Whether Trump can unilaterally extend pandemic relief

President Trump’s new executive order aims to give Americans an extra $400 per week during the pandemic. But does he have the legal authority to make this happen? Congress is in charge of taxing and spending in the U.S.

President Trump’s new executive order aims to give Americans an extra $400 per week during the pandemic. But does he have the legal authority to make this happen? Congress is in charge of taxing and spending in the U.S. Photo credit: pasja1000/CC 2.0, via Pixabay

One executive order President Trump signed over the weekend aims to give Americans an extra $400 per week during the pandemic. That’s down from the $600 per week originally passed by Congress. But whereas the federal government was paying for all of the additional benefits before, Trump’s order requires states to chip some of that money.

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Rosalie Atkinson, Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin