisis?

At heart , the pandemic has profoundly tested America ’ s multitiered system of governance , surfacing different models of leadership .
Assertive governors , such as Andrew Cuomo of New York , are earning plaudits , while Ron DeSantis of Florida faced scorn for resisting statewide mandates .
Experts say what matters most in leadership are key qualities : clarity , foresight , empathy , and ability to adapt .
Yet already , President Trump is looking to ease social distancing guidelines in just a few weeks , in defiance of public health experts .
His goal : rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t so simple .
Taking centralized control of pandemic response could increase “ the likelihood of abuses and inefficiencies , ” warns constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley .
In contrast , Obama Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sees the need for strong , centralized leadership .
He can ’ t understand why someone who “ calls himself a wartime president is not prepared to fully mobilize the entire country.
” President Donald Trump ’ s critics have spent years calling him a wannabe autocrat .
Now , amid crisis , these same critics want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autocratic : Use all the levers of power to urgently ramp up production of medical supplies .
Call for a national lockdown .
“ I alone can fix it , ” Donald Trump famously asserted at the 2016 Republican National Convention , referring to “ the system.
” The arena erupted in cheers .
Today , amid a national crisis , the script has flipped .
In key ways President Trump has deferred to governors , and hesitated to use the powers at his disposal – both formal and informal .
The moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , Mr. Trump ’ s critics have called him a wannabe autocrat as he blew through norms and pushed the boundaries of the Constitution ’ s checks and balances .
Now , at a time when a president might be expected to use executive authority to the max , these same critics want him to be more autocratic .
Call for a national lockdown , some say .
Order the production and acquisition of medical supplies , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo pleaded to the president , as the state faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the answer isn ’ t so simple .
Taking centralized control of pandemic response is “ an invitation to concentrate not just the power of the White House , but also increase the likelihood of abuses and inefficiencies , ” says Jonathan Turley , a constitutional scholar at The George Washington University Law School .
[ Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall . ]
Each state has its own “ pandemic profile , ” he notes – including density of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that means state and local authorities are better equipped to understand local needs .
What about a nationwide lockdown , as announced this week in the United Kingdom and even India , with its 1.3 billion people ?
“ That gets into a gray area .
The president can ’ t even suspend habeas corpus without approval of Congress , ” says Professor Turley , referring to the constitutional right against illegal confinement .
“ So if you ’ re going to have a true quarantine , you ’ d need enhanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does have the bully pulpit .
He could urge all Americans to stay home , and pressure governors and mayors to issue curfews or “ shelter in place ” orders .
Mr. Trump ’ s declaration of a “ national emergency , ” announced March 13 , frees up federal resources to address the crisis , not command action from the populace .
Ditto his activation Sunday of the National Guard for the three most-affected states , which he stressed does not mean an imposition of martial law .
On Tuesday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time to help states access virus testing kits and face masks .
But some states are begging for more sweeping action , on the order of President Franklin Roosevelt ’ s use of private industry during World War II .
States have also been begging for help in preventing bidding wars for supplies , such as N95 masks , that have driven up costs in some cases eight-fold .
On Monday , Mr. Trump signed an executive order aimed at preventing price gouging and hoarding of critical supplies .
Former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , centralized leadership is essential at this critical moment .
“ I find it difficult to understand why someone who calls himself a wartime president was not prepared to fully mobilize the entire country in order to confront this crisis , ” says Mr. Panetta , who served under President Barack Obama .
“ There ’ s no question we ’ ve had mixed messages coming from Washington.
” Indeed , President Trump is already looking to ease guidelines on social distancing in a matter of weeks , not months , in defiance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : to rescue the economy .
“ We can not let the cure be worse than the problem itself , ” Mr. Trump has said .
Governors expressed alarm over his call Tuesday to “ open up ” the country by Easter on April 12 .
Though under the 10th Amendment , it is states that have the power to lift restrictions on people ’ s activities , not the federal government .
At heart , COVID-19 has profoundly tested America ’ s multi-tiered system of governance , and surfaced different models of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Mr. Cuomo and Mike DeWine of Ohio , are earning plaudits , while Ron DeSantis of Florida has faced criticism for resisting a statewide shutdown .
Though he did order a 14-day quarantine for those flying into the state from New York , New Jersey , and Connecticut .
Governor Cuomo is a Democrat and Governors DeWine and DeSantis are Republicans .
But party is irrelevant in assessments of leadership skill .
What matters most are key qualities and principles , experts say : clarity , foresight , empathy , managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – ability to adapt .
“ Leadership is situational , but some things are inviolate , ” says retired Lt. Gen. Nadja West , former commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Command , now at the Harvard Kennedy School ’ s Center for Public Leadership .
“ During good times , you have to establish trust , then it ’ s easier to ask people to do things when there ’ s a crisis.
” General West also stresses that important information and good ideas can come from anyone on the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see around corners.
” Several years ago , she heard of a potential medical threat in West Africa , and took her information to then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey .
It proved to be the early days of the Ebola outbreak .
General Dempsey put together a task force , and when President Obama asked what could be done , the joint chiefs chairman was ready to respond .
The Army defines leadership , General West says , as “ the process of influencing people by providing direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve the organization .
That means anyone can be a leader.
” Of all the leaders who have come to prominence in the crisis , most compelling may be Governor Cuomo of New York .
