US President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion (€737bn) pandemic relief package.
The development which comes just hours before a government shutdown and days after the president opposed the bill over “wasteful and unnecessary items.
It ends days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
It was unclear what, if anything, Trump accomplished with his delay, beyond angering all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their push for higher relief checks, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $600 (€491) checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans already rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large.
“I will sign the Omnibus and COVID package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
“I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress, insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,’’ he said.
The package, approved by Congress on Dec. 21 after months of negotiations, is part of a $2.3 trillion federal government budget.
A key item in the bill is $600 stimulus cheque for American workers earning less than $75,000 per annum.
In a video message on Wednesday, Trump said the bill was called coronavirus relief package, yet there was “almost nothing about COVID-19 in it’’.
“The bill also allows stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, allowing them to get up to $1,800 each.
“This is far more than the Americans are given.
“In spite of all these wasteful spendings, and much more, the $900 billion packages provide hard-working taxpayers with only $600 each in relief package.
“Not enough money is given to small businesses, and in particular, restaurants whose owners have suffered so grievously,’’ the president said.
He urged Congress to amend the bill and increase the “ridiculously low” $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for couples.
