{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see WP:SDNONE --> {{Redirect-distinguish|Donald Trump and the COVID-19 pandemic|Communication of the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic}} {{Broader|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{COVID-19 pandemic sidebar}} The federal government of the United States initially responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country with various declarations of emergency, some of which led to travel and entry restrictions and the formation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. As the pandemic progressed in the U.S. and globally, the U.S. government began issuing recommendations regarding the response by state and local governments, as well as social distancing measures and workplace hazard controls. State governments played a primary role in adopting policies to address the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Adeel|first1=Abdul Basit|last2=Catalano|first2=Michael|last3=Catalano|first3=Olivia|last4=Gibson|first4=Grant|last5=Muftuoglu|first5=Ezgi|last6=Riggs|first6=Tara|last7=Sezgin|first7=Mehmet Halit|last8=Shvetsova|first8=Olga|last9=Tahir|first9=Naveed|last10=VanDusky-Allen|first10=Julie|last11=Zhao|first11=Tianyi|date=2020-07-25|title=COVID-19 Policy Response and the Rise of the Sub-National Governments|journal=Canadian Public Policy|volume=46|issue=4|pages=565–584|doi=10.3138/cpp.2020-101|pmid=36039151 |pmc=9400820 |s2cid=225377653|issn=0317-0861}}</ref> Following the closure of most businesses throughout a number of U.S. states, President Donald Trump announced the mobilization of the National Guard in the most affected areas.
During 2020 and 2021, the U.S. Congress passed major stimulus packages as part of an aggressive effort to fight both the pandemic and its economic impact. Three major bills were passed: the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other proposed acts of legislation to provide economic relief were made within both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with influence from the White House. In addition, other federal policy changes were made by a number of departments—some at the direction of President Trump, as well as his successor Joe Biden.
The first Trump administration's communication regarding the pandemic generated negative responses. Trump was initially described as optimistic about the country's response to the pandemic and the threat level the coronavirus disease presented the public in 2019. As the pandemic's severity escalated in the U.S., Trump repeatedly made false or misleading statements. In contrast, officials within the first Trump administration made numerous statements in support of physical distancing measures and business closures.
The federal government managed the development of several vaccines for the virus through Operation Warp Speed in 2020. Distribution of the vaccines was overseen by the Biden administration during 2021, during which time many pandemic measures were ended. The national emergency related to the pandemic was ended by a bipartisan resolution of Congress on April 10, 2023, and the public health emergency was ended on May 11, 2023, also by a bipartisan resolution of congress.
== Background ==
{{See also|Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}
On December 31, 2019, China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in its city of Wuhan. On January 7, 2020, the Chinese health authorities confirmed that this cluster was caused by a novel infectious coronavirus.<ref name=NEJMFirstCase>{{Cite journal|title=First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States|first1=Michelle L.|last1=Holshue|first2=Chas|last2=DeBolt|first3=Scott|last3=Lindquist|first4=Kathy H.|last4=Lofy|first5=John|last5=Wiesman|first6=Hollianne|last6=Bruce|first7=Christopher|last7=Spitters|first8=Keith|last8=Ericson|first9=Sara|last9=Wilkerson|first10=Ahmet|last10=Tural|first11=George|last11=Diaz|first12=Amanda|last12=Cohn|first13=LeAnne|last13=Fox|first14=Anita|last14=Patel|first15=Susan I.|last15=Gerber|first16=Lindsay|last16=Kim|first17=Suxiang|last17=Tong|first18=Xiaoyan|last18=Lu|first19=Steve|last19=Lindstrom|first20=Mark A.|last20=Pallansch|first21=William C.|last21=Weldon|first22=Holly M.|last22=Biggs|first23=Timothy M.|last23=Uyeki|first24=Satish K.|last24=Pillai|date=March 5, 2020|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|volume=382|issue=10|pages=929–936|doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2001191|pmid=32004427|pmc=7092802}}</ref> On January 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an official health advisory via its Health Alert Network (HAN) and established an Incident Management Structure to coordinate domestic and international public health actions.<ref>[https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00424.asp "Outbreak of Pneumonia of Unknown Etiology (PUE) in Wuhan, China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518142657/https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00424.asp |date=May 18, 2020 }}, CDC, January 8, 2020</ref> On January 10 and 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about a strong possibility of human-to-human transmission and urged precautions.<ref name="Guardian-WHO">{{cite web | first1=Peter | last1=Beaumont | first2=Julian | last2=Borger | title=WHO warned of transmission risk in January, despite Trump claims | work=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/09/who-cited-human-transmission-risk-in-january-despite-trump-claims | date=April 9, 2020 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=July 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703093718/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/09/who-cited-human-transmission-risk-in-january-despite-trump-claims | url-status=live }}</ref> On January 20, the WHO and China confirmed that human-to-human transmission had occurred.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuo |first1=Lily |title=China confirms human-to-human transmission of coronavirus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/20/coronavirus-spreads-to-beijing-as-china-confirms-new-cases |access-date=April 19, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714011704/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/20/coronavirus-spreads-to-beijing-as-china-confirms-new-cases |url-status=live }}</ref>
The first report of a COVID-19 case in the U.S. came on January 20, in a man who returned on January 15 from visiting family in Wuhan, China, to his home in Snohomish County, Washington. He sought medical attention on January 19.<ref name="NEJMFirstCase" /> The second report came on January 24, in a woman who returned to Chicago, Illinois, on January 13 from visiting Wuhan.<ref name="firstthreemonths">{{cite journal|date=April 22, 2020|title=Coronavirus: the first three months as it happened|journal=Nature|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-00154-w|pmid=32152592|s2cid=220507687}}</ref><ref name="secondcase">{{cite news|title=Second Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States|work=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|url=https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0124-second-travel-coronavirus.html|quote=Second Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States: The patient returned to the U.S. from Wuhan on January 13, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724095518/https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p0124-second-travel-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The woman passed the virus to her husband, and he was confirmed to have the virus on January 30, in what was at that time the first reported case of local transmission in the U.S.<ref name=Ghinai>{{cite journal |last1=Ghinai |first1=Isaac |last2=McPherson |first2=Tristan D |last3=Hunter |first3=Jennifer C |last4=Kirking |first4=Hannah L |last5=Christiansen |first5=Demian |last6=Joshi |first6=Kiran |last7=Rubin |first7=Rachel |last8=Morales-Estrada |first8=Shirley |last9=Black |first9=Stephanie R |last10=Pacilli |first10=Massimo |last11=Fricchione |first11=Marielle J |last12=Chugh |first12=Rashmi K |last13=Walblay |first13=Kelly A |last14=Ahmed |first14=N Seema |last15=Stoecker |first15=William C |last16=Hasan |first16=Nausheen F |last17=Burdsall |first17=Deborah P |last18=Reese |first18=Heather E |last19=Wallace |first19=Megan |last20=Wang |first20=Chen |last21=Moeller |first21=Darcie |last22=Korpics |first22=Jacqueline |last23=Novosad |first23=Shannon A |last24=Benowitz |first24=Isaac |last25=Jacobs |first25=Max W |last26=Dasari |first26=Vishal S |last27=Patel |first27=Megan T |last28=Kauerauf |first28=Judy |last29=Charles |first29=E Matt |last30=Ezike |first30=Ngozi O |last31=Chu |first31=Victoria |last32=Midgley |first32=Claire M |last33=Rolfes |first33=Melissa A |last34=Gerber |first34=Susan I |last35=Lu |first35=Xiaoyan |last36=Lindstrom |first36=Stephen |last37=Verani |first37=Jennifer R |last38=Layden |first38=Jennifer E |title=First known person-to-person transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the USA |journal=Lancet |date=2020 |volume=395 |issue=10230 |pages=1137–1144 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30607-3 |pmid=32178768 |pmc=7158585 |bibcode=2020Lanc..395.1137G }}</ref> The same day, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that "all countries should be prepared for containment."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Boseley|first1=Sarah|date=January 30, 2020|title=WHO declares coronavirus a global health emergency|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/who-declares-coronavirus-a-global-health-emergency|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415065652/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/who-declares-coronavirus-a-global-health-emergency|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=Merrit|date=January 30, 2020|title=WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak A Global Health Emergency|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405150804/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency|url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, January 31, the U.S. also declared a public health emergency.<ref name="Globe">[https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2020/01/31/declares-public-health-emergency-from-coronavirus/9WMXL38AdA08GJworROtII/story.html "US declares public health emergency from coronavirus"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708144110/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2020/01/31/declares-public-health-emergency-from-coronavirus/9WMXL38AdA08GJworROtII/story.html |date=July 8, 2020 }}, ''Boston Globe'', February 1, 2020</ref>
== First Trump administration ==
{{Further|White House Coronavirus Task Force|Operation Warp Speed}}
=== Initial events and task force formation ===
[[File:Coronavirus Task Force Press Briefing (49608829838).jpg|thumb|Mike Pence (right) delivers remarks at a Coronavirus Task Force briefing on February 29, accompanied by Alex Azar (left) and Anthony Fauci.]]
Trump administration officials were briefed about the coronavirus outbreak in China on January 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Alissa|date=2020-04-05|title=Report: The Trump administration didn't order ventilators or masks until mid-March|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/4/5/21208802/coronavirus-trump-ventilators-masks-march|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Vox|language=en|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630162703/https://www.vox.com/2020/4/5/21208802/coronavirus-trump-ventilators-masks-march|url-status=live}}</ref> Health officials first substantially briefed the president about the virus on January 18, when HHS secretary Alex Azar called Trump while he was at Mar-a-Lago.<ref name="AbutalebApril4">{{cite news |last1=Abutaleb |first1=Yasmeen |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Nakashima |first3=Ellen |last4=Miller |first4=Greg |title=The U.S. was beset by denial and dysfunction as the coronavirus raged |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/04/04/coronavirus-government-dysfunction/?arc404=true |access-date=April 4, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 4, 2020 |archive-date=July 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709200448/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/04/04/coronavirus-government-dysfunction/?arc404=true |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Harris">{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Shane |last2=Miller |first2=Greg |last3=Dawsey |first3=Josh |last4=Nakashima |first4=Ellen |title=U.S. intelligence reports from January and February warned about a likely pandemic |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-intelligence-reports-from-january-and-february-warned-about-a-likely-pandemic/2020/03/20/299d8cda-6ad5-11ea-b5f1-a5a804158597_story.html |access-date=April 4, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 20, 2020 |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816203526/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-intelligence-reports-from-january-and-february-warned-about-a-likely-pandemic/2020/03/20/299d8cda-6ad5-11ea-b5f1-a5a804158597_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 27, then-acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney convened a meeting with White House aides to draw greater attention to the virus among senior officials.<ref name=Harris /> Two days later, on January 29, President Trump established the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Secretary Azar, to coordinate and oversee efforts to "monitor, prevent, contain, and mitigate the spread" of COVID-19 in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-presidents-coronavirus-task-force/|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the President's Coronavirus Task Force|via=National Archives|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/coronavirus|title=Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019)|date=March 13, 2020|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320235202/https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jan29WH">{{cite press release|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-presidents-coronavirus-task-force/|date=January 29, 2020|access-date=March 15, 2020|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the President's Coronavirus Task Force}}</ref> On February 26, Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to take charge of the nation's response to the virus.<ref name="NYT-Pence">{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael|last2=Weiland|first2=Noah|last3=Rogers|first3=Katie|date=February 26, 2020|title=Trump Names Mike Pence to Lead Coronavirus Response|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-cdc.html|access-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227003735/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-cdc.html|archive-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref>
On March 11, during an Oval Office address, Trump announced that he had requested a number of other policy changes: * He would ask Congress to provide financial relief and paid sick leave for workers who were quarantined or had to care for others. * He would instruct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide loans to businesses affected by the pandemic, and would ask Congress for an additional $50 billion to help hard-hit businesses. * He would request that tax payments be deferred beyond April 15 without penalty for those affected, which he said could add $200 billion in temporary liquidity to the economy. * He would ask Congress to provide payroll tax relief to those affected.<ref name="USAToday">{{cite news|date=March 12, 2020|title=President Trump restricts 'all travel' from EU to US starting Friday|publisher=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/11/trump-address-nation-over-u-s-response-coronavirus-pandemic/5022464002/|url-status=live|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720120541/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/11/trump-address-nation-over-u-s-response-coronavirus-pandemic/5022464002/|archive-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> At this point, the federal government neared agreement on a stimulus proposal including direct cash payments to Americans.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Werner|first1=Erica|last2=Stein|first2=Jeff|last3=DeBonis|first3=Mike|title=White House expresses support for immediate cash payments to Americans as part of coronavirus stimulus package|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/03/17/trump-coronavirus-stimulus-package/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830090945/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/03/17/trump-coronavirus-stimulus-package/|archive-date=August 30, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Trump announced that the Small Business Administration would be providing disaster loans which could provide impacted businesses with up to $2 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Tourism Industry Executives on COVID-19 Response|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-meeting-tourism-industry-executives-covid-19-response/|access-date=March 19, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref>
FEMA was put in charge of procuring medical supplies on March 17.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Devan|date=March 22, 2020|title=Illinois governor says 'it's a wild west' for medical supplies because of Trump's response to states' requests|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/22/politics/pritzker-illinois-states-competing-medical-supplies/index.html|access-date=March 23, 2020|website=CNN|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731042348/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/22/politics/pritzker-illinois-states-competing-medical-supplies/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/22/trump-wants-defeat-coronavirus-credit-143531 Trump wants to defeat coronavirus—and make sure he gets credit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707180128/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/22/trump-wants-defeat-coronavirus-credit-143531 |date=July 7, 2020 }} By NANCY COOK, ''Politico'', March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020</ref> On March 18, Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would be suspending all kinds of foreclosures and evictions until the end of April.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-5/|access-date=March 19, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref> The week of March 19, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ordered federally guaranteed loan providers to grant forbearance of up to a year on mortgage payments from people who lost income due to the pandemic. It encouraged the same for non-federal loans and included a pass-through provision for landlords to grant forbearance to renters who lost income.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Garcia-Navarro |first1=Lulu |title=The U.S. Orders A Break On Mortgage Payments. What Does That Mean?|website=NPR.org |date=March 22, 2020 |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/22/819725417/the-u-s-orders-a-break-on-mortgage-payments-what-does-that-mean|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602162526/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/22/819725417/the-u-s-orders-a-break-on-mortgage-payments-what-does-that-mean|archive-date=June 2, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020|publisher=NPR}}</ref>
On March 20, Trump announced that the Department of Education would not be enforcing standardized testing for 2020. Trump had also instructed to waive all federally held student loans for the next 60 days, which could be extended if needed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-c-oronavirus-task-force-press-briefing/|access-date=March 21, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref> Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the deadline for several federal filings including income tax returns and payments would be extended to July 15, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davison|first=Laura|date=March 20, 2020|title=IRS Pushes Tax Date to July 15, Same as Payment Deadline|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/tax-filings-payment-due-date-extended-to-july-15-mnuchin-says|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331024104/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/tax-filings-payment-due-date-extended-to-july-15-mnuchin-says|archive-date=March 31, 2020|access-date=March 20, 2020|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref>
On March 22, Trump announced that he had directed FEMA to build four large medical stations with 1,000 beds for New York, eight large medical stations with 2,000 beds for California, and three large medical stations and four small medical stations with 1,000 beds for the State of Washington.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-8/|access-date=March 24, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref>
