Trump floats executive order on Covid relief aid despite doubts over legality – live

Julia Carrie Wong (now), Daniel Strauss and Martin Belam (earlier)
Thu 6 Aug 2020 00.44 BST
First published on Wed 5 Aug 2020 10.59 BST

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2h ago 23:13

Trump floats constitutionally dubious idea of extending unemployment benefits by executive order

Donald Trump floated the idea of using executive orders to break the impasse in Congress over enhanced unemployment benefits and eviction protections, a seemingly radical move of dubious constitutionality.

“My administration is exploring executive actions to provide protection against eviction ... additional relief to those who are unemployed, and a term-limited suspension of the payroll tax,” Trump said at a White House press briefing.

The idea of a president extending unemployment benefits by executive order is unusual, to say the least. Congress is the branch of the US government that appropriates funds; the president can influence budgetary negotiations, but cannot draft legislation.

According to Politico, Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows is arguing that the administration can take this move by simply repurposing money that was appropriated by Congress under the Cares Act, a move that will certainly draw immediate legal challenge.

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