The coronavirus pandemic has affected the entirety of the United States on an economic level aside from a public health level. However, a new report reveals that the stimulus checks that are to be given out to Americans would be experiencing delays as President Donald Trump’s signature is to be printed out on the said checks.
The Guardian reports that the United States Treasury released a statement explaining the delay in the release of the stimulus checks. Both Congress and the Senate enacted a trillion-dollar stimulus plan to revive the US economy by giving out checks worth $1,200 to tens of thousands of Americans who are affected by the pandemic.
According to those who are informed of the matter at the Internal Revenue Service or the IRS, the checks will have Trump’s name in the memo line that is below the line that says Economic Impact Payment. This would delay the release of the stimulus checks by several days.
The decision was reportedly unprecedented and was announced to the IRS’ technology team Tuesday.
In other related news, it was previously reported that Trump backtracked his claim of having total authority to order the lifting of nationwide lockdowns on states, overriding the orders set in place by the state governors. It was a claim that drew harsh criticism next to his more recent announcement of suspending funding for the World Health Organization. In one of the latest White House press briefings this week, Trump announced that he is giving the state governors authorization to reopen their respective states as well as come up with a reopening plan to help the US economy.
The backtracking of his comments follows the reports that several state governors are collaborating with their own plan to reopen the economy. The same governors are also determined to challenge Trump’s claim as it is against the US Constitution.
The US is the worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic, causing over 500,000 cases that tested positive with over 20,000 deaths and counting. This resulted in an extended period of social distancing to the end of the month, but health experts have said that it will solely depend on the state of the virus over time.