On March 23, Trump postponed the October 1, 2020, deadline for Americans on commercial airlines to carry Real ID-compliant documents.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sink|first=Justin|date=March 23, 2020|title=Trump Postpones Real ID Requirements Due to Virus Concerns|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/trump-postpones-real-id-requirements-due-to-virus-concerns|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423090230/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/trump-postpones-real-id-requirements-due-to-virus-concerns|archive-date=April 23, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref> On April 3, Trump announced that the federal government would use funds from the CARES Act to pay hospitals for treatment of uninsured patients infected with the coronavirus.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 3, 2020|title=Administration says it will reimburse hospitals for treating uninsured coronavirus patients|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/491113-administration-says-it-will-reimburse-hospitals-for-treating|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807013512/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/491113-administration-says-it-will-reimburse-hospitals-for-treating|archive-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> On April 20, Trump said he would sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the U.S. because of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 21, 2020|title=Trump's latest move to limit immigration worries Seattle-area tech community|work=The Seattle Times|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/trumps-latest-move-to-limit-immigration-worries-seattle-area-tech-community/|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818072002/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/trumps-latest-move-to-limit-immigration-worries-seattle-area-tech-community/|archive-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=April 22, 2020|title=Coronavirus: US green cards to be halted for 60 days, Trump says|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52377122|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815085722/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52377122|archive-date=August 15, 2020}}</ref>
A public–private partnership named Operation Warp Speed was begun to rapidly develop vaccines for the disease. On March 30, HHS announced the first grant to a vaccine in development with $456 million allocated to Johnson & Johnson. Additional funds were approved for Moderna, AstraZeneca, Regeneron, Novavax, Pfizer, and a partnership between Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. The program's timeline was formally announced on May 15.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=Explaining Operation Warp Speed |url=https://www.nihb.org/covid-19/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fact-sheet-operation-warp-speed.pdf |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=nihb.org |publisher=United States Department of Health and Human Services }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Two of the vaccines, Moderna's and Pfizer's, were given emergency use authorization by the FDA in December 2020, allowing a public vaccination campaign to commence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2020 |title=OPERATION WARP SPEED: Accelerated COVID-19 Vaccine Development Status and Efforts to Address Manufacturing Challenges |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-319.pdf |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=gao.gov |publisher=United States Government Accountability Office}}</ref>
=== Travel and entry restrictions ===
{{Further|Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic}} thumb|A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer checks the travel documents of a pilot arriving from an international flight. [[File:Puerto Rico National Guard (49671497102).jpg|thumb|Temperature screening of arrivals at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico on March 17, 2020]]
On January 31, three major U.S. airlines (Delta, American, and United) announced that beginning in early February they would suspend flights between the U.S. and China,<ref name="Koenig">{{cite news|last1=Koenig|first1=David|last2=Bussewitz|first2=Cathy|last3=Pisani|first3=Joseph|date=January 31, 2020|title=Delta, American and United suspend flights between US, China|work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/7a165f73821fdd44e321a38be005886c|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=March 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330113012/https://apnews.com/7a165f73821fdd44e321a38be005886c|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tate|first=Curtis|title=Delta, American, United to suspend all China mainland flights as coronavirus crisis grows|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-flight-ban-delta-cuts-all-flights-white-house/4620989002/|access-date=April 3, 2020|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195942/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-flight-ban-delta-cuts-all-flights-white-house/4620989002/|url-status=live}}</ref> although United Airlines continued select flights for returning Americans.<ref name="ChineseAirlines" /> Later that day, President Trump announced travel restrictions which would come into effect on February 2, preventing foreign nationals from entering the U.S. if they had been in China within the previous two weeks. The immediate family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents were exempt from this restriction.<ref name="USA Today quarantine" /><ref name="AP ban" /> Major Chinese carriers began to suspend flights from China to the United States three days after the announcement of the travel restrictions.<ref name="ChineseAirlines">{{cite news |last1=Pham |first1=Sherisse |last2=Wang |first2=Serenitie |title=First major Chinese airliner suspends flights to the United States over coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/03/business/china-eastern-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=March 31, 2020 |publisher=CNN|date=February 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330165939/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/03/business/china-eastern-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to restricting foreign nationals, Trump imposed a quarantine for up to 14 days on American citizens returning from Hubei, the main coronavirus hotspot at the time. This was the first quarantine order the U.S. federal government had issued in over 50 years.<ref name="USA Today quarantine" /><ref name="AP ban">{{cite news |last1=Moritsugu |first1=Ken |last2=Miller |first2=Zeke |title=US bars foreigners coming from China for now over virus fear |url=https://apnews.com/9e22f8aabe2f454593b9f9b4c67eb31f |access-date=March 24, 2020 |work=Associated Press |date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809225934/https://apnews.com/9e22f8aabe2f454593b9f9b4c67eb31f |url-status=live }}</ref> Although at the time the WHO recommended against countries imposing travel restrictions,<ref>{{cite news |title=WHO says countries should keep borders open, trade & people moving despite coronavirus |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who/who-says-countries-should-keep-borders-open-trade-people-moving-despite-coronavirus-idUSKBN1ZU1C2 |access-date=March 24, 2020 |work=Reuters|date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324112136/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who/who-says-countries-should-keep-borders-open-trade-people-moving-despite-coronavirus-idUSKBN1ZU1C2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Secretary Azar said the decision stemmed from the recommendations of HHS health officials.<ref name=factcheck>[https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/the-facts-on-trumps-travel-restrictions/ "The Facts on Trump's Travel Restrictions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703093721/https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/the-facts-on-trumps-travel-restrictions/ |date=July 3, 2020 }}, ''Factcheck'', March 6, 2020</ref> ''The New York Times'' analyzed that more than 380,000 people arrived in the U.S. from China in January, including around 4,000 from Wuhan. After the restrictions began, almost 40,000 people arrived in the U.S. from China in February and March.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eder |first1=Steve |last2=Fountain |first2=Henry |last3=Keller |first3=Michael |last4=Xiao |first4=Muyi |last5=Stevenson |first5=Alexandra |title=430,000 People Have Traveled From China to U.S. Since Coronavirus Surfaced |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/coronavirus-china-travel-restrictions.html |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=April 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200420044748/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/coronavirus-china-travel-restrictions.html|archive-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref>
Following the China-related restrictions, the Trump administration imposed other restrictions weeks later: * In mid-February, the CDC opposed allowing fourteen people who had tested positive for COVID-19 while passengers on the cruise ship ''Diamond Princess'' to be flown back to the U.S. without completing a 14-day quarantine. They were overruled by officials at the U.S. State Department.<ref name="ARS CDC 14">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/coronavirus-patients-flew-to-us-after-cdc-explicitly-recommended-against-it/|title=CDC didn't want 14 coronavirus patients flown to US—it was overruled|last=Mole|first=Beth|date=February 21, 2020|website=Ars Technica|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228022158/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/coronavirus-patients-flew-to-us-after-cdc-explicitly-recommended-against-it/|archive-date=February 28, 2020|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref> CDC director Robert Redfield refused to administer COVID-19 tests to returning Americans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Lewis' 'The Premonition' Is A Sweeping Indictment Of The CDC |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/03/991570372/michael-lewis-the-premonition-is-a-sweeping-indictment-of-the-cdc |date=3 May 2021}}</ref> * On March 2, travel restrictions were implemented on foreign nationals who had been in Iran within the previous two weeks. An exemption was made for immediate family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. This measure was announced on February 29.<ref name=Boulder>{{cite web |title=February 29, 2020: Temporary Restriction on Entering the U.S. after Travel from Iran |url=https://www.colorado.edu/isss/2020/03/03/february-29-2020-temporary-restriction-entering-us-after-travel-iran |date=March 3, 2020 |publisher=University of Colorado Boulder |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524072403/https://www.colorado.edu/isss/2020/03/03/february-29-2020-temporary-restriction-entering-us-after-travel-iran |url-status=live }}</ref> * On March 12, the CDC recommended against any non-essential travel to China,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china|title=COVID-19 in China|publisher=CDC|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129020015/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china|url-status=live}}</ref> most of Europe,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-europe|title=COVID-19 in Europe|date=February 11, 2020|publisher=CDC|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=March 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312025347/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-europe|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-iran|title=COVID-19 in Iran|publisher=CDC|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=March 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315131348/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-iran|url-status=live}}</ref> Malaysia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-malaysia|title=COVID-19 in Malaysia—Warning—Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel—Travel Health Notices {{!}} Travelers' Health {{!}} CDC|website=wwwnc.cdc.gov|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318234641/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-malaysia|url-status=live}}</ref> and South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-south-korea|title=COVID-19 in South Korea|publisher=CDC|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225051122/https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-south-korea|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=USATodayBan>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/03/12/coronavirus-state-department-warns-americans-reconsider-traveling-abroad/5029446002/|title=State Department warns Americans to reconsider traveling abroad due to coronavirus|last=Tate|first=Curtis|website=USA Today|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727221758/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/03/12/coronavirus-state-department-warns-americans-reconsider-traveling-abroad/5029446002/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following week, the U.S. Department of State recommended that U.S. citizens not travel abroad, while those who are abroad should "arrange for immediate return to the United States" unless prepared to remain abroad indefinitely.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wong|first=Edward|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/us/politics/coronavirus-state-department-travel.html|title=As Pandemic Grows, U.S. Warns Americans Not to Travel Abroad|date=March 19, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 20, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319233223/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/us/politics/coronavirus-state-department-travel.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html|title=Global Level 4 Health Advisory—Do Not Travel|publisher=United States Department of State|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803191150/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * On March 19, the State Department suspended routine visa services at all American embassies and consulates worldwide.<ref>[https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html "Suspension of Routine Visa Services"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214232534/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html |date=February 14, 2021 }}, Dept. of State, March 20, 2020</ref> * By March 20, the U.S. began barring entry to foreign nationals who had been in 28 European countries within the past 14 days. American citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families returning from abroad could re-enter the United States under the new restrictions, but those returning from one of the specified countries would have to undergo health screenings and submit to quarantines and monitoring for up to 14 days. In addition to the earlier travel restrictions in place, Trump extended this quarantine and monitoring requirement to those coming from Iran and the entirety of China. Flights from all restricted countries were required to land at one of 13 airports where the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had "enhanced" entry screenings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe|title=Fact Sheet: DHS Notice of Arrival Restrictions on China, Iran and Certain Countries of Europe|date=March 17, 2020|website=Department of Homeland Security|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318045007/https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USA Today quarantine">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/31/coronavirus-donald-trump-declares-public-health-emergency/4625299002/ |title=Trump administration declares coronavirus emergency, orders first quarantine in 50 years |last=Jackson |first=David |website=USA Today |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205090931/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/31/coronavirus-donald-trump-declares-public-health-emergency/4625299002/ |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> At least 241 foreigners (including several Canadians), who had recently traveled in China and Iran, were denied entry to the United States between February{{nbsp}}2 and March 3.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020|title=DHS denies 241 people entry at US ports and airports over coronavirus|last=Sands|first=Geneva|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/politics/dhs-denies-entry-coronavirus/index.html|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723213427/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/politics/dhs-denies-entry-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020|title=U.S. refuses entry to more than 100 people from Canada as a result of coronavirus measures|last=Panetta|first=Alexander|publisher=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-coronavirus-border-canada-1.5487696|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731110007/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-coronavirus-border-canada-1.5487696|url-status=live}}</ref> * On April 21, President Trump announced a forthcoming executive order barring people from seeking green cards for a period of 60 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/politics/donald-trump-immigration-coronavirus/index.html|title=Trump says immigration order will apply only to green cards and will last 60 days|first1=Kevin|last1=Liptak|first2=Priscilla|last2=Alvarez|first3=Geneva|last3=Sands|website=CNN|date=April 22, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707094140/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/politics/donald-trump-immigration-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/coronavirus-trump-immigration-suspension/2020/04/22/4f0efdb8-84c1-11ea-ae26-989cfce1c7c7_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Trump signs order pausing immigration for 60 days, with exceptions|author1=Miroff, Nick|author2=Sacchetti, Maria|author3=Hernández, Arelis R.|date=April 22, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818014009/https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/coronavirus-trump-immigration-suspension/2020/04/22/4f0efdb8-84c1-11ea-ae26-989cfce1c7c7_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Containment efforts within the U.S. ===
{{See also|Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|Workplace hazard controls for COVID-19}} [[File:Los Angeles Convention Center with hospital beds for COVID-19.jpg|thumb|March 29: Hospital beds prepared at the Los Angeles Convention Center]]
On January 30, the WHO warned that "all countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread" of the virus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Merrit |title=WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak A Global Health Emergency |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency |access-date=March 30, 2020 |publisher=NPR |date=January 30, 2020 |archive-date=April 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405150804/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency |url-status=live }}</ref> February 25 was the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak.<ref name=TaylorMarch23>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Marisa |title=Exclusive: U.S. axed CDC expert job in China months before virus outbreak |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv/exclusive-u-s-axed-cdc-expert-job-in-china-months-before-virus-outbreak-idUSKBN21910S |access-date=March 24, 2020 |work=Reuters |date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830230628/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv/exclusive-u-s-axed-cdc-expert-job-in-china-months-before-virus-outbreak-idUSKBN21910S |url-status=live }}</ref>
By February, the CDC was exploring options to control the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Six cities believed to be high-risk were selected for early "sentinel surveillance" to try to detect the virus in patients who did not meet CDC guidelines for testing; those cities were Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu. Very few tests were successfully completed within a five-week window. Once testing showed the disease was spreading among those without travel-related risk factors, public officials in California began to issue "stay at home" orders; it would be at least a week before similar orders were issued in other parts of the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/24/842025982/why-the-warning-that-coronavirus-was-on-the-move-in-u-s-cities-came-so-late |title=Why The Warning That Coronavirus Was On The Move In U.S. Cities Came So Late |date=April 24, 2020 |work=NPR|access-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814032857/https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/24/842025982/why-the-warning-that-coronavirus-was-on-the-move-in-u-s-cities-came-so-late |url-status=live }}</ref>
At a White House press briefing on April 1, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci said that, even though he expected social distancing rules could eventually be relaxed even before the availability of a vaccine, a vaccine would still be necessary to end the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Noack |first1=Rick |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/01/coronavirus-latest-news/ |title=As U.S. death toll surpasses 4,600, Fauci says the real turning point in coronavirus mitigation won't happen until there's a vaccine |date=April 1, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 2, 2020 |last2=Wagner |first2=John |last3=Beachum |first3=Lateshia |last4=Horton |first4=Alex |first5=Miriam |last5=Berger |first6=Brittany |last6=Shammas |first7=Eva |last7=Dou |first8=Felicia |last8=Sonmez |first9=Meryl |last9=Kornfield |first10=Candace |last10=Buckner |first11=Michael |last11=Brice-Saddler |first12=Sindya N. |last12=Bhanoo |first13=Teo |last13=Armus |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803162342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/01/coronavirus-latest-news/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Montana National Guard begins COVID-19 screening around the state.jpg|thumb|Montana National Guard screen out-of-state travelers at the Amtrak station in Shelby, Montana, on April 3, 2020.]]
As part of the early efforts to contain and mitigate the pandemic within the United States, Surgeon General Jerome Adams announced in early March that local leaders would soon have to consider whether to cancel large gatherings, consider telework policies, and close schools.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/08/health-officials-coronavirus-elderly-sick-risk-123889 "Health officials shift tone on coronavirus, say elderly and sick at risk"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702162637/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/08/health-officials-coronavirus-elderly-sick-risk-123889 |date=July 2, 2020 }}. Politico. March 8, 2020</ref> Over the next few weeks, a number of states imposed stay-at-home orders of diverse scope and severity, which placed limits on where people could travel, work and shop away from their homes.<ref name=WSJ-lockdowns>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-state-by-state-guide-to-coronavirus-lockdowns-11584749351?mod=theme_coronavirus-ribbon "A Guide to State Coronavirus Lockdowns"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917201446/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-state-by-state-guide-to-coronavirus-lockdowns-11584749351?mod=theme_coronavirus-ribbon |date=September 17, 2020 }}, ''The Wall Street Journal'', March 21, 2020</ref> By March 21, governors in New York, California and other large states had ordered most businesses to close and for people to stay inside, with limited exceptions.<ref name="WSJ-lockdowns" />
On March 16, Trump announced "15 Days to Slow the Spread"—a series of guidelines based on CDC recommendations on topics such as physical distancing, self-isolation, and protecting those at high risk. The government also recommended closing schools and avoiding gatherings of more than ten people.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sheikh|first=Knvul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/health/coronavirus-social-distancing-crowd-size.html|title=No More Than 10 People in One Place, Trump Said. But Why?|date=March 16, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 15, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828233503/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/health/coronavirus-social-distancing-crowd-size.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/29/inside-the-white-house-coronavirus-response-153058|title=Inside the White House during '15 Days to Slow the Spread'|website=Politico|date=March 29, 2020 |language=en|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701053205/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/29/inside-the-white-house-coronavirus-response-153058|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/30/822448199/how-15-days-became-45-trump-extends-guidelines-to-slow-coronavirus|title=How 15 Days Became 45: Trump Extends Guidelines To Slow Coronavirus|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930181801/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/30/822448199/how-15-days-became-45-trump-extends-guidelines-to-slow-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref> Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx cited an analysis by Imperial College London that if nothing was done by government officials, 2.2 million would die in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=William |title=A chilling scientific paper helped upend U.S. and U.K. coronavirus strategies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-chilling-scientific-paper-helped-upend-us-and-uk-coronavirus-strategies/2020/03/17/aaa84116-6851-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html |access-date=April 16, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728122230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-chilling-scientific-paper-helped-upend-us-and-uk-coronavirus-strategies/2020/03/17/aaa84116-6851-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The researchers recommended enforced social distancing for the entire population and closing all schools and universities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=Trump moves the coronavirus goal posts, pre-spinning 100,000 deaths as 'a very good job' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/30/trump-moves-coronavirus-goal-posts-pre-spinning-100000-deaths-very-good-job/ |access-date=April 16, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 30, 2020 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901004911/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/30/trump-moves-coronavirus-goal-posts-pre-spinning-100000-deaths-very-good-job/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The White House recommended "social distancing". One month later, epidemiologists Britta Jewell and Nicholas Jewell estimated that, had social distancing policies been implemented just two weeks earlier, U.S. deaths due to COVID-19 might have been reduced by 90%.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jewell|first1=Britta L.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/covid-social-distancing.html|title=Opinion {{!}} The Huge Cost of Waiting to Contain the Pandemic|date=April 14, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 15, 2020|last2=Jewell|first2=Nicholas P.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831135354/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/covid-social-distancing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In late March, Trump announced that the National Guard would be deployed to California, New York, and Washington, and FEMA would send large medical stations with thousands of beds to the three states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/coronavirus-live-updates-us-now-highest-globally-covid/story?id=69733219|title=National Guard to deploy against coronavirus in NY, California, Washington|date=March 22, 2020|work=ABC News|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724140106/https://abcnews.go.com/US/coronavirus-live-updates-us-now-highest-globally-covid/story?id=69733219|url-status=live}}</ref> The city of Chicago said it would rent more than a thousand empty hotel rooms to house coronavirus patients who need to be isolated but do not require hospitalization.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/chicago-to-rent-out-hotel-rooms-for-coronavirus-patients-isolation-2020-3 "Chicago will start renting more than 1,000 of its empty hotel rooms to house coronavirus patients or those awaiting test results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413070806/https://www.businessinsider.com/chicago-to-rent-out-hotel-rooms-for-coronavirus-patients-isolation-2020-3 |date=April 13, 2020 }}, ''Business Insider'', March 23, 2020</ref> Containment and care facilities would include two Navy hospital ships.<ref name=ships>{{cite web|url=https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2116862/hospital-ships-other-dod-assets-prepare-for-coronavirus-response/|title=Hospital Ships, Other DOD Assets Prepare for Coronavirus Response|website=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320205222/https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2116862/hospital-ships-other-dod-assets-prepare-for-coronavirus-response/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{USNS|Mercy|T-AH-19|6}} arrived in Los Angeles on March 27,<ref name = mercyarrives>{{cite news|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/03/27/usns-mercy-arrives-in-los-angeles-to-support-covid-19-response/|title=USNS Mercy arrives in Los Angeles to support Covid-19 response|last=Correll|first=Diana Stancy|date=March 27, 2020|work=Navy Times|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200331060209/https://www.navytimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/03/27/usns-mercy-arrives-in-los-angeles-to-support-covid-19-response/|url-status=live}}</ref> and {{USNS|Comfort|T-AH-20|6}} arrived in New York City on March 30.<ref name=comfortarrives>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/usns-comfort-arrives-in-nyc-monday-to-help-hospital-with-non-coronavirus-patients/2350317/|title=Crowds Greet USNS Comfort in NYC Monday; Ship to Help Hospitals With Non-Coronavirus Patients|date=March 30, 2020 |access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331015313/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/usns-comfort-arrives-in-nyc-monday-to-help-hospital-with-non-coronavirus-patients/2350317/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 28, the president said he had decided not to enact a tri-state lockdown of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, after having publicly suggested earlier in the day he was considering such a move; instead he ordered the CDC to issue a travel advisory suggesting voluntary travel limitations in these states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump Says a Quarantine 'Will Not Be Necessary' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html |access-date=March 29, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 2020 |archive-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517204626/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage |url-status=live }}</ref>
Buildings normally used for sports and entertainment were transformed into field hospitals. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, for instance, was postponed to October and the fairgrounds where it is normally held was turned into a medical center.<ref name="auto3">[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-03-30/coronavirus-event-companies-coachella-pivot-covid-19-testing "They were supposed to build stages for Coachella. Now they're building coronavirus triage tents"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827222719/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-03-30/coronavirus-event-companies-coachella-pivot-covid-19-testing |date=August 27, 2020 }}, ''Los Angeles Times'', March 30, 2020</ref> To prepare housing for homeless persons, states such as California have procured private hotels and motels as emergency shelters and isolation spaces.<ref name="auto6">[https://sfist.com/2020/03/16/california-to-use-hotels-and-motels-to-shelter-homeless-during-pandemic/ "California to Use Hotels and Motels to Shelter Homeless During Pandemic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411052815/https://sfist.com/2020/03/16/california-to-use-hotels-and-motels-to-shelter-homeless-during-pandemic/ |date=April 11, 2020 }}, ''SFist'', March 16, 2020</ref> Manpower from the military and volunteer armies were called up to help construct the emergency facilities.<ref name="auto8">[https://abcnews.go.com/International/photos-field-hospitals-built-globe-coronavirus-pandemic-spreads/story?id=69962474 "Field hospitals built around the globe as coronavirus pandemic spreads"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831043846/https://abcnews.go.com/International/photos-field-hospitals-built-globe-coronavirus-pandemic-spreads/story?id=69962474 |date=August 31, 2020 }}, ''ABC News'', April 4, 2020</ref><ref name="auto5">[https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/connecticut-national-guard-sets-up-temporary-hospitals-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/2248512/ "Connecticut National Guard Sets Up Temporary Hospitals Amid Coronavirus Pandemic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823201555/https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/connecticut-national-guard-sets-up-temporary-hospitals-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/2248512/ |date=August 23, 2020 }}, ''NBC'', April 1, 2020</ref>
On March 31, Birx reiterated the projection of 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths if government officials did nothing to stop the virus, compared with 100,000 to 240,000 deaths if measures such as social distancing were taken.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wan |first1=William |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Parker |first3=Ashley |last4=Achenbach |first4=Joel |title=Experts and Trump's advisers doubt White House's 240,000 coronavirus deaths estimate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/02/experts-trumps-advisers-doubt-white-houses-240000-coronavirus-deaths-estimate/ |access-date=April 16, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 2, 2020 |archive-date=August 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823200633/https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/02/experts-trumps-advisers-doubt-white-houses-240000-coronavirus-deaths-estimate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As April began, various state and local officials, including the mayors of New York<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/04/02/new-york-city-urges-all-residents-to-wear-face-coverings-in-public-1271059|title=New York City urges all residents to wear face coverings in public|first=Erin|last=Durkin|website=Politico|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702162632/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/04/02/new-york-city-urges-all-residents-to-wear-face-coverings-in-public-1271059|url-status=live}}</ref> and Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-02/face-masks-could-provide-coronavirus-protection-california-health-officials-say|title=Face masks could provide coronavirus protection. But there's a 'but'|date=April 2, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901013244/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-02/face-masks-could-provide-coronavirus-protection-california-health-officials-say|url-status=live}}</ref> and the governors or health departments of Colorado,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kdvr.com/news/coronavirus/gov-polis-wear-face-coverings-when-going-out-of-your-home/|title=Gov. Polis: Wear face coverings when going out of your home|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606131521/https://kdvr.com/news/coronavirus/gov-polis-wear-face-coverings-when-going-out-of-your-home/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pennsylvania,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whyy.org/articles/coronavirus-update-15000-chromebooks-donated-to-phillys-charter-catholic-schools/|title=Coronavirus update: Gov. Tom Wolf asks Pennsylvanians to wear masks outdoors|website=WHYY-TV|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414121618/https://whyy.org/articles/coronavirus-update-15000-chromebooks-donated-to-phillys-charter-catholic-schools/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Rhode Island<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wpri.com/health/coronavirus/health-dept-encourages-rhode-islanders-to-wear-cloth-masks-in-public/|title=Health Dept. encourages Rhode Islanders to wear cloth masks in public|work=WPRI-TV|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524235101/https://www.wpri.com/health/coronavirus/health-dept-encourages-rhode-islanders-to-wear-cloth-masks-in-public/|url-status=live}}</ref> encouraged residents to wear non-medical cloth face coverings while in public, as an additional measure to prevent unknowingly infecting others. The CDC issued a similar recommendation on April 3. Health officials generally advised against the use of medical-grade PPE (such as surgical masks and respirators) by the general public, preferring to save them for healthcare personnel due to shortages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-expected-recommend-masks-americans-coronavirus-hotspots-n1175596|title=CDC recommends people wear cloth masks in public—but Trump says he won't|website=NBC News|date=April 3, 2020 |language=en|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831095550/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-expected-recommend-masks-americans-coronavirus-hotspots-n1175596|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-03/cdc-recommends-wearing-face-masks-during-coronavirus-pandemic|title=CDC recommends wearing face masks during coronavirus pandemic|date=April 3, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901012830/https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-03/cdc-recommends-wearing-face-masks-during-coronavirus-pandemic|url-status=live}}</ref>
In early May, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predicted the American death toll would reach 137,000 by early August.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Predicted Covid-19 US death toll keeps rising with states reopening and more people moving around|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/11/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html|last=Maxouris|first=Christina|date=May 11, 2020|website=CNN|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801085107/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/11/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
An October 2020 report in ''The Washington Post'' cited poor infection controls in some nursing homes resulting from mismanagement and reduced enforcement efforts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Trump Administration as significantly contributing to tens of thousands of deaths in those facilities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/10/29/nursing-home-deaths-fines/ |title=As pandemic raged and thousands died, government regulators cleared most nursing homes of infection-control violations |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126120708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/10/29/nursing-home-deaths-fines/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Communication ===
{{Main|Communication of the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic}} {{See also|COVID-19 misinformation#In the US}}
[[File:Coronavirus Task Force Press Briefing (49609601337).jpg|thumb|A White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on February 29]]