Now in his third term , the elder son of late Gov .
Mario Cuomo is hardly a fresh presence – or even , in normal times , a particularly warm one .
But his daily press conferences , an odyssey of info-packed PowerPoint slides and personal reflections , have become appointment TV ( or livestream ) for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buck stops here ” leader in action and a dose of compassion .
“ If someone wants to blame someone , blame me , ” Mr. Cuomo said March 22 in announcing statewide business closures aimed at thwarting the virus .
His elderly mother , Matilda Cuomo , and three grown daughters have become stand-ins for every baby boomer ’ s aging parents and young-adult children as he expresses concern for their welfare .
Mr. Cuomo ’ s rules for behavior , aimed at protecting vulnerable populations , are dubbed “ Matilda ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump – both with “ tough guy from Queens ” facades – had developed a rapport during the crisis , but clashed Tuesday amid Mr. Cuomo ’ s desperate plea for ventilators and other equipment .
Until then , Mr. Trump had prided himself on his dealings with governors from both sides of the aisle during the crisis .
Then there ’ s Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the president ’ s coronavirus task force .
( He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) He has been a reassuring presence at Trump press conferences , known for his diplomatic corrections of presidential pronouncements .
“ He goes his own way .
He has his own style , ” Dr. Fauci said of Mr. Trump in a recent interview with Science Magazine .
“ But on substantive issues , he does listen to what I say.
” Often , in fact , leadership consists of good “ followership , ” i.e.
, being a team player .
Like Dr. Fauci , Vice President Mike Pence has earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence , as he stays on-message and never outshines the president .
In the president ’ s Cabinet , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been another standout , working across the aisle effectively with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they hashed out a massive stimulus deal to rescue the economy .
Senate leaders announced an agreement early Wednesday morning , and the chamber aims to vote later in the day , after ironing out some last-minute issues .
Paul Light , a professor of public service at New York University , is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the problems with the handling of this crisis are by no means all the president ’ s fault .
Going back decades , “ we ’ ve seen an increase in the number of significant , highly visible breakdowns of government , ” Professor Light says .
His explanation : “ We just have not done major repairs of our government systems , our technologies , our early warning , our civil service … for a good 50 years.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

At heart, the pandemic has profoundly tested America’s multitiered system of governance, surfacing different models of leadership. Assertive governors, such as Andrew Cuomo of New York, are earning plaudits, while Ron DeSantis of Florida faced scorn for resisting statewide mandates. Experts say what matters most in leadership are key qualities: clarity, foresight, empathy, and ability to adapt.
Yet already, President Trump is looking to ease social distancing guidelines in just a few weeks, in defiance of public health experts. His goal: rescue the economy.
When faced with uncertainty, people look to leadership for information, reassurance, and guidance. Faced with a global pandemic, a wide range of leaders are stepping up to fill those roles in different ways.
But the answer isn’t so simple. Taking centralized control of pandemic response could increase “the likelihood of abuses and inefficiencies,” warns constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley. In contrast, Obama Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sees the need for strong, centralized leadership. He can’t understand why someone who “calls himself a wartime president is not prepared to fully mobilize the entire country.”
President Donald Trump’s critics have spent years calling him a wannabe autocrat. Now, amid crisis, these same critics want him in some ways to be more autocratic: Use all the levers of power to urgently ramp up production of medical supplies. Call for a national lockdown.
“I alone can fix it,” Donald Trump famously asserted at the 2016 Republican National Convention, referring to “the system.”
The arena erupted in cheers. Today, amid a national crisis, the script has flipped. In key ways President Trump has deferred to governors, and hesitated to use the powers at his disposal – both formal and informal.
The moment is laden with irony. Since taking office, Mr. Trump’s critics have called him a wannabe autocrat as he blew through norms and pushed the boundaries of the Constitution’s checks and balances.
Why We Wrote This When faced with uncertainty, people look to leadership for information, reassurance, and guidance. Faced with a global pandemic, a wide range of leaders are stepping up to fill those roles in different ways.
Now, at a time when a president might be expected to use executive authority to the max, these same critics want him to be more autocratic. Call for a national lockdown, some say. Order the production and acquisition of medical supplies, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pleaded to the president, as the state faces a surge of coronavirus cases.
But the answer isn’t so simple.
Taking centralized control of pandemic response is “an invitation to concentrate not just the power of the White House, but also increase the likelihood of abuses and inefficiencies,” says Jonathan Turley, a constitutional scholar at The George Washington University Law School.
[Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.]
Patchwork response
Each state has its own “pandemic profile,” he notes – including density of population, topography, and climate – and that means state and local authorities are better equipped to understand local needs.
What about a nationwide lockdown, as announced this week in the United Kingdom and even India, with its 1.3 billion people?
“That gets into a gray area. The president can’t even suspend habeas corpus without approval of Congress,” says Professor Turley, referring to the constitutional right against illegal confinement. “So if you’re going to have a true quarantine, you’d need enhanced federal police powers.”
But the president does have the bully pulpit. He could urge all Americans to stay home, and pressure governors and mayors to issue curfews or “shelter in place” orders. Mr. Trump’s declaration of a “national emergency,” announced March 13, frees up federal resources to address the crisis, not command action from the populace. Ditto his activation Sunday of the National Guard for the three most-affected states, which he stressed does not mean an imposition of martial law.
