Trump signs measure to provide extra $400 for unemployed Americans

Americans who lost their jobs as result of the coronavirus pandemic will be eligible for an additional $400 per week of unemployment benefits under one provision of a series of executive orders President Donald Trump signed Saturday.

Trump made the announcement as protracted negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats have been unsuccessful in extending the benefits originally offered through the CARES Act.

Republicans have resisted a move to keep the compensation at $600, with indications that they were looking at $200 a week.

Trump’s move represents a midpoint between the two positions, and were part of a broad array of other measures he directed to address the damage the Covid-19 spread has caused to the economy.