In January 2020, President Trump disregarded warnings from his administration's officials about the threat the virus posed to the United States in favor of the country's economic considerations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|author1-link=Eric Lipton|last2=Sanger|first2=David E.|last3=Haberman|first3=Maggie|author3-link=Maggie Haberman|last4=Shear|first4=Michael D.|author4-link=Michael D. Shear|last5=Mazzetti|first5=Mark|author5-link=Mark Mazzetti|last6=Barnes|first6=Julian E.|date=April 11, 2020|title=He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump's Failure on the Virus|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-response.html|access-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200419222042/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-response.html|archive-date=April 19, 2020|author2-link=David E. Sanger}}</ref> He publicly downplayed the danger until mid-March, making numerous optimistic statements, including that the outbreak was "under control" and being overcome, or that the virus would somehow vanish.<ref name="BlakeMarch17">{{cite news|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|date=March 17, 2020|title=A timeline of Trump playing down the coronavirus threat|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/12/trump-coronavirus-timeline/|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200320065013/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/12/trump-coronavirus-timeline/|archive-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> On February 26, speaking of the number of known infected in the country at the time, Trump predicted "the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero—that's a pretty good job we've done."<ref name="BumpApril29">{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|date=April 29, 2020|title=Yet again, Trump pledges that the coronavirus will simply go away|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/28/yet-again-trump-pledges-that-coronavirus-will-simply-go-away/|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200428225321/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/28/yet-again-trump-pledges-that-coronavirus-will-simply-go-away/|archive-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> By the end of March, ''The Washington Post'' described Trump's pronouncements as having "evolved from casual dismissal to reluctant acknowledgment to bellicose mobilization".<ref name="WashPost_20200331">{{cite news|last1=Stevens|first1=Harry|last2=Tan|first2=Shelly|date=March 31, 2020|title=From 'It's going to disappear' to 'WE WILL WIN THIS WAR' / How the president's response to the coronavirus has changed since January|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/trump-coronavirus-statements/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401154910/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/trump-coronavirus-statements/|archive-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> When asked about his initial dismissive comments, Trump explained that he wanted to "give people hope" as a "cheerleader for the country", although he "knew everything".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Amber|date=April 1, 2020|title=Trump now says he knew the virus 'could be horrible' when he was saying things like 'it's going to disappear'|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/01/trump-now-says-he-knew-virus-could-be-horrible-when-he-was-saying-things-like-its-going-disappear/|url-status=live|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200401212701/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/01/trump-now-says-he-knew-virus-could-be-horrible-when-he-was-saying-things-like-its-going-disappear/|archive-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref>
On March 11, 2020, Trump gave an Oval Office address where he announced an imminent travel ban between Europe and the United States. The announcement caused chaos in European and American airports, as Americans abroad scrambled to get flights back to the United States. The administration later had to clarify that the travel ban applied to foreigners coming from the Schengen Area, and later added Ireland and the UK to the list.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Specia|first=Megan|date=March 12, 2020|title=What You Need to Know About Trump's European Travel Ban|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/europe/trump-travel-ban-coronavirus.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312161301/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/europe/trump-travel-ban-coronavirus.html|archive-date=March 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Snyder|first=Tanya|date=March 14, 2020|title=White House adds U.K., Ireland to travel ban, hints at airline aid|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/14/white-house-adds-uk-ireland-to-travel-ban-129470|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327081513/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/14/white-house-adds-uk-ireland-to-travel-ban-129470|archive-date=March 27, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2020|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref> The flawed rollout of the travel ban led to hours-long waits and crowded lines at major airports for incoming passengers to the U.S., causing a public health hazard.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mintz|first1=Sam|last2=Snyder|first2=Tanya|last3=Ehley|first3=Brianna|date=March 15, 2020|title=Terminal crush: Air passengers caught in Trump's travel ban|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/15/air-passengers-crush-coronavirus-trump-130251|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806104322/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/15/air-passengers-crush-coronavirus-trump-130251|archive-date=August 6, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2020|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref> Trump also listed several economic policy proposals designed to provide tax relief for workers, aid small businesses, and fight the spread of the virus. Trump declared that insurance companies "have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments". (After the speech, the America's Health Insurance Plans association clarified that the waivers were only for tests, not for treatments.)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hohmann|first1=James|date=March 12, 2020|title=Clarifications after Trump's Oval Office address are emblematic of his uneven coronavirus response|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/03/12/daily-202-clarifications-after-trump-s-oval-office-address-are-emblematic-of-his-uneven-coronavirus-response/5e69c2b988e0fa101a7475b1/|url-status=live|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200312165056/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/03/12/daily-202-clarifications-after-trump-s-oval-office-address-are-emblematic-of-his-uneven-coronavirus-response/5e69c2b988e0fa101a7475b1/|archive-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> On March 13, Trump declared the coronavirus to be a national emergency, freeing up $50 billion in federal funds to fight the outbreak.<ref name="LiptakMarch13">{{cite news|last=Liptak|first=Kevin|date=March 13, 2020|title=Trump declares national emergency—and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/donald-trump-emergency/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725044641/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/donald-trump-emergency/index.html|archive-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>
Starting March 16, Trump began to hold daily press briefings on the coronavirus situation, lasting from an hour to more than two hours and usually broadcast live by the television networks.<ref name="Wapo20200425">{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|last2=Parker|first2=Ashley|date=April 26, 2020|title=13 hours of Trump: The president fills briefings with attacks and boasts, but little empathy|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/13-hours-of-trump-the-president-fills-briefings-with-attacks-and-boasts-but-little-empathy/2020/04/25/7eec5ab0-8590-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200427040922/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/13-hours-of-trump-the-president-fills-briefings-with-attacks-and-boasts-but-little-empathy/2020/04/25/7eec5ab0-8590-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html|archive-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref> On March 16, Trump said for the first time that the coronavirus was "not under control", and the situation was "bad" with months of impending disruption to daily lives, and a recession possible.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dale|first1=Daniel|date=March 17, 2020|title=Fact check: Trump tries to erase the memory of him downplaying the coronavirus|publisher=CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014035922/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/index.html|archive-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> Also on March 16, Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force released new recommendations based on CDC guidelines for Americans, titled "15 Days to Slow the Spread". These recommendations included physical distancing and hygienic instructions, as well as directions to the states in dealing with school closures, nursing homes, and common public venues.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 16, 2020|title=15 Days to Slow the Spread|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/15-days-slow-spread/|access-date=March 19, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=March 16, 2020|title=Trump Issues Guidelines on '15 Days to Slow the Spread'|work=U.S. News & World Report|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-03-16/factbox-trump-issues-guidelines-on-15-days-to-slow-the-spread|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809145752/https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-03-16/factbox-trump-issues-guidelines-on-15-days-to-slow-the-spread|archive-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref>
On March 17, a French doctor made an online report of a small clinical study claiming good results treating coronavirus patients with the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. On March 18, the German drug manufacturer Bayer offered to donate millions of doses of the drug to the FDA.<ref name="Eban">{{cite magazine|last=Eban|first=Katherine|date=April 24, 2020|title="Really Want to Flood NY and NJ": Internal Documents Reveal Team Trump's Chloroquine Master Plan|magazine=Vanity Fair|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/internal-documents-reveal-team-trumps-chloroquine-master-plan|url-status=live|access-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424170440/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/internal-documents-reveal-team-trumps-chloroquine-master-plan|archive-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> The next day, March 19, Trump promoted hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine during his daily briefing as potential treatments by prescription for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nisen|first1=Max|date=March 19, 2020|title=Trump Is Overhyping Unproven Coronavirus Drugs|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Bloomberg|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/trump-is-overhyping-unproven-coronavirus-drugs/2020/03/19/ed1ff4e2-6a1a-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html|url-status=dead|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009122433/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/trump-is-overhyping-unproven-coronavirus-drugs/2020/03/19/ed1ff4e2-6a1a-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="March19Briefing">{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-6/|access-date=March 24, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}</ref> For the next several weeks Trump continued to promote the drug as a potential "game changer" in treatment of the virus.<ref name="died">{{cite web|date=March 24, 2020|title=Man Dies After Taking Chloroquine for Coronavirus|url=https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200324/man-dies-after-taking-chloroquine-for-coronavirus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428235901/https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200324/man-dies-after-taking-chloroquine-for-coronavirus|archive-date=April 28, 2020|access-date=April 21, 2020|work=WebMD}}</ref> Within days of his first mention of the drug, a shortage occurred for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the United States, while panic buying occurred overseas in Africa and South Asia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rowland|first1=Christopher|date=March 23, 2020|title=As Trump touts an unproven coronavirus treatment, supplies evaporate for patients who need those drugs|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/hospitals-doctors-are-wiping-out-supplies-an-unproven-coronavirus-treatment/|url-status=live|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324001643/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/hospitals-doctors-are-wiping-out-supplies-an-unproven-coronavirus-treatment/|archive-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Parkinson|first1=Joe|last2=Gauthier-Villars|first2=David|date=March 23, 2020|title=Trump Claim That Malaria Drugs Treat Coronavirus Sparks Warnings, Shortages|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claim-that-malaria-drugs-treat-coronavirus-sparks-warnings-shortages-11584981897|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200416004111/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claim-that-malaria-drugs-treat-coronavirus-sparks-warnings-shortages-11584981897|archive-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> thumb|March 14 press briefing
On March 22, Trump indicated a desire to scale back physical distancing measures, saying: "We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clench|first1=Sam|date=March 24, 2020|title=Coronavirus: Donald Trump wants to 'reopen' US economy in weeks, not months|work=news.com.au|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-donald-trump-wants-to-reopen-us-economy-in-weeks-not-months/news-story/42206bca2be90f0e0b02cd69fa0e7323|url-status=live|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091938/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-donald-trump-wants-to-reopen-us-economy-in-weeks-not-months/news-story/42206bca2be90f0e0b02cd69fa0e7323/|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bartz|first1=Diane|date=March 25, 2020|title=Trump says restrictions will lead to thousands of deaths, cites no evidence|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-restrictions/trump-says-restrictions-will-lead-to-thousands-of-deaths-cites-no-evidence-idUSKBN21B34A|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091945/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-restrictions/trump-says-restrictions-will-lead-to-thousands-of-deaths-cites-no-evidence-idUSKBN21B34A/|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> Despite having said in a previous briefing that he preferred to have mitigation measures be controlled by individual states because it was compatible with the Constitution, Trump said at an April 13 briefing that, as president, he has the "ultimate authority"; Pence affirmed that the powers of the president are "plenary" during a national emergency.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=April 13, 2020|title=Trump's propaganda-laden, off-the-rails coronavirus briefing|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/trumps-propaganda-laden-off-the-rails-coronavirus-briefing/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008040252/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/trumps-propaganda-laden-off-the-rails-coronavirus-briefing/|archive-date=October 8, 2020|access-date=2020-09-24|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On April 16, Trump assured governors "you are going to call your own shots" about relaxing restrictions.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 16, 2020|title=Trump completes reversal, telling govs 'you are going to call your own shots' and distributes new guidelines|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/politics/donald-trump-reopening-guidelines-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422213330/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/politics/donald-trump-reopening-guidelines-coronavirus/index.html|archive-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> On April 17, Trump gave a public call to "liberate" Michigan, Virginia, and Minnesota after protests occurred against stay-at-home orders issued by the Democratic governors of these states.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Forgey|first1=Quint|date=April 17, 2020|title=Trump breaks with his own guidelines to back conservative anti-quarantine protesters|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/17/trump-states-stay-at-home-orders-192386|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724055641/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/17/trump-states-stay-at-home-orders-192386|archive-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref> Trump praised and encouraged protestors who violated stay-at-home orders in Democratic states, as well as praised Republican governors who violated the White House's own coronavirus guidelines regarding re-opening their economies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=2020-04-18 |title=Trump calls protesters against stay-at-home orders 'very responsible' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/17/trump-liberate-tweets-coronavirus-stay-at-home-orders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107092730/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/17/trump-liberate-tweets-coronavirus-stay-at-home-orders |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020 |title=Trump cheers on governors even as they ignore White House coronavirus guidelines in race to reopen |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cheers-on-governors-as-they-ignore-white-house-coronovirus-guidelines-in-race-to-reopen/2020/05/04/bedc6116-8e18-11ea-a0bc-4e9ad4866d21_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623093754/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cheers-on-governors-as-they-ignore-white-house-coronovirus-guidelines-in-race-to-reopen/2020/05/04/bedc6116-8e18-11ea-a0bc-4e9ad4866d21_story.html?utm_source=reddit.com |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
By April, criticism of his administration's response grew, prompting Trump to blame many others for the state of the crisis, including the media, Democratic governors, the Obama administration, China, and the WHO.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |date=April 10, 2020 |title=As pandemic deepens, Trump cycles through targets to blame |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/58f1b869354970689d55ccae37c540f3 |url-status=live |access-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819130239/https://apnews.com/58f1b869354970689d55ccae37c540f3 |archive-date=August 19, 2020}}</ref> His positions and statements undermined international confidence in the United States to lead the world in pandemic response.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 15, 2020 |title=World looks on in horror as Trump flails over pandemic despite claims US leads way |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/15/donald-trump-coronavirus-response-world-leaders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702162631/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/15/donald-trump-coronavirus-response-world-leaders |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> On April 15, Trump said government data showed the U.S. was "past the peak" of the epidemic and was "in a very strong position to finalize guidelines for states on reopening the country". He announced a temporary halt on funding to the WHO over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and alleged Chinese favoritism, pending a review.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-press-briefing/|access-date=April 19, 2020|work=whitehouse.gov|language=en-US|via=National Archives}}</ref> The next day, April 16, the administration unveiled new federal guidelines for a three-phased approach to restoring normal commerce and services, but only for places with strong testing and seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 16, 2020|title=Trump unveils phased approach to reopening economy|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/420a38ec14101eab70e07be367ee6422|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710174116/https://apnews.com/420a38ec14101eab70e07be367ee6422|archive-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:President Donald Trump suggests measures to treat COVID-19 during Coronavirus Task Force press briefing.webm|thumb |thumbtime=59|President Trump suggested at a press briefing on April 23 that disinfectant injections or exposure to ultraviolet light might help treat COVID-19. There is no evidence that either could be a viable method.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |last2=Hauser |first2=Christine |last3=Yuhas |first3=Alan |last4=Haberman |first4=Maggie |date=April 24, 2020|title=Trump's Suggestion That Disinfectants Could Be Used to Treat Coronavirus Prompts Aggressive Pushback|work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/politics/trump-inject-disinfectant-bleach-coronavirus.html |url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424235013/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/politics/trump-inject-disinfectant-bleach-coronavirus.html |archive-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref>]]
During an Oval Office meeting on April 23, William Byron, an official from the Department of Homeland Security, offered Trump a brief presentation on the effect of disinfectants and sunlight on the virus on surfaces, which had been discussed during the earlier Situation Room meeting. Following Byron's presentation at the press briefing Trump began asking questions and suggested the possibility that light or disinfectants could be used inside the human body to cure coronavirus. Trump's remarks prompted doctors, lawmakers and the makers of the disinfectant brand Lysol to respond with incredulity and warnings against ingesting disinfectant chemicals.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Chiu, Allyson|author2=Shepherd, Katie|author3=Shammas, Brittany |author4=Itkowitz, Colby|date=April 24, 2020|title=Trump claims controversial comment about injecting disinfectants was 'sarcastic' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/24/disinfectant-injection-coronavirus-trump/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818044242/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/24/disinfectant-injection-coronavirus-trump/|archive-date=August 18, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Liptak, Kevin|author2=Collins, Kaitlan|date=April 25, 2020|title=How a media-distracted Trump ended up derailing his own briefing |website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/25/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force-science/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725223929/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/25/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force-science/index.html|archive-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>
On May 1, the CDC presented a 17-page report titled "Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework" to the administration. It had been written to provide advice for faith leaders, places of business and other public places, educators, and state and local officials as they began to reopen. The White House refused to use the report, and Trump said he felt the guidelines were too restrictive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump administration buries detailed CDC advice on reopening |url=https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4|access-date=May 21, 2020|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930181915/https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4|archive-date=September 30, 2020 |website=AP News |date=May 7, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Trump administration rejects CDC guidance on reopening US amid coronavirus |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/politics/cdc-guidance-coronavirus-reopen-america/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521042937/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/politics/cdc-guidance-coronavirus-reopen-america/index.html|archive-date=May 21, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2020|website=CNN|date=May 7, 2020 }}</ref> Reports of new cases began to level off in May and most states began to open restaurants and other places of business, placing limits to the numbers of people allowed in the establishment at the same time. Dr. Fauci warned that if caution was not used the rate of infections could rebound and he was particularly concerned about opening the schools in the fall. Trump replied to Fauci's statements in an interview, saying, "we have to get the schools open, we have to get our country open, we have to open our country ... We have to get it open. I totally disagree with him [Fauci] on schools."<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump Criticizes Fauci's Warning Against Opening Schools Too Soon In Latest Public Disagreement |url=https://khn.org/morning-breakout/trump-criticizes-faucis-warning-against-opening-schools-too-soon-in-latest-public-disagreement/|access-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617135841/https://khn.org/morning-breakout/trump-criticizes-faucis-warning-against-opening-schools-too-soon-in-latest-public-disagreement/|archive-date=June 17, 2020|website=KHN|date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:President Trump Returns to the White House (50436813168).jpg|thumb|President Trump departs Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after being treated for COVID-19.]]
On October 2, 2020, both Trump and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 as part of a larger outbreak amid the White House.<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Kevin Liptak |author2=Kaitlan Collins |author3=Betsy Klein |author4=Jim Acosta |author5=Paul LeBlanc |title=President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump test positive for Covid-19 |date=October 2, 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/politics/hope-hicks-positive-coronavirus/index.html|access-date=2020-10-02|url-status=live|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116041520/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/politics/hope-hicks-positive-coronavirus/index.html |website=CNN}}</ref> While being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump tweeted in support for more economic stimulus before halting and then reengaging talks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Czuczka|first1=Tony|date=October 3, 2020|title=Trump Presses for Stimulus Deal, Saying 'Get It Done'|publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-03/trump-presses-for-economic-stimulus-deal-saying-get-it-done|url-status=live |access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006103317/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-03/trump-presses-for-economic-stimulus-deal-saying-get-it-done|archive-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author1=Phil Mattingly |author2=Manu Raju |author3=Clare Foran |author4=Lauren Fox|title=Trump abruptly scraps stimulus talks, punting on economic relief until after Election Day |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/politics/trump-ends-stimulus-talks/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006225004/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/politics/trump-ends-stimulus-talks/index.html|archive-date=October 6, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2020|website=CNN|date=October 6, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Rappeport |first2=Alan |date=October 9, 2020|title=Trump Raises Stimulus Offer to $1.8 Trillion Days After Halting Negotiations |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/us/politics/trump-covid-stimulus-pelosi-republicans.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012002618/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/us/politics/trump-covid-stimulus-pelosi-republicans.html |archive-date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 11, 2020}}</ref>
===Pressure on health agencies=== {{main|Political interference with science agencies by the first Trump administration}}
Trump repeatedly pressured federal health agencies to take particular actions that he favored.<ref name="CNN-testing-pressure">{{cite news|last1=Valencia|first1=Nick|last2=Murray|first2=Sara|last3=Holmes|first3=Kristen|date=August 26, 2020|title=CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=26 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826165902/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html|archive-date=August 26, 2020|author2-link=Sara Murray (journalist)}}</ref> He once claimed that there is a "deep state" conspiracy causing federal health agencies to delay approval of vaccines and treatments in order to hurt him politically.<ref name="pressed">{{cite news|date=September 12, 2020|title=Trump Pressed for Plasma Therapy. Officials Worry, Is an Unvetted Vaccine Next?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-treatment-vaccine.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214232541/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-treatment-vaccine.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200913&instance_id=22154&nl=the-morning®i_id=16153474§ion_index=1§ion_name=big_story&segment_id=37970&te=1&user_id=e9848bda5d7546386411f6e2fbdaf95e|archive-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>
At a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20, 2020, Trump said he had instructed his administration to slow down coronavirus testing in order to keep the number of confirmed cases down.<ref>{{cite web|last=Forgey|first=Quint|date=2020-06-23|title='I don't kid': Trump says he wasn't joking about slowing coronavirus testing|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/trump-joking-slowing-coronavirus-testing-335459|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629014925/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/trump-joking-slowing-coronavirus-testing-335459|archive-date=June 29, 2020|access-date=2020-06-23|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref> This claim was contradicted in sworn testimony by the federal health officials in charge of coronavirus response.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wamsley|first=Laurel|date=June 23, 2020|title='None Of Us Have Ever Been Told To Slow Down On Testing,' Fauci Testifies To House|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/881674932/watch-live-fauci-redfield-to-testify-on-trump-administrations-covid-19-response|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701013641/https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/881674932/watch-live-fauci-redfield-to-testify-on-trump-administrations-covid-19-response|archive-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> On the Fourth of July, Trump said that the United States was testing too much, and that "by so doing, we show cases, 99% of which are totally harmless." Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn declined to confirm Trump's comments. The WHO estimated 15% of COVID-19 cases become severe and 5% become critical.<ref name="Charlotte-Observer-99%">{{cite news|last1=Yen|first1=Hope|last2=Woodward|first2=Calvin|date=July 6, 2020|title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump falsely says 99% of virus cases benign|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Washington|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article244019447.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710031122/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article244019447.html|archive-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref><ref name="WHO-Sitrep-46">{{cite report|url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf|title=Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 46|date=March 6, 2020|publisher=World Health Organization|page=2|access-date=July 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618032255/https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
Trump wanted to get speedy approval of convalescent plasma, and he complained that people within the health agencies who opposed him were deliberately delaying approval of treatments and vaccines until after the election.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 22, 2020|title=Trump without evidence accuses 'deep state' at FDA of slow-walking coronavirus vaccines and treatments|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/08/22/trump-without-evidence-accuses-deep-state-fda-slow-walking-coronavirus-vaccines-treatments/|url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913135207/https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/08/22/trump-without-evidence-accuses-deep-state-fda-slow-walking-coronavirus-vaccines-treatments/|archive-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref> He wanted to be able to announce it as a treatment breakthrough at the 2020 Republican National Convention, but the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had concerns about its effectiveness. On the Wednesday before the convention he ordered Dr. Francis S. Collins, head of the NIH, to "get it done by Friday."<ref name="pressed" /> On the eve of the convention the NIH still had concerns, but Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration had given emergency authorization for plasma therapy to be more widely used.<ref name="pressed" /> In his announcement he greatly exaggerated the effectiveness of the treatment.<ref>{{cite web|last=McDonald|first=Jessica|date=August 26, 2020|title=Trump, Hahn Mischaracterize Data on COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma By Jessica McDonald|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/08/trump-hahn-mischaracterize-data-on-covid-19-convalescent-plasma/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104021827/https://www.factcheck.org/2020/08/trump-hahn-mischaracterize-data-on-covid-19-convalescent-plasma/|archive-date=November 4, 2020|access-date=13 September 2020|work=Factcheck.org}}</ref>
In September 2020, it was reported that political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tried repeatedly to change, delay, or remove reports about COVID-19 from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) if they undermined Trump's claims that the outbreak was under control.<ref name="Diamond">{{cite news|last=Diamond|first=Dan|date=September 11, 2020|title=Trump officials interfered with CDC reports on Covid-19|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/exclusive-trump-officials-interfered-with-cdc-reports-on-covid-19-412809|url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028175509/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/exclusive-trump-officials-interfered-with-cdc-reports-on-covid-19-412809|archive-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref> A report downplaying the benefit of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment was delayed for almost a month as the HHS team raised questions about the political leanings of the authors.<ref name="Diamond" /> A report on the susceptibility of schoolchildren to the virus was also held up.<ref name="Sun">{{cite news|last=Sun|first=Lena H.|date=September 12, 2020|title=Trump officials seek greater control over CDC reports on coronavirus|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/12/trump-control-over-cdc-reports/|url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214232548/https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/12/trump-control-over-cdc-reports/?wpisrc=nl_most|archive-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> In emails to the head of CDC, officials at HHS accused MMWR scientists attempting to "hurt the president" and writing "hit pieces on the administration". One official tried unsuccessfully to get all issues of MMWR held up until he personally approved them. CDC resisted many of the changes, but increasingly allowed HHS personnel to review articles and suggest changes before publication.<ref name="Sun" /> A spokesman for HHS confirmed that attempts to change MMWR content had been going on for {{frac|3|1|2}} months. He said it was because the MMWR reporting contained "political content" as well as scientific information, adding that the changes suggested by HHS were "infrequently" accepted by CDC.<ref name="Sun" />
On August 24, the testing guidelines on the CDC web page were quietly changed from their earlier recommendation that "testing is recommended" for anyone who has come into contact with someone who has COVID-19; the new message said that such people do not need to be tested if they do not have symptoms. Multiple public health experts expressed alarm at the new guideline, because people can be contagious even if they have no symptoms, and early testing of exposed people is considered essential to track and suppress the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Branswell|first1=Helen|last2=Sheridan|first2=Kate|date=August 26, 2020|title=New Covid-19 testing guidelines, crafted at the White House, alarm public health experts|work=Stat News|url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/26/new-covid19-testing-guidelines-crafted-at-white-house-alarm-public-health-experts/|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927144002/https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/26/new-covid19-testing-guidelines-crafted-at-white-house-alarm-public-health-experts/|archive-date=September 27, 2020}}</ref> On September 17, it was reported that the new guidelines had been written by the White House coronavirus task force, and been "dropped into" the CDC website by officials in the HHS over the objections of CDC scientists. A July document on "The importance of reopening schools" was also placed on the CDC website by HHS rather than CDC scientists.<ref name="Mandavilli">{{cite news|last=Mandavilli|first=Apoorva|date=September 17, 2020|title=C.D.C. Testing Guidance Was Published Against Scientists' Objections|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092512/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html/|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> Two former directors of the CDC said that the notion of political appointees or non-scientists posting information to the CDC website is "absolutely chilling" and undermines the credibility of the institution.<ref name="Mandavilli" /> On September 18, the guideline was revised to its original recommendation, stressing that anyone who has been in contact with an infected person should be tested.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 18, 2020|title=Controversial coronavirus testing guidance came from HHS and didn't go through CDC scientific review, sources say|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092514/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/index.html/|archive-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>
=== Administration officials ===
[[File:President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force Brief the Press (49645645448).jpg|thumb|U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams (third from left) speaks to the press.]]
During the early stages of the outbreak, government officials gave mixed assessments of the seriousness and scale of the outbreak. CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said in late January that "the immediate risk to the American public is low," then in late February said it would be "prudent to assume this pathogen will be with us for some time to come". Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appeared on television encouraging people to visit the Chinatown neighborhood of her San Francisco district.<ref>{{cite web|last=Behrmann|first=Savannah|date=April 16, 2020|title='Chinatown is not part of China': Trump's tweet at Pelosi is met with criticism online|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/16/trumps-chinatown-tweet-pelosis-visit-draws-criticism-online/5149296002/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418231846/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/16/trumps-chinatown-tweet-pelosis-visit-draws-criticism-online/5149296002/|archive-date=April 18, 2020|access-date=April 19, 2020|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref> While federal economic policy chief Larry Kudlow declared the coronavirus containment "pretty close to airtight". Dr. Nancy Messonnier (head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases) and Anthony Fauci (head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) warned of the impending community spread of the virus in the United States, with Messonnier stating: "Disruption to everyday life might be severe." Around this point, Stephen Hahn, the head of the FDA, warned of national medical supplies being disrupted due to the outbreak. In early March, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, declared that "this is likely going to get worse before it gets better."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Dan|date=March 17, 2020|title='It's going to disappear': Trump's changing tone on coronavirus|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/how-trump-shifted-his-tone-on-coronavirus-134246|url-status=live|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818172532/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/how-trump-shifted-his-tone-on-coronavirus-134246|archive-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref>
In February 2020, the CDC was notifying the press it expected the infections to spread, and urged local governments, businesses, and schools to develop plans for the outbreak. Among the suggested preparations were canceling mass gatherings, switching to teleworking, and planning for continued business operations in the face of increased absenteeism or disrupted supply chains.<ref name="ABC CDC expects spread">{{cite web|last1=Winsor|first1=Morgan|last2=Schumaker|first2=Erin|last3=Nathanson|first3=Marc|title=CDC warns Americans of 'significant disruption' from coronavirus|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/coronavirus-live-updates-cdc-warns-americans-significant-disruption/story?id=69190968|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226000813/https://abcnews.go.com/International/coronavirus-live-updates-cdc-warns-americans-significant-disruption/story?id=69190968|archive-date=February 26, 2020|access-date=February 26, 2020|website=ABC News}}</ref> CDC officials warned that widespread transmission may force large numbers of people to seek hospitalization and other healthcare, which may overload healthcare systems.<ref name="CDC COVID-19 Situation Summary">{{cite web|date=March 7, 2020|title=Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126210549/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html|archive-date=January 26, 2020|access-date=March 7, 2020|publisher=CDC}}</ref>
A March 14 article on NBC said CDC officials wanted to recommend everyone over 60 remain inside their homes whenever possible but was instructed by the Trump administration to not say that.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dilanian|first1=Ken|last2=Lee|first2=Carol E.|last3=De Luce|first3=Dan|last4=Strickler|first4=Laura|last5=Khimm|first5=Suzy|date=March 14, 2020|title=Inside the White House's bungled effort to combat the coronavirus|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/mismanagement-missed-opportunities-how-white-house-bungled-coronavirus-response-n1158746|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815084357/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/mismanagement-missed-opportunities-how-white-house-bungled-coronavirus-response-n1158746|archive-date=August 15, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref>
Public health officials stressed that local governments would need assistance from the federal government if there were school and business closures.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=transcript|title=Transcript: Chris Murphy on "Face the Nation", March 8, 2020|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-chris-murphy-on-face-the-nation-march-8-2020/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308223359/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-chris-murphy-on-face-the-nation-march-8-2020/|archive-date=March 8, 2020|access-date=March 9, 2020|website=Face the Nation|date=March 8, 2020 }}</ref> On March 23, Surgeon General Jerome Adams made several media appearances, in which he endorsed physical distancing measures and warned the country: "This week, it's going to get bad{{nbsp}}... we really, really need everyone to stay at home ... Every single second counts. And right now, there are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously."<ref name="OpryskoMarch23">{{cite news|last1=Oprysko|first1=Caitlin|last2=Forgey|first2=Quint|date=March 23, 2020|title='Our country wasn't built to be shut down': Trump pushes back against health experts|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/trump-coronavirus-lockdown-skepticism-143800|url-status=live|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323231321/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/trump-coronavirus-lockdown-skepticism-143800|archive-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> On April 5, Anthony Fauci said that as many as 50% of coronavirus carriers may be asymptomatic.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 6, 2020|title=Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump Again Promotes Use of Unproven Anti-Malaria Drug; Deaths in Country May Be Undercounted|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html#link-327dd1e4|url-status=live|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406000803/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html#link-327dd1e4|archive-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref> In late April, Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, declared that in response to the pandemic "the federal government rose to the challenge, and this is a great success story."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cathey|first1=Libby|date=May 1, 2020|title=Jared Kushner sparks controversy after praising administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic as 'a great success story'|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jared-kushner-sparks-controversy-praising-administrations-response-coronavirus/story?id=70425560|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924100031/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jared-kushner-sparks-controversy-praising-administrations-response-coronavirus/story?id=70425560|archive-date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> By mid-May, media appearances of senior federal health officials had been sharply reduced.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Darcy|first1=Oliver|date=May 15, 2020|title=Top health officials vanish from national TV interviews as White House refocuses messaging|work=CNN Business|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/14/media/fauci-birx-redfield-interviews/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807074331/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/14/media/fauci-birx-redfield-interviews/index.html|archive-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> Six CDC staff members spoke to CNN for a story published on May 20. The officials said the CDC was not trusted by the White House and had "been muzzled", with their post-March recommendations "watered down".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuznia |first1=Robert |last2=Devine |first2=Curt |last3=Valencia |first3=Nick |date=May 20, 2020 |title='We've been muzzled': CDC sources say White House putting politics ahead of science |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/20/politics/coronavirus-travel-alert-cdc-white-house-tensions-invs/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729070413/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/20/politics/coronavirus-travel-alert-cdc-white-house-tensions-invs/index.html |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |access-date=June 1, 2020 |work=CNN}}</ref>
In early May, President Trump proposed that the coronavirus task force be phased out to accommodate another group centered on reopening the economy. Amid a backlash, Trump publicly stated that the coronavirus task force would continue "indefinitely".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |date=May 6, 2020 |title=In reversal, Trump says task force will continue 'indefinitely'—eyes vaccine czar |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/trump-task-force-vaccine/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728061407/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/trump-task-force-vaccine/index.html |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |work=CNN}}</ref> However, by the end of May, the coronavirus task force was meeting far less frequently.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Jim |last2=Liptak |first2=Kevin |last3=Westwood |first3=Sarah |date=May 29, 2020 |title=As US deaths top 100,000, Trump's coronavirus task force is curtailed |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809002218/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force/index.html |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |work=CNN}}</ref>
After Trump himself tested positive for COVID-19 on October 2, he was admitted into Walter Reed. After a press briefing by the President's personal physician on October 4, an administration source close to the President stated that Trump was admitted due to concerns over "worsening" vitals and conditions.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 4, 2020|title=White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows says Trump had experienced a 'very concerning' period in his coronavirus battle|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/meadows-trump-had-very-concerning-period-on-friday-2020-10|url-status=live|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004065650/https://www.businessinsider.com/meadows-trump-had-very-concerning-period-on-friday-2020-10|archive-date=October 4, 2020}}</ref> This source was later identified by the AP as White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who was caught on camera asking to be "off the record" after the physician ended the press briefing. Meadows' statement to the press contradicted statements and stances given by the physician during the press conference. During the same press conference, the physician also confused reporters when he mistakenly stated that Trump's diagnosis was for the "past 72 hours", later clarifying that he meant the past three days. Over a year later, Meadows revealed that Trump had actually tested positive (and also negative from another test) prior to debating Biden on September 29.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rai|first=Sarakshi|date=2021-12-06|title=Trump came in contact with 500 people between first positive test and hospitalization: report|url=https://thehill.com/regulation/administration/584460-trump-came-in-contact-with-500-people-between-first-positive-test|access-date=2021-12-09|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref>
=== Suppression of whistleblowers ===
The Trump administration replaced Christi Grimm as Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services after she produced a report documenting severe shortages of medical supplies in U.S. hospitals as COVID-19 cases increased, which contradicted President Trump's claims that hospitals had what they needed.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Trump Moves To Replace Watchdog Who Reported Medical Shortages|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/02/849642036/trump-moves-to-replace-watchdog-who-reported-medical-shortages|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211040928/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/02/849642036/trump-moves-to-replace-watchdog-who-reported-medical-shortages|archive-date=December 11, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=NPR.org|date=May 2, 2020|last1=Slotkin|first1=Jason}}</ref> Former Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority director Rick Bright filed a whistleblower complaint alleging his transfer to NIH was retaliation for raising concerns about the dangers of scientifically unproven therapies, including sharing information about the known side effects of hydroxychloroquine, which had been promoted by President Trump in press briefings.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rick Bright, Former Top Vaccine Scientist, Files Whistleblower Complaint|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/05/850960344/rick-bright-former-top-vaccine-scientist-files-whistleblower-complaint|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818135642/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/05/850960344/rick-bright-former-top-vaccine-scientist-files-whistleblower-complaint|archive-date=August 18, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=NPR.org|date=May 5, 2020|last1=Wamsley|first1=Laurel}}</ref> Bright testified before a Senate committee that HHS officials denied and ignored his January warnings about a shortage in the domestic supply of respirator masks. Bright said he was told that if such a shortage happened, the government would simply change CDC guidelines to tell some people they did not need to wear masks, to which Bright said he replied, "I can't believe you can sit there and say that with a straight face."<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Aubrey, Allison|author2=Davis, Susan|date=May 14, 2020|title=Coronavirus Update: Ousted Scientist Rick Bright Testifies Before Congress|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/05/14/856347547/coronavirus-update-ousted-scientist-rick-bright-testifies-before-congress|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806165201/https://www.npr.org/2020/05/14/856347547/coronavirus-update-ousted-scientist-rick-bright-testifies-before-congress|archive-date=August 6, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=NPR}}</ref>
===Scientific and medical response to Trump pandemic management===
In September 2020, responding to the pandemic as well as climate change and other urgent issues, the ''Scientific American'' condemned the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic. In the almost 200 years that the journal has been in print it had never before made a political statement. They wrote:
{{blockquote|The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people—because he rejects evidence and science. The most devastating example is his dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost more than 190,000 Americans their lives by the middle of September. He has also attacked environmental protections, medical care, and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges. That is why we urge you to vote for Joe Biden, who is offering fact-based plans to protect our health, our economy and the environment. These and other proposals he has put forth can set the country back on course for a safer, more prosperous and more equitable future.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Rachel|title='Scientific American' Breaks 175 Years Of Tradition, Endorses A Presidential Nominee|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/17/913881019/scientific-american-breaks-tradition-endorses-a-presidential-candidate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190626/https://www.npr.org/2020/09/17/913881019/scientific-american-breaks-tradition-endorses-a-presidential-candidate|archive-date=November 17, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020|newspaper=NPR}}</ref>}}
In October 2020, ''The New England Journal of Medicine'', published an editorial which condemned the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic saying that "they have taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy." The journal wrote that the Trump administration's handling of the crisis had resulted in tens of thousands of "excess" deaths as well as "immense economic pain and an increase in social inequality" due to the fact that the virus hit disadvantaged communities the hardest. This was the first time the journal had ever supported or condemned a political candidate and only three other times in its over 200-year history had an editorial been signed by all the (34) editors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kolata|first1=Gina|title=In a First, New England Journal of Medicine Joins Never-Trumpers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/health/new-england-journal-trump.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190628/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/health/new-england-journal-trump.html|archive-date=November 17, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=The New York Times|date=October 7, 2020}}</ref>
== Biden administration == {{See also|White House COVID-19 Response Team}}thumb|250px|Free government issued COVID-19 at home tests.
=== Domestic response ===
{{see also|Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|Biden administration COVID-19 action plan}} During his first few days in office, President Joe Biden signed 12 executive orders targeting the virus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feuer |first=Will |date=2021-01-21 |title=Here are the 10 executive orders Biden signed to combat the Covid pandemic |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/21/biden-to-sign-10-executive-orders-to-combat-covid-pandemic-invoke-defense-production-act.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126102555/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/21/biden-to-sign-10-executive-orders-to-combat-covid-pandemic-invoke-defense-production-act.html |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=2021-01-26 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Segers |first=Grace |date=2020-01-24 |title=Biden signs executive orders on stimulus checks, food stamps and minimum wage |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-stimulus-check-executive-order-food-stamps-minimum-wage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126205031/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-stimulus-check-executive-order-food-stamps-minimum-wage/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=2021-01-26 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 20, 2021, his first day as president, with the goal of containing coronavirus, Biden implemented a federal mask mandate, requiring the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands, and by federal employees and contractors.<ref>{{cite web|last=Biden|first=Joseph R.|title=Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing|date=January 21, 2021|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-protecting-the-federal-workforce-and-requiring-mask-wearing/|access-date=January 21, 2021|publisher=White House}}</ref><ref name="Bradner2">{{cite news|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|last2=Klein|first2=Betsy|date=January 20, 2021|title=Biden targets Trump's legacy with first-day executive actions|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/executive-actions-biden/index.html|access-date=January 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite web|last=Biden|first=Joseph R.|date=January 21, 2021|title=National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness|url=https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/national-strategy-for-the-covid-19-response/c7bd8ecb9308d669/full.pdf|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=The White House}}</ref> Biden also signed an order on January 21, 2021, that directed FEMA to offer full reimbursements to states for the cost of using their own National Guard personnel and emergency supplies such as personal protective equipment in schools.<ref name=":32">{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Betsy|last2=Stracqualursi|first2=Veronica|last3=Sullivan|first3=Kate|title=Biden unveils Covid-19 plan based on 'science not politics' as he signs new initiatives|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-national-coronavirus-plan/index.html|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=January 21, 2021|title=Biden Unveils a National Pandemic Response That Trump Resisted|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/us/politics/biden-coronavirus-response.html|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref>
On January 21, 2021, the administration released a 200-page document titled "National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=January 21, 2021|title=Live Updates: Biden Set to Unveil Covid Response Plan|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/21/us/joe-biden|access-date=January 21, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":02" /> Biden also created the White House COVID-19 Response Team to succeed the COVID-19 Advisory Board for a unified federal government response. On January 21, 2021, Biden issued two executive orders, one on the importance of addressing systemic racism and health disparities plaguing underserved communities, and the second on establishing a unified testing strategy across the United States.<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Executive Order on Establishing the COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board and Ensuring a Sustainable Public Health Workforce for COVID-19 and Other Biological Threats|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/21/executive-order-establishing-the-covid-19-pandemic-testing-board-and-ensuring-a-sustainable-public-health-workforce-for-covid-19-and-other-biological-threats/|access-date=2021-01-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref> The first order calls for a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to be established through the Department of Health and Human Services. It will include government and non-government officials to ensure an "equitable" pandemic response and recovery. The second order calls for a National Pandemic Testing Board to be established to improve US coronavirus testing capacity. On January 21, 2021, Biden signed an executive order to increase access to healthcare and therapeutics for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Betsy Klein, Veronica Stracqualursi and Kate Sullivan|title=Biden unveils Covid-19 plan based on 'science not politics' as he signs new initiatives|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-national-coronavirus-plan/index.html|access-date=2021-01-25|website=CNN|date=January 21, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Executive Order on Improving and Expanding Access to Care and Treatments for COVID-19|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/21/executive-order-improving-and-expanding-access-to-care-and-treatments-for-covid-19/|access-date=2021-01-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref>
On January 21, 2021, Biden invoked the Defense Production Act, allowing the President to direct the manufacturing of critical goods, ensuring the availability of glass vials, and syringes at the federal level.<ref name=":122">{{cite news|date=January 21, 2021|title=Biden's COVID-19 plan: Masks, testing, more vaccine supplies|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-2cceeb30ccf92784a84cbfa16ed6c3ca|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=January 21, 2021|title=Biden signs executive orders on COVID-19 response, authorizes broader use of Defense Production Act to speed vaccine|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/biden-signs-executive-orders-covid-19-response-authorizes-broader-use-defense-production-act-speed-vaccine-20210121.html|url-status=dead|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129035728/https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/biden-signs-executive-orders-covid-19-response-authorizes-broader-use-defense-production-act-speed-vaccine-20210121.html|archive-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> In justifying his use of the act, Biden said, "And when I say wartime, people kind of look at me like 'wartime?' Well, as I said last night, 400,000 Americans have died. That's more than have died in all of World War II. 400,000. This is a wartime undertaking."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vogt|first1=Adrienne|date=January 21, 2021|title=Biden on Covid-19 plan: "This is a wartime undertaking"|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/president-joe-biden-news-01-21-20/h_1122c1996b539ee2bf80006978126494|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> On January 21, 2021, Biden signed 10 executive orders pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 21, 2021|title=Biden signs 10 executive orders to tackle Covid-19|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55750884|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> To meet his vaccination goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office, Biden signed an executive order increasing supplies for vaccination, testing and personal protective equipment.<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Allegretti|first1=Aubrey|date=January 21, 2021|title=COVID-19: US president Joe Biden signs 10 executive orders to curb spread of coronavirus|publisher=Sky News|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-us-president-joe-biden-signs-10-executive-orders-to-curb-spread-of-coronavirus-12194856|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> After meeting that goal by March 18,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Zeke|date=2021-03-20|title=Biden Eyes New Goal After US Clears 100M Shots Since Jan. 20|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-vaccine-goal-100-million_n_60567162c5b66a80f4e7f800|access-date=2021-03-21|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> he doubled the goal.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 March 2021|title=Biden sets goal of 200 million vaccine shots in first 100 days|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/25/joe-biden-live-updates/|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> This goal was reached on April 21, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Pettypiece|first1=Shannon|last2=Shabad|first2=Rebecca|date=2021-04-21|title='We did it': Biden celebrates U.S. hitting milestone of 200 million doses in his first 100 days|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-push-more-vaccinations-administration-reaches-200-million-dose-milestone-n1264782|access-date=April 22, 2021|publisher=NBC News|language=en}}</ref>
On January 21, 2021, Biden also issued an executive order to enhance the collection and collaboration of COVID-19-related data.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Executive Order on Ensuring a Data-Driven Response to COVID-19 and Future High-Consequence Public Health Threats|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/21/executive-order-ensuring-a-data-driven-response-to-covid-19-and-future-high-consequence-public-health-threats/|access-date=2021-01-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref> The order states that official representatives from the following executive departments and agencies work with the COVID-19 Response Coordinator:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Executive Order on Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-organizing-and-mobilizing-united-states-government-to-provide-unified-and-effective-response-to-combat-covid-19-and-to-provide-united-states-leadership-on-global-health-and-security/|access-date=2021-01-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref> the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Director of the National Science Foundation.
On January 22, 2021, Biden released an executive order addressing the economic crisis due to COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/22/executive-order-economic-relief-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/|access-date=2021-01-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}}</ref>
Biden voiced support for $600 extra weekly unemployment benefits, increasing Social Security checks by $200 monthly, federally funded COBRA insurance for those who have lost their jobs during the pandemic, paid sick leave, as well as free testing, treatment, and vaccinations.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Adamczyk |first=Alicia |date=2020-11-09 |title=Here's what President-elect Joe Biden wants to include in a coronavirus stimulus bill |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/09/what-joe-biden-wants-to-include-in-a-coronavirus-stimulus-bill.html |access-date=2020-11-09 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> He began his term with an immediate goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office, signing an executive order which included increasing supplies for vaccination.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Betsy Klein, Veronica Stracqualursi and Kate Sullivan |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Biden unveils Covid-19 plan based on 'science not politics' as he signs new initiatives |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-national-coronavirus-plan/index.html |access-date=2021-03-12 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=COVID-19: US president Joe Biden signs 10 executive orders to curb spread of coronavirus |url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-us-president-joe-biden-signs-10-executive-orders-to-curb-spread-of-coronavirus-12194856 |access-date=2021-03-12 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=100 Million Shots In 100 Days: Is Biden's COVID-19 Vaccination Goal Achievable? |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959700058/100-million-shots-in-100-days-is-bidens-covid-19-vaccination-goal-achievable |access-date=2021-03-12 |website=NPR.org |language=en}}</ref> This goal was met on March 19, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2021 |title=Biden Eyes New Goal After US Clears 100M Shots Since Jan. 20 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-vaccine-goal-100-million_n_60567162c5b66a80f4e7f800}}</ref> On March 25, 2021, President Biden announced he would set a new COVID-19 vaccine goal of 200 million shots being given within his first 100 days in office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dan Mangan, Berkeley Lovelace Jr. |date=2021-03-25 |title=Biden sets new Covid vaccine goal of 200 million shots within his first 100 days: 'I believe we can do it' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/25/biden-will-announce-new-covid-vaccine-goal-200-million-shots-within-his-first-100-days.html |access-date=2021-03-27 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>
On August 26, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the federal eviction moratorium which was put in place by President Biden to prevent more home evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and also ruled that the CDC had exceeded its authority by enforcing it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supreme Court throws out Biden administration eviction moratorium |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/26/politics/supreme-court-eviction-moratorium/index.html |website=CNN |date=August 27, 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/eviction-moratorium-ends.html|title=Supreme Court Ends Biden's Eviction Moratorium|first1=Adam|last1=Liptak|first2=Glenn|last2=Thrush|work=The New York Times|date=26 August 2021|access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/health-courts-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-daa34fb48a04dc9f3ddad94fb6b4cbb2|title=Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic|first=Mark|last=Sherman|publisher=Associated Press|date=27 August 2021|accessdate=28 August 2021}}</ref>
On September 10, Biden outlined a new six-step plan for ending the pandemic. Although vaccines were now readily available to the public, vaccination rates had slowed, and the plan included mandates to target individuals who were refusing to receive a vaccine. Biden also planned to implement booster vaccine shots for additional strains of the virus, increased testing, full re-opening of schools, expansion of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for small businesses, and a doubling of the number of military health teams available from the Department of Defense.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wolf |first=Zachary |date=10 September 2021 |title=Biden's six-step Covid plan, explained |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/10/politics/what-matters-biden-covid-plan/index.html |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=CNN}}</ref>
In January 2022, the government launched COVIDtests.gov, a website for American residents to request free rapid tests from the government through the mail.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=January 14, 2022 |title=U.S. Government to Begin Accepting Requests for Free Covid Tests Next Week |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/14/us/politics/covid-tests-free-biden.html |access-date=January 15, 2022 |website=The New York Times |quote=}}</ref>
Neil Harrison and Jeffrey Sachs criticized the response of the NIH to SARS-CoV-2 under Biden in 2022, believing it did not do enough for public trust and transparency, and called for an independent inquiry into the origin of the virus.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Harrison |first1=Neil L. |last2=Sachs |first2=Jeffrey D. |date=24 May 2022 |title=A call for an independent inquiry into the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=119 |issue=21 |article-number=e2202769119 |bibcode=2022PNAS..11902769H |doi=10.1073/pnas.2202769119 |doi-access=free |pmc=9173817 |pmid=35588448 |s2cid=248918243}}</ref>
On September 19, 2022, Biden stated in an interview that the pandemic was over in the U.S., although this did not indicate any policy changes by the administration. Public health officials disagreed with these comments. Over 400 deaths from the disease were still occurring each day at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Debusmann Jr |first=Bernd |date=19 September 2022 |title=Covid-19 pandemic is over in the US - Joe Biden |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62959089 |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
=== International response === {{see also|Foreign policy of the Biden administration#COVID-19 pandemic response and global health}}On the first day of his presidency, Biden signed an executive order that reversed the United States' withdrawal from the WHO and made Dr. Anthony Fauci the head of the delegation to the WHO.<ref name="Bradner2" />
In February 2021, Biden said the funds for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an organization that is leading the COVAX international vaccine allocation plan, would soon be released.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madhani|first=Aamer|date=18 February 2021|title=Biden Rolling Out Plan For $4 Billion Global Vaccine Effort|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-rolling-out-plan-for-4-billion-global-vaccine-effort_n_602ee697c5b6cc8bbf3a5332|access-date=19 February 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> Congress had already approved $4 billion for this purpose one month before Biden was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 December 2020|title=Bilateral economic assistance funds. Appropriated to the president. Global health programs. From: Rules committee print 116–68. Text of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H. R. 133|url=https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR133SA-RCP-116-68.pdf|access-date=19 February 2021|website=rules.house.gov|page=1590|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314105038/https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR133SA-RCP-116-68.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The U.S. initially did not export vaccines, while the European Union exported 77 million doses to the world in the months from December 2020 to March 2021.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 25, 2021|title=EU exported 77 million COVID-19 vaccines since December{{snd}}Commission|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-summit-vaccines-exports-idUSKBN2BH2AG}}</ref> In March 2021, President Biden dismissed a request by the European Union to export unused vaccines from AstraZeneca out of the U.S., even though the manufacturer endorsed it and vowed to resupply the doses. The rationale for this decision{{snd}}which contributed to low European vaccination rates{{snd}}was that the U.S. had to be "over-supplied and over-prepared", according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 13, 2021|title=Biden Rebuffs EU, AstraZeneca and Says U.S. Will Keep Its Doses|publisher=Bloomberg|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-12/astrazeneca-asks-biden-to-consider-shipping-u-s-doses-to-eu}}</ref> The export ban also contributed to the delayed delivery of the vaccines from Johnson & Johnson to Europe. The vaccine was produced in Europe, but the "fill and finish" process was originally planned to be in the U.S., and thus, there was danger that it would be subject to the Defense Production Act.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 12, 2021|title=Germany expects delayed Johnson & Johnson vaccine to arrive in 'mid-to-late April'|publisher=The Local|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20210312/germany-expects-delayed-johnson-johnson-vaccine-to-arrive-in-mid-to-late-april/}}</ref> Eventually, the U.S. reversed course and began exporting vaccines to Mexico, Canada, and Japan by the end of March.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 1, 2021|title=Blocked by the EU's export ban, Japan got its first AstraZeneca vaccines from the US instead|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blocked-eus-export-ban-japan-134245824.html}}</ref>
Biden reinstated the Trump administration's travel bans on several parts of the world, including the Schengen Area, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. He also added South Africa to the list of countries on January 25, 2021,<ref>{{cite news|date=25 January 2021|title=Biden adds South Africa to Covid travel bans|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55805428|access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> just one day before the Trump-era bans were slated to expire on January 26. The bans on entry by mainland Chinese and Iranian nationals were not scheduled to expire by Trump, and they remained in place under the Biden administration until all vaccinated travelers were allowed to enter the United States in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 January 2021|title=US Health, Coronavirus, USA travel exclusions|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi-idUSKBN29N20Y}}</ref><ref name="vaccine US entry">{{cite news |title=Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Releases Additional Detail for Implementing a Safer, More Stringent International Air Travel System |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/25/fact-sheet-biden-administration-releases-additional-detail-for-implementing-a-safer-more-stringent-international-air-travel-system/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=The White House |date=25 October 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026034146/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/25/fact-sheet-biden-administration-releases-additional-detail-for-implementing-a-safer-more-stringent-international-air-travel-system/ |archive-date=26 October 2021}}</ref> Travel restrictions were briefly reimposed in December 2021, focused on countries in southern Africa that had initially been affected by the Omicron variant.<ref name="reimposed bans">{{cite news |last1=Neild |first1=Barry |last2=Marcus |first2=Lilit |title=Travel restrictions by country following the Omicron variant outbreak |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/coronavirus-omicron-variant-travel-restrictions/index.html |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=CNN|date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213093341/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/coronavirus-omicron-variant-travel-restrictions/index.html |archive-date=13 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
According to a report by Reuters, in 2021 the Biden administration ended a U.S. military-run propaganda campaign to spread disinformation about the Sinovac Chinese COVID-19 vaccine which had begun in 2020 during the Trump administration.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news |last1=Bing |first1=Chris |last2=Schechtman |first2=Joel |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Pentagon Ran Secret Anti-Vax Campaign to Undermine China during Pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ |work=Reuters}}</ref> The motives for the campaign was described as "payback" for COVID-19 disinformation by China directed against the U.S. and China's vaccine diplomacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toropin |first=Konstantin |date=2024-06-14 |title=Pentagon Stands by Secret Anti-Vaccination Disinformation Campaign in Philippines After Reuters Report |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/pentagon-stands-secret-anti-vaccination-disinformation-campaign-philippines-after-reuters-report.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614223757/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/pentagon-stands-secret-anti-vaccination-disinformation-campaign-philippines-after-reuters-report.html |archive-date=2024-06-14 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-15 |title=The Pentagon ran a secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China during the pandemic, report says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-15/pentagon-ran-secret-anti-vax-campaign-to-undermine-china-during-/103982430 |access-date=2024-06-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Primarily targeting people in the Philippines, the campaign used fake social media accounts to spread disinformation, including that the Sinovac vaccine contained pork-derived ingredients and was therefore ''haram'' under Islamic law.<ref name=":62" />
== Congressional response == [[File:Nancy Pelosi signs the coronavirus emergency response.jpg|thumb|Speaker Nancy Pelosi signs the future Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act on March 5, 2020.]]
=== 2020 === On March 6, 2020, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, provided $8.3 billion to fight the pandemic. The deal includes over $3 billion for vaccine research and development (as well as therapeutics and diagnostics), $2.2 billion for the CDC, and $950 million for state and local health agencies.<ref name="Politico 8.3 billion agreement">{{cite web |last1=Emma |first1=Caitlin |last2=Ferris |first2=Sarah |title=Congress strikes a deal on bipartisan $8.3B coronavirus package |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/04/house-coronavirus-funding-121065 |website=Politico|date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812064723/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/04/house-coronavirus-funding-121065 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trump signs $8.3 billion emergency package to combat coronavirus |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-8-3-billion-emergency-package-to-combat-coronavirus/ |work=CBS News |date=March 6, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728045022/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-8-3-billion-emergency-package-to-combat-coronavirus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Another bill, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, was approved on March 18. It provided paid emergency leave and food assistance for affected employees, along with free testing.<ref name="NBC House passes">{{cite web |last1=Moe |first1=Alex |last2=Shabad |first2=Rebecca |last3=Clark |first3=Dartunorro |title=House passes coronavirus aid package, sending bill to the Senate |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-vote-friday-democrats-coronavirus-relief-package-n1158306 |work=NBC News |date=March 14, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630043158/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-vote-friday-democrats-coronavirus-relief-package-n1158306 |url-status=live }}</ref>
With guidance from the White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a third stimulus package amounting to over $1 trillion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mattingly |first1=Phil |title=Stimulus package could top $2 trillion as negotiators look to clear final major hurdles |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/stimulus-package-negotiations-congress-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=March 22, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322043902/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/stimulus-package-negotiations-congress-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After initially failing to pass in the Senate on March 22 and 23,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mill|first1=David|last2=Lee|first2=Muhyung|last3=Webb|first3=Sean|title=Coronavirus: CARES Act Vote Fails in Senate; Summary of the Tax Provisions of the Bill|url=https://content.natlawreview.com/article/coronavirus-cares-act-vote-fails-senate-summary-tax-provisions-bill|access-date=March 25, 2020|website=National Law Review|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426071548/https://content.natlawreview.com/article/coronavirus-cares-act-vote-fails-senate-summary-tax-provisions-bill|url-status=live}}</ref> the $1.4 trillion CARES Act{{efn|The revised draft included suspending federal student loan payments for six months without interest and $20 billion in school funding;<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP's $2 Trillion Bill Adds Cash for Bailouts, States, Transit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/gop-s-2-trillion-bill-adds-cash-for-bailouts-states-transit |access-date=March 23, 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg |date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323023614/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/gop-s-2-trillion-bill-adds-cash-for-bailouts-states-transit |url-status=live }}</ref> Democrats said the bill did not go far enough to provide healthcare and unemployment aid, and that it provided a "slush fund" for corporations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bresnahan |first1=John |last2=Levine |first2=Marianne |title=Dems seize on 'slush fund' to oppose Republican rescue package |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/democrats-slush-fund-republican-rescue-package-143565 |access-date=March 23, 2020 |work=Politico|date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323154237/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/democrats-slush-fund-republican-rescue-package-143565 |url-status=live }}</ref> House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that the House would prepare its own bill, expected to exceed $2.5 trillion, as a counter-offer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |title=House Democrats to introduce a $2.5 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan as Senate bill stalls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-updates-pelosi-to-release-stimulus-bill-as-senate-plan-stalls.html |access-date=March 23, 2020 |publisher=CNBC|date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323200822/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-updates-pelosi-to-release-stimulus-bill-as-senate-plan-stalls.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosis-coronavirus-stimulus-bill-includes-return-of-obamaphones-climate-change-wishlist|title=Pelosi's coronavirus stimulus includes return of 'Obamaphones', other unrelated items, GOP says|last=Re|first=Gregg|website=Fox News|date=March 23, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324041402/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosis-coronavirus-stimulus-bill-includes-return-of-obamaphones-climate-change-wishlist|archive-date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref>}} was revised in the Senate, coming to $2 trillion, including $500 billion for loans to larger businesses such as airlines, $350 billion for small business loans, $250 billion for individuals (sent in $1,200 checks to individuals making less than $75,000 annually), $250 billion for unemployment insurance (including an extra weekly $600 for the unemployed), $150 billion for state and municipal governments, and $130 billion for hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raju |first1=Manu |last2=Barrett |first2=Ted |last3=Foran |first3=Clare |last4=Wilson |first4=Kristin |title=White House, Senate reach historic $2 trillion stimulus deal amid growing coronavirus fears |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/25/politics/stimulus-senate-action-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=March 25, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=March 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810092557/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/25/politics/stimulus-senate-action-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It passed unanimously in the Senate late the night of March 25<ref name="CNBC Senate passes $2 trillion">{{cite web |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |title=Senate passes $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, sending it to the House |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/senate-passes-2-trillion-coronavirus-stimulus-package.html |publisher=CNBC|date=March 25, 2020 |access-date=March 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819134431/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/senate-passes-2-trillion-coronavirus-stimulus-package.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and became law on March 27.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeballos-Roig |first=Joseph |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-signs-coronavirus-economic-relief-aid-bill-checks-for-americans-2020-3 |title=Trump signs the $2 trillion coronavirus economic relief bill into law, which includes checks for Americans and business loans |date=March 27, 2020 |work=Business Insider |access-date=March 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821012947/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-signs-coronavirus-economic-relief-aid-bill-checks-for-americans-2020-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 24, a $484 billion bill was passed to help fund the CARES Act-created Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provide $75 billion in funding to hospitals, and implement nationwide testing for the virus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Re |first1=Gregg |title=Senate passes $484B 'Phase 3.5' coronavirus stimulus package by voice vote amid tensions in chamber |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-leaders-reach-agreement-phase-3-5-coronavirus-stimulus-package |access-date=April 23, 2020 |work=Fox News |date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823114529/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-leaders-reach-agreement-phase-3-5-coronavirus-stimulus-package |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Caygle |first1=Heather |last2=Ferris |first2=Sarah |title=House passes $484 billion relief package after weeks of partisan battles |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/23/house-vote-pass-coronavirus-aid-package-203965 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=Politico |date=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818160612/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/23/house-vote-pass-coronavirus-aid-package-203965 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Kevin J. |title=The New PPP Funds Will Run Out Quickly. Apply Anyway |url=https://www.inc.com/kevin-j-ryan/small-business-loans-town-hall-320-billion-additional-ppp.html |website=Inc.com |access-date=April 26, 2020 |date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711224426/https://www.inc.com/kevin-j-ryan/small-business-loans-town-hall-320-billion-additional-ppp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On May 12, the Republican-led Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions heard testimony, delivered remotely, about the effectiveness of the Trump administration's response. The expert witnesses were Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Robert Redfield of the CDC, Admiral Brett Giroir of the U.S. Public Health Service, and Dr. Stephen Hahn of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fauci explained that he gives the president "advice and opinion based evidence-based scientific information" and warned that the country does not yet have "total control" over the pandemic, further saying that "serious" consequences could result from reopening too quickly.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Wagner|first1=Meg|last2=Hayes|first2=Mike|date=May 12, 2020|title=Live updates: Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies|url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/fauci-testifies-coronavirus-05-12-2020/index.html|access-date=May 12, 2020|website=CNN|language=en|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730061200/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/fauci-testifies-coronavirus-05-12-2020/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In July, Mitch McConnell stated that around 20 Senate Republicans "think that we've already done enough" regarding COVID-19, citing the national debt as a reason to avoid further spending.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woodruff |first1=Judy |last2=Bush |first2=Daniel |title=McConnell: Some Republicans think 'we have already done enough' pandemic aid |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mcconnell-some-republicans-think-we-have-already-done-enough-pandemic-aid |access-date=December 23, 2020 |work=PBS Newshour |date=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222174009/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mcconnell-some-republicans-think-we-have-already-done-enough-pandemic-aid |url-status=live }}</ref>
In early August, as the deadline to reach an agreement in Congress before the scheduled recess passed, CNN reported that Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows "were recommending Trump move ahead with a series of executive orders."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Fox|first1=Lauren|last2=Foran|first2=Clare|last3=Raju|first3=Manu|last4=Zaslav|first4=Ali|date=2020-08-07|title=Stimulus talks break down on Capitol Hill as negotiators walk away without a deal|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/07/politics/stimulus-talks-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820133238/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/07/politics/stimulus-talks-coronavirus/index.html|archive-date=August 20, 2020|access-date=2020-08-08|website=CNN}}</ref> On August 8, the president signed four such orders to fund $400 weekly unemployment insurance,{{efn|The federal government would find a way to fund $300 weekly<ref name="Scaled">{{Cite news|last1=Cochrane|first1=Emily|last2=Tankersley |first2=Jim |date=2020-08-18 |title=Republicans Float a Scaled-Back Stimulus Bill|language=en-US|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/18/us/politics/republicans-coronavirus-stimulus-bill.html|access-date=2020-08-19|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819105633/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/18/us/politics/republicans-coronavirus-stimulus-bill.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and states would be asked to provide an additional $100 (later confirmed to be optional).<ref name=defers/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ziv|first=Shahar|date=2020-08-13|title=Confirmed: Extra $400 Unemployment Benefit Extension Slashed To $300; State Match Optional|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2020/08/13/confirmed-extra-400-unemployment-benefit-extension-next-stimulus-package-slashed-to-300/|access-date=2020-08-14|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814034545/https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaharziv/2020/08/13/confirmed-extra-400-unemployment-benefit-extension-next-stimulus-package-slashed-to-300/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' cites "a leading national expert on unemployment benefits", who said the program could take "months" to create.<ref name=WaPoNo/>}} eviction moratoriums,{{efn|''The Washington Post'' points out that "Trump's directive to halt evictions primarily calls for federal agencies to 'consider' if they should be stopped."<ref name="WaPoNo">{{Cite news|last1=Stein|first1=Jeff|last2=Werner|first2=Erica|last3=Merle|first