Alex Brandon/AP View caption Hide caption President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Briefing Room, March 24, 2020, in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence listens. President Trump's call Tuesday to “open up” the country by April 12 has triggered alarm among some governors.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration triggered the Defense Production Act for the first time to help states access virus testing kits and face masks. But some states are begging for more sweeping action, on the order of President Franklin Roosevelt’s use of private industry during World War II.
States have also been begging for help in preventing bidding wars for supplies, such as N95 masks, that have driven up costs in some cases eight-fold. On Monday, Mr. Trump signed an executive order aimed at preventing price gouging and hoarding of critical supplies.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta argues that strong, centralized leadership is essential at this critical moment.
“I find it difficult to understand why someone who calls himself a wartime president was not prepared to fully mobilize the entire country in order to confront this crisis,” says Mr. Panetta, who served under President Barack Obama. “There’s no question we’ve had mixed messages coming from Washington.”
Indeed, President Trump is already looking to ease guidelines on social distancing in a matter of weeks, not months, in defiance of public health experts. His goal: to rescue the economy.
“We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,” Mr. Trump has said.
Governors expressed alarm over his call Tuesday to “open up” the country by Easter on April 12. Though under the 10th Amendment, it is states that have the power to lift restrictions on people’s activities, not the federal government.
At heart, COVID-19 has profoundly tested America’s multi-tiered system of governance, and surfaced different models of leadership. Assertive, proactive governors, such as Mr. Cuomo and Mike DeWine of Ohio, are earning plaudits, while Ron DeSantis of Florida has faced criticism for resisting a statewide shutdown. Though he did order a 14-day quarantine for those flying into the state from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Governor Cuomo is a Democrat and Governors DeWine and DeSantis are Republicans. But party is irrelevant in assessments of leadership skill. What matters most are key qualities and principles, experts say: clarity, foresight, empathy, managing expectations, and – maybe most important – ability to adapt.
“Leadership is situational, but some things are inviolate,” says retired Lt. Gen. Nadja West, former commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Command, now at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. “During good times, you have to establish trust, then it’s easier to ask people to do things when there’s a crisis.”
General West also stresses that important information and good ideas can come from anyone on the team, and can help the leader “see around corners.” Several years ago, she heard of a potential medical threat in West Africa, and took her information to then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
It proved to be the early days of the Ebola outbreak. General Dempsey put together a task force, and when President Obama asked what could be done, the joint chiefs chairman was ready to respond.
The Army defines leadership, General West says, as “the process of influencing people by providing direction and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. That means anyone can be a leader.”
Matilda’s Law
Of all the leaders who have come to prominence in the crisis, most compelling may be Governor Cuomo of New York. Now in his third term, the elder son of late Gov. Mario Cuomo is hardly a fresh presence – or even, in normal times, a particularly warm one.
But his daily press conferences, an odyssey of info-packed PowerPoint slides and personal reflections, have become appointment TV (or livestream) for those who want to see a “buck stops here” leader in action and a dose of compassion.
“If someone wants to blame someone, blame me,” Mr. Cuomo said March 22 in announcing statewide business closures aimed at thwarting the virus.
His elderly mother, Matilda Cuomo, and three grown daughters have become stand-ins for every baby boomer’s aging parents and young-adult children as he expresses concern for their welfare. Mr. Cuomo’s rules for behavior, aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, are dubbed “Matilda’s Law.”
Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Trump – both with “tough guy from Queens” facades – had developed a rapport during the crisis, but clashed Tuesday amid Mr. Cuomo’s desperate plea for ventilators and other equipment. Until then, Mr. Trump had prided himself on his dealings with governors from both sides of the aisle during the crisis.
Then there’s Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the president’s coronavirus task force. (He’s advised every president since Ronald Reagan.) He has been a reassuring presence at Trump press conferences, known for his diplomatic corrections of presidential pronouncements.
“He goes his own way. He has his own style,” Dr. Fauci said of Mr. Trump in a recent interview with Science Magazine. “But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say.”
Often, in fact, leadership consists of good “followership,” i.e., being a team player.
Like Dr. Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence has earned praise for his calming, almost preacher-like presence, as he stays on-message and never outshines the president.
In the president’s Cabinet, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been another standout, working across the aisle effectively with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they hashed out a massive stimulus deal to rescue the economy. Senate leaders announced an agreement early Wednesday morning, and the chamber aims to vote later in the day, after ironing out some last-minute issues.
Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University, is no fan of Mr. Trump. But he says the problems with the handling of this crisis are by no means all the president’s fault.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Going back decades, “we’ve seen an increase in the number of significant, highly visible breakdowns of government,” Professor Light says. His explanation: “We just have not done major repairs of our government systems, our technologies, our early warning, our civil service … for a good 50 years.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-03-25--White House, Congress agree on historic $2 trillion rescue bill

The White House and Senate leaders of both major political parties announced the agreement early Wednesday on an unprecedented $ 2 trillion emergency bill to rush sweeping aid to businesses , workers , and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic .
The urgently needed pandemic response measure is the largest economic rescue measure in history and is intended as a weekslong or monthslong patch for an economy spiraling into recession and a nation facing a deadly toll .
Top White House aide Eric Ueland announced the agreement in a Capitol hallway shortly after midnight , capping days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The deal still needs to be finalized in detailed legislative language .
