In new weekly numbers released today, roughly 1.2 million people filed for unemployment insurance last week alone, bringing the total to more than 55 million who’ve sought benefits since Trump’s botched coronavirus response led to an economic collapse. Today’s numbers mark the 20th straight week where unemployment claims topped 1 million.
Still, as millions of American families struggle to make ends meet, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are adamantly fighting to gut the extended benefits for those affected by the pandemic. Their feckless attempt to strip aid for everyday people while catering to corporations will likely hinder any economic recovery efforts, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In response, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“Even as unemployment claims continue to skyrocket, the Trump Administration and Republican congressional leadership are fighting for what they always fight for – relief for their donors, Wall Street bankers and corporations that ship jobs overseas instead of relief for working families.
“This is particularly egregious given that folks are out of work as a direct result of Trump’s botched response to the pandemic. Instead of taking decisive action to stop the virus, Trump allowed it to get out of control by downplaying the danger, ignoring experts and even mocking the need to wear face masks. The result was the economy thrown into a historic collapse.
“But instead of addressing the needs of those who have been financially harmed by their failed leadership, Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill have refused to take action, allowed crucial benefits to expire, and are now trying to avoid responsibility for a situation that has become even more dire for families across the country.
“It’s outrageous to try to strip money away from everyday people and put it in the pockets of their corporate donors at the same time millions are filing for unemployment every single week. It not only hangs the American people out to dry but will cripple the recovery effort before it even begins.
“But unfortunately, this display of corruption and lack of empathy is all we have come to expect from this White House as families struggle in this unprecedented crisis.”