US President Trump on Sunday signed an enormous relief and spending package, containing $2.3 trillion. This package is to allocate nearly $25 million for gender and democracy in Pakistan, with $10 million for gender programs and $15 million for democracy programs.
The outgoing President had recently threatened to block the Congress approved bill, receiving immense pressure from lawmakers. His resistance to the bipartisan deal had further jeopardized the final days of his presidency with greater chaos.
However, on Sunday, Donald Trump released a statement saying he had signed the bill with “a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed, ” adding that it was his “responsibility to protect the people of our country from the economic devastation and hardship.”
The President’s lapse in signing the stimulus bill has already allowed important unemployment aid programs to collapse.
“The signing of the bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus relief legislation is welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas Weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
Had Trump continued with his stance on blocking the bill, the government would have shut down on Tuesday, with a signifcant number of Americans losing eviction protections and unemployment benefits.
Trump has also demanded that Congress should alter the bill to increase the size of stimulus checks for needy Americans to $2,000 from $600, while also advocating a cut in other spending.
“Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests, while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it,” he said.