`` Ladies and gentlemen , we are done , '' Mr. Ueland said .
`` We have a deal . ''
The economic rescue package would give direct payments to most Americans , expand unemployment benefits and provide a $ 367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home .
One of the last issues to close concerned $ 500 billion for guaranteed , subsidized loans to larger industries , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airlines .
Hospitals would get significant help as well .
`` After days of intense discussions , the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic , '' said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , a key negotiator .
`` It will rush new resources onto the front lines of our nation 's health care fight .
And it will inject trillions of dollars of cash into the economy as fast as possible to help American workers , families , small businesses , and industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the other side ready to soar . ''
At the White House on Tuesday , even as the public health crisis deepened , President Donald Trump expressed eagerness to nudge many people back to work in the coming weeks and held out a prospect , based more on hope than medical science , that the country could be returning to normal in less than a month .
`` We have to go back to work , much sooner than people thought , '' Mr. Trump told a Fox News town hall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country `` opened up and just raring to go '' by Easter , April 12 .
But in a White House briefing later , Mr. Trump said that `` our decision will be based on hard facts and data . ''
Medical professionals say social distancing needs to be stepped up , not relaxed , to slow the spread of infections .
At the White House briefing , the public health authorities said it was particularly important for people in the hard-hit New York City metropolitan area to quarantine themselves for 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the city to do the same .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government 's top infectious disease expert , said pointedly at the briefing , `` No one is going to want to tone down anything when you see what is going on in a place like New York City . ''
On Capitol Hill , five days of arduous talks produced the bill , creating tensions among Congress ' top leaders , who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which permitted both sides to mark big wins .
Even before the deal was reached , news of the likely but elusive agreement had sent the stock market rocketing on Tuesday .
The rescue package would be larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined .
The package would give one-time payments of $ 1,200 per adult and $ 500 per child directly to the public .
A huge cash infusion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients grew during the talks at the insistence of Sen. Chuck Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressed for tens of billions of dollars for additional relief to be delivered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency , the lead federal disaster agency .
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months , rather than the three months first proposed .
Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment , plus a $ 600 per week add-on , with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time .
`` It ensures that all workers are protected whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or large , along with self-employed and workers in the gig economy , '' Mr. Schumer said .
Republicans won inclusion of an `` employee retention '' tax credit that 's estimated to provide $ 50 billion to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50 % of workers ' paychecks .
Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2 % Social Security payroll tax .
Democrats pointed to gains for hospitals , additional oversight of the huge industry stabilization fund , and money for cash-strapped states .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing from a $ 46 billion White House proposal to more than $ 300 billion , which dwarfs earlier disasters – including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy combined .
To provide transparency , the package is expected to create a new inspector general and oversight board for the corporate dollars , much as was done during the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program bank rescue , officials said .
Mr. Trump in recent days has sounded a note of frustration about the unprecedented modern-day effort to halt the virus ' march by essentially shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threaten the U.S. economy .
Even though the Trump 's administration recommended Americans curtail activities for 15 days , starting just over a week ago , the Republican president said he may soon allow parts of the economy , in regions less badly hit by the virus , to begin reopening .
He continued on that theme Tuesday as he weighed a relaxation of social distancing guidelines after the 15-day period is up .
His suggestion that the pandemic could ease and allow a return to normalcy in a mere few weeks is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many others in government .
On Tuesday , top defense and military leaders warned department personnel that the virus problems could extend for eight to 10 weeks or longer .
Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said during a Defense Department town hall meeting that the crisis could even extend into July .
Mr. Trump has balked at using his authority under the recently invoked Defense Protection Act to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators , even as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are a country not based on nationalizing our business , '' said Mr. Trump , who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Lolita C. Baldor , Zeke Miller , Mary Clare Jalonick , Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar , Alan Fram , and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Andrew Taylor, Lisa Mascaro, and Jonathan Lemire

The White House and Senate leaders of both major political parties announced the agreement early Wednesday on an unprecedented $2 trillion emergency bill to rush sweeping aid to businesses, workers, and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The urgently needed pandemic response measure is the largest economic rescue measure in history and is intended as a weekslong or monthslong patch for an economy spiraling into recession and a nation facing a deadly toll.
Top White House aide Eric Ueland announced the agreement in a Capitol hallway shortly after midnight, capping days of often intense haggling and mounting pressure. The deal still needs to be finalized in detailed legislative language.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are done," Mr. Ueland said. "We have a deal."
The economic rescue package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.
One of the last issues to close concerned $500 billion for guaranteed, subsidized loans to larger industries, including a fight over how generous to be with the airlines. Hospitals would get significant help as well.
"After days of intense discussions, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic," said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a key negotiator. "It will rush new resources onto the front lines of our nation's health care fight. And it will inject trillions of dollars of cash into the economy as fast as possible to help American workers, families, small businesses, and industries make it through this disruption and emerge on the other side ready to soar."
At the White House on Tuesday, even as the public health crisis deepened, President Donald Trump expressed eagerness to nudge many people back to work in the coming weeks and held out a prospect, based more on hope than medical science, that the country could be returning to normal in less than a month.
"We have to go back to work, much sooner than people thought," Mr. Trump told a Fox News town hall. He said he'd like to have the country "opened up and just raring to go" by Easter, April 12. But in a White House briefing later, Mr. Trump said that "our decision will be based on hard facts and data."
