Trump’s coronavirus task force on Thursday afternoon visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency to hear from several governors about the challenges facing their states.
Multiple governors expressed their concerns over obtaining additional personal protective equipment for health care workers, the need for additional reagents and swabs to complete coronavirus testing, and a general request for flexible federal funding for states.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said his state will likely need to tap into strategic reserves of medical equipment, despite Trump’s prodding that states build their own supply chains.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker echoed these concerns, expressing frustration with suppliers that have turned down his requests and selling to the federal government instead.
“I got to tell you that on three big orders we lost to the feds,” Baker said.
The Democratic governor then pushed Trump to encourage companies to sell to states, even if they can’t beat the federal government on prices.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards asked for help providing additional hospital capacity, including federal approval to use a Veterans Administration hospital for coronavirus treatment.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan outlined three requests brought up at a recent meeting of the National Governors Association, including funneling 50 percent of supplemental income to the states, authorizing greater flexibility in how governors can use their National Guard divisions, and more flexibility in completing the 2020 census and REAL ID requirements.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo asked for direct support to hospitals as a part of any future stimulus package and possibly bridge grants to help states achieve short-term liquidity.
Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker repeated concerns over the current extent of drive-through testing, noting that his state had only received 5,000 tests. He said that it is only enough for one or two days of testing based on current demand.
Trump and other members of the coronavirus task force noted that states should process requests through FEMA, which he said is working closely with the White House.
President Donald Trump said he has decided to lower his combined tariff rates on imports of Chinese goods to 47% after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on curbing fentanyl trafficking.
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated. The move comes amid a fraught time for the central bank, with hiring sluggish and yet inflation stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. Compounding its challenges, the central bank is navigating without much of the economic data it typically relies on from the government. The Fed has signaled it may reduce its key rate again in December but the data drought raises the uncertainty around its next moves. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters that there were “strongly differing views” at the central bank's policy meeting about to proceed going forward.
U.S. and Chinese officials say a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies is drawing closer. The sides have reached an initial consensus for President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to aim to finalize during their high-stakes meeting Thursday in South Korea. Any agreement would be a relief to international markets. Trump's treasury secretary says discussions with China yielded preliminary agreements to stop the precursor chemicals for fentanyl from coming into the United States. Scott Bessent also says Beijing would make “substantial” purchases of soybean and other agricultural products while putting off export controls on rare earth elements needed for advanced technologies.
A new poll finds most U.S. adults are worried about health care becoming more expensive.
The White House budget office says mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.
President Donald Trump says “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea after China restricted exports of rare earths needed for American industry. The Republican president suggested Friday he was looking at a “massive increase” of import taxes on Chinese products in response to Xi’s moves. Trump says one of the policies the U.S. is calculating is "a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States." A monthslong calm on Wall Street was shattered, with U.S. stocks falling on the news. The Chinese Embassy in Washington hasn't responded to an Associated Press request for comment.