Medical professionals say social distancing needs to be stepped up, not relaxed, to slow the spread of infections. At the White House briefing, the public health authorities said it was particularly important for people in the hard-hit New York City metropolitan area to quarantine themselves for 14 days and for those who have recently left the city to do the same.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, said pointedly at the briefing, "No one is going to want to tone down anything when you see what is going on in a place like New York City."
On Capitol Hill, five days of arduous talks produced the bill, creating tensions among Congress' top leaders, who each took care to tend to party politics as they maneuvered and battled over crafting the legislation. But failure was never an option, which permitted both sides to mark big wins.
Even before the deal was reached, news of the likely but elusive agreement had sent the stock market rocketing on Tuesday. The rescue package would be larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined.
The package would give one-time payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child directly to the public.
A huge cash infusion for hospitals expecting a flood of COVID-19 patients grew during the talks at the insistence of Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, while Republicans pressed for tens of billions of dollars for additional relief to be delivered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal disaster agency.
Democrats said the package would help replace the salaries of furloughed workers for four months, rather than the three months first proposed. Furloughed workers would get whatever amount a state usually provides for unemployment, plus a $600 per week add-on, with gig workers like Uber drivers covered for the first time.
"It ensures that all workers are protected whether they work for businesses small, medium, or large, along with self-employed and workers in the gig economy," Mr. Schumer said.
Republicans won inclusion of an "employee retention" tax credit that's estimated to provide $50 billion to companies that retain employees on payroll and cover 50% of workers' paychecks. Companies would also be able to defer payment of the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax.
Democrats pointed to gains for hospitals, additional oversight of the huge industry stabilization fund, and money for cash-strapped states. A companion appropriations package ballooned as well, growing from a $46 billion White House proposal to more than $300 billion, which dwarfs earlier disasters – including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy combined.
To provide transparency, the package is expected to create a new inspector general and oversight board for the corporate dollars, much as was done during the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program bank rescue, officials said.
Mr. Trump in recent days has sounded a note of frustration about the unprecedented modern-day effort to halt the virus' march by essentially shutting down public activities in ways that now threaten the U.S. economy.
Even though the Trump's administration recommended Americans curtail activities for 15 days, starting just over a week ago, the Republican president said he may soon allow parts of the economy, in regions less badly hit by the virus, to begin reopening.
He continued on that theme Tuesday as he weighed a relaxation of social distancing guidelines after the 15-day period is up. His suggestion that the pandemic could ease and allow a return to normalcy in a mere few weeks is not supported by public health officials or many others in government.
On Tuesday, top defense and military leaders warned department personnel that the virus problems could extend for eight to 10 weeks or longer. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Defense Department town hall meeting that the crisis could even extend into July.
Mr. Trump has balked at using his authority under the recently invoked Defense Protection Act to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators, even as he encourages them to spur production. "We are a country not based on nationalizing our business," said Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Lolita C. Baldor, Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Alan Fram, and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-17--Why Trump supporters are protesting state lockdowns

While many Americans are filled with fear , Melissa Ackison says the coronavirus pandemic has filled her with anger .
The stay-at-home orders are government overreach , the conservative Ohio state Senate candidate says , and the labeling of some workers as `` essential '' arbitrary .
`` It enrages something inside of you , '' said Ms. Ackison , who was among those who protested Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine 's orders at the statehouse in Columbus with her 10-year-old son .
She has `` no fear whatsoever '' of contracting the virus , she said Thursday , dismissing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among a growing number staged outside governors ' mansions and state Capitols across the country .
In places like Oklahoma , Texas , and Virginia , small-government groups , supporters of President Donald Trump , anti-vaccine advocates , gun rights backers , and supporters of right-wing causes have united behind a deep suspicion of efforts to shut down daily life to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
As their frustration with life under lockdown grows , they 've started to openly defy the social distancing rules in an effort to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the protests have been small events , promoted via Facebook groups that have popped up in recent days and whose organizers are sometimes difficult to identify .
Others are backed by groups funded by prominent Republican donors , some with ties to Mr. Trump .
The largest so far , a rally of thousands that jammed the streets of Lansing , Michigan , on Wednesday , looked much like one of the president 's rallies – complete with MAGA hats or Trump flags – or one of the tea party rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of frustration come as Mr. Trump has pushed for easing stay-at-home orders and tried to look ahead to restarting the economy .
He unveiled a framework for governors to follow on Thursday , but acknowledged the governors will have the final say on when their state is ready .
Health experts have warned that lifting restrictions too quickly could result in a surge of new cases of the virus .
But the president and some of his supporters are impatient .
Thousands of people in their cars packed the streets of Lansing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order and other restrictions .
Outside the Capitol , some chanted `` Lock her up , '' a throwback to Mr. Trump 's calls during the 2016 election about his rival Hillary Clinton .
Asked about the protesters , Mr. Trump on Thursday expressed sympathy with their frustration – `` They 're suffering ... they want to get back '' – and dismissed concerns about the health risks of ignoring state orders and potentially exposing themselves to the virus .
`` I think they 're listening .
I think they listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion , and my opinion 's the same as just about all of the governors .
Nobody wants to stay shut . ''
Polls show the protesters ' views are not widely held .
An AP-NORC survey earlier this month found large majorities of Americans support a long list of government restrictions , including closing schools , limiting gatherings , and shuttering bars and restaurants .
Three-quarters of Americans backed requiring people to stay in their homes .
And majorities of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state and city governments .
But the protests expose resilient partisan divisions , particularly in battleground Michigan .
The protest there was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition , a group founded by a pro-Trump state representative and his wife , Meshawn Maddock , who is on the advisory board for an official Trump campaign group called `` Women for Trump '' and is also the co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans .
Their daughter is a field organizer for the Michigan Republican Party .
Another group that promoted the event , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg McNeilly , a longtime political adviser to the DeVos family , who are prolific Republican donors and have funded conservative causes across the state for decades .
Mr. McNeilly was campaign manager for Dick DeVos , the husband of current United States ' Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , during his failed bid for governor in 2006 .
The group , which does not have to disclose its donors , raised over $ 4 million in 2018 , according to its most recent tax statements .
Ms. Whitmer was among the governors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it put people at risk and could have prolonged the shutdown .
Michigan had recorded more than 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 as of Thursday , and close to 30,000 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus .
Roughly one-quarter of the state 's workforce has filed for unemployment .
But it 's not just Democratic governors feeling the heat .
A procession of cars swarmed around the Republican-dominated statehouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday , with messages written on windows or signs that said `` stop killing our economy , '' `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` time 2 work . ''
Carol Hefner , who previously served as an Oklahoma co-chair of Mr. Trump 's 2016 campaign , was a major organizer of the event .
Ms. Hefner , whose husband is part of the Hefner Energy empire and currently operates a company that makes Argentinian meat sauce , differentiated it from many of the others , characterizing it as a `` rally '' rather than a protest .
`` We 're not New York .
Their problems are not our problems , '' Ms. Hefner said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our state to encourage the opening up of our businesses and the restoration of our state in a timely fashion . ''
Other gatherings have links to fringe groups .
A protest Thursday in the Texas capital of Austin , where protesters chanted `` Free Texas '' and `` Make America Free Again , '' was broadcast live by InfoWars TV , part of a company owned by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones .
The Ohio event earlier this week brought together a collection of anti-vaccine advocates , Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other anti-government activists .
A Columbus Dispatch photo of Ms. Ackison and other protesters yelling through glass doors of the statehouse rocketed around the internet .
Ms. Ackison said that while she views Mr. DeWine 's efforts as constitutional overreach , she would be fine if Mr. Trump were to act with similar authority to force governors to bring the states back on line .
`` As patriots , we put President Trump in office for a reason , '' she said .
`` If he 's not able to give a convincing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to open up , then he needs to do something to take action . ''
The protests were advertised on Facebook by groups such as Reopen Virginia and End the Lockdown PA. A protest in Richmond , Virginia , on Thursday grew out of a conversation in the Facebook group Virginians for Medical Freedom , organizer Gary Golden said .
The group often turns out at the Capitol in Richmond to oppose vaccine-related measures .
Kelly Mullin , who stood near a `` do n't tread on me '' flag spread on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she brought her sons to the event to teach them a lesson about liberty .
Ms. Mullin said that she thought the risk posed by the coronavirus depends on an individual 's health and that people can take basic steps to protect themselves , including getting enough sleep , eating organic produce , and getting outside .
`` I mean , that 's where our tax dollars should be going .
Eat broccoli , '' she said .
Infectious-disease specialists say there is no evidence that eating specific foods can prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

While many Americans are filled with fear, Melissa Ackison says the coronavirus pandemic has filled her with anger. The stay-at-home orders are government overreach, the conservative Ohio state Senate candidate says, and the labeling of some workers as "essential" arbitrary.
"It enrages something inside of you," said Ms. Ackison, who was among those who protested Republican Gov. Mike DeWine's orders at the statehouse in Columbus with her 10-year-old son. She has "no fear whatsoever" of contracting the virus, she said Thursday, dismissing it as hype.
The Ohio protest was among a growing number staged outside governors' mansions and state Capitols across the country. In places like Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, small-government groups, supporters of President Donald Trump, anti-vaccine advocates, gun rights backers, and supporters of right-wing causes have united behind a deep suspicion of efforts to shut down daily life to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As their frustration with life under lockdown grows, they've started to openly defy the social distancing rules in an effort to put pressure on governors to ease them.
Some of the protests have been small events, promoted via Facebook groups that have popped up in recent days and whose organizers are sometimes difficult to identify. Others are backed by groups funded by prominent Republican donors, some with ties to Mr. Trump. The largest so far, a rally of thousands that jammed the streets of Lansing, Michigan, on Wednesday, looked much like one of the president's rallies – complete with MAGA hats or Trump flags – or one of the tea party rallies from a decade ago.
The signs of frustration come as Mr. Trump has pushed for easing stay-at-home orders and tried to look ahead to restarting the economy. He unveiled a framework for governors to follow on Thursday, but acknowledged the governors will have the final say on when their state is ready. Health experts have warned that lifting restrictions too quickly could result in a surge of new cases of the virus.
But the president and some of his supporters are impatient. Thousands of people in their cars packed the streets of Lansing to protest Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order and other restrictions. Outside the Capitol, some chanted "Lock her up," a throwback to Mr. Trump's calls during the 2016 election about his rival Hillary Clinton.
Asked about the protesters, Mr. Trump on Thursday expressed sympathy with their frustration – "They're suffering ... they want to get back" – and dismissed concerns about the health risks of ignoring state orders and potentially exposing themselves to the virus.
"I think they're listening. I think they listen to me," he said. "They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion, and my opinion's the same as just about all of the governors. Nobody wants to stay shut."
Polls show the protesters' views are not widely held. An AP-NORC survey earlier this month found large majorities of Americans support a long list of government restrictions, including closing schools, limiting gatherings, and shuttering bars and restaurants.
Three-quarters of Americans backed requiring people to stay in their homes. And majorities of both Democrats and Republicans gave high marks for the state and city governments.
But the protests expose resilient partisan divisions, particularly in battleground Michigan. The protest there was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, a group founded by a pro-Trump state representative and his wife, Meshawn Maddock, who is on the advisory board for an official Trump campaign group called "Women for Trump" and is also the co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans. Their daughter is a field organizer for the Michigan Republican Party.
Another group that promoted the event, the Michigan Freedom Fund, is run by Greg McNeilly, a longtime political adviser to the DeVos family, who are prolific Republican donors and have funded conservative causes across the state for decades. Mr. McNeilly was campaign manager for Dick DeVos, the husband of current United States' Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, during his failed bid for governor in 2006. The group, which does not have to disclose its donors, raised over $4 million in 2018, according to its most recent tax statements.
Ms. Whitmer was among the governors who expressed concern about the gatherings, saying it put people at risk and could have prolonged the shutdown. Michigan had recorded more than 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 as of Thursday, and close to 30,000 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus. Roughly one-quarter of the state's workforce has filed for unemployment.
But it's not just Democratic governors feeling the heat. A procession of cars swarmed around the Republican-dominated statehouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, with messages written on windows or signs that said "stop killing our economy," "we need our church," and "time 2 work."
Carol Hefner, who previously served as an Oklahoma co-chair of Mr. Trump's 2016 campaign, was a major organizer of the event.
Ms. Hefner, whose husband is part of the Hefner Energy empire and currently operates a company that makes Argentinian meat sauce, differentiated it from many of the others, characterizing it as a "rally" rather than a protest.
"We're not New York. Their problems are not our problems," Ms. Hefner said. "We are rallying around our governor and our state to encourage the opening up of our businesses and the restoration of our state in a timely fashion."
Other gatherings have links to fringe groups. A protest Thursday in the Texas capital of Austin, where protesters chanted "Free Texas" and "Make America Free Again," was broadcast live by InfoWars TV, part of a company owned by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones.
The Ohio event earlier this week brought together a collection of anti-vaccine advocates, Second Amendment supporters, tea party activists, and other anti-government activists. A Columbus Dispatch photo of Ms. Ackison and other protesters yelling through glass doors of the statehouse rocketed around the internet.
Ms. Ackison said that while she views Mr. DeWine's efforts as constitutional overreach, she would be fine if Mr. Trump were to act with similar authority to force governors to bring the states back on line.
"As patriots, we put President Trump in office for a reason," she said. "If he's not able to give a convincing enough argument to these governors that they need to open up, then he needs to do something to take action."
The protests were advertised on Facebook by groups such as Reopen Virginia and End the Lockdown PA. A protest in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday grew out of a conversation in the Facebook group Virginians for Medical Freedom, organizer Gary Golden said.
The group often turns out at the Capitol in Richmond to oppose vaccine-related measures.
Kelly Mullin, who stood near a "don't tread on me" flag spread on the grass near the governor's mansion, said she brought her sons to the event to teach them a lesson about liberty.
Ms. Mullin said that she thought the risk posed by the coronavirus depends on an individual's health and that people can take basic steps to protect themselves, including getting enough sleep, eating organic produce, and getting outside.
"I mean, that's where our tax dollars should be going. Eat broccoli," she said.
Infectious-disease specialists say there is no evidence that eating specific foods can prevent or kill the virus.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-17--Can Trump's reopening plan help the US return to normal?

President Donald Trump has given governors a road map for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic , laying out `` a phased and deliberate approach '' to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases .
`` We 're starting our life again , '' Mr. Trump said during his daily press briefing .
`` We 're starting rejuvenation of our economy again . ''
He added , `` This is a gradual process . ''
The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line in harder-hit locations .
They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Mr. Trump initially envisioned , with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak .
And they largely reinforce plans already in the works by governors , who have primary responsibility for public health in their states .
`` You 're going to call your own shots , '' Mr. Trump told the governors Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press .
`` We 're going to be standing alongside of you . ''
Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools .
In phase one , for instance , the plan recommends strict social distancing for all people in public .
Gatherings larger than 10 people are to be avoided , and nonessential travel is discouraged .
In phase two , people are encouraged to maximize social distancing and limit gatherings to no more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Travel could resume .
Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans , with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections .
Mr. Trump said recent trends in some states were so positive that they could almost immediately begin taking the steps laid out in phase one .
`` They will be able to go literally tomorrow , '' Mr. Trump said .
The guidelines recommend that states pass checkpoints that look at new cases , testing , and surveillance data over the prior 14 days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governors of both parties made clear they will move at their own pace .
Delaware Gov .
John Carney , a Democrat , said the guidelines `` seem to make sense . ''
`` We 're days , maybe weeks away from the starting line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases , of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound , '' he said .
West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice , a Trump ally , cautiously floated the idea of reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing capacity and contact tracing would need to be considerably ramped up before restrictions could be safely lifted .
`` All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should , and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies , '' Mr. Justice told reporters .
At the earliest , the guidelines suggest , some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether easing up on restrictions has led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other parts of the country , or if virus cases pick up , it could be substantially longer .
In briefing governors on the plan , Mr. Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states .
Just days before , he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen .
`` We have a very large number of states that want to get going and they 're in very good shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's good with us , frankly . ''
The guidelines also include general recommendations to businesses as they plan for potential reopenings , suggesting temperature-taking , rapid COVID-19 testing , and widespread disinfection efforts in workplaces .
Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase – and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people .
Governors , for their part , have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies .
Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast .
Two in three Americans expressed concerns that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus would be eased too quickly , according to a Pew Research Center survey released Thursday .
More than 33,000 people in the United States have died from the virus .
U.S .
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams encouraged all Americans to study the new guidelines to prepare for when their areas are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you all to be thinking about it now , '' Mr. Adams told `` Fox & Friends '' on Friday .
`` We do n't want you to rush .
But we want you to understand that the more you think about it now the more we 'll have the infrastructure in place . ''
Mr. Trump claimed the U.S. has `` built the most advanced and robust testing anywhere in the world . ''
But even people close to him warned more would be necessary .
`` We are struggling with testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told ABC 's `` The View . ''
`` You really ca n't go back to work until we have more tests . ''
Former Vice President Joe Biden , Mr. Trump 's likely opponent in November 's presidential election , said Thursday that Mr. Trump `` kind of punted . ''
`` We 're not going to be able to really make significant changes in the three phases the president 's talking about until we 're able to test much more broadly , '' Mr. Biden said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
Mr. Suderman reported from Richmond , Virginia .
AP writers Jill Colvin in Washington , Paul Weber in Austin , Texas , Anthony Izaguirre in Charleston , West Virginia , Mike Stobbe in New York , and Mike Catalini in Trenton , New Jersey , contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Zeke Miller, Alan Suderman, and Kevin Freking

President Donald Trump has given governors a road map for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out "a phased and deliberate approach" to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
"We're starting our life again," Mr. Trump said during his daily press briefing. "We're starting rejuvenation of our economy again."
He added, "This is a gradual process."
The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations. They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Mr. Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak. And they largely reinforce plans already in the works by governors, who have primary responsibility for public health in their states.
"You're going to call your own shots," Mr. Trump told the governors Thursday afternoon in a conference call, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. "We're going to be standing alongside of you."
Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools.
In phase one, for instance, the plan recommends strict social distancing for all people in public. Gatherings larger than 10 people are to be avoided, and nonessential travel is discouraged.
In phase two, people are encouraged to maximize social distancing and limit gatherings to no more than 50 people unless precautionary measures are taken. Travel could resume.
Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans, with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections.
Mr. Trump said recent trends in some states were so positive that they could almost immediately begin taking the steps laid out in phase one.
"They will be able to go literally tomorrow," Mr. Trump said.
The guidelines recommend that states pass checkpoints that look at new cases, testing, and surveillance data over the prior 14 days before advancing from one phase to another.
Governors of both parties made clear they will move at their own pace.
Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said the guidelines "seem to make sense."
"We're days, maybe weeks away from the starting line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases, of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound," he said.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Trump ally, cautiously floated the idea of reopening parts of the state, but said testing capacity and contact tracing would need to be considerably ramped up before restrictions could be safely lifted.
"All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should, and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies," Mr. Justice told reporters.
At the earliest, the guidelines suggest, some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether easing up on restrictions has led to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases pick up, it could be substantially longer.
In briefing governors on the plan, Mr. Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states. Just days before, he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen.
"We have a very large number of states that want to get going and they're in very good shape," Mr. Trump said. "That's good with us, frankly."
The guidelines also include general recommendations to businesses as they plan for potential reopenings, suggesting temperature-taking, rapid COVID-19 testing, and widespread disinfection efforts in workplaces.
Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase – and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.
Governors, for their part, have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to safely revive normal activity. Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies. Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast.
Two in three Americans expressed concerns that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus would be eased too quickly, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Thursday. More than 33,000 people in the United States have died from the virus.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams encouraged all Americans to study the new guidelines to prepare for when their areas are ready to reopen.
"We want you all to be thinking about it now," Mr. Adams told "Fox & Friends" on Friday. "We don't want you to rush. But we want you to understand that the more you think about it now the more we'll have the infrastructure in place."
Mr. Trump claimed the U.S. has "built the most advanced and robust testing anywhere in the world." But even people close to him warned more would be necessary.
"We are struggling with testing at a large scale," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told ABC's "The View." "You really can't go back to work until we have more tests."
Former Vice President Joe Biden, Mr. Trump's likely opponent in November's presidential election, said Thursday that Mr. Trump "kind of punted."
"We're not going to be able to really make significant changes in the three phases the president's talking about until we're able to test much more broadly," Mr. Biden said on CNN.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia. AP writers Jill Colvin in Washington, Paul Weber in Austin, Texas, Anthony Izaguirre in Charleston, West Virginia, Mike Stobbe in New York, and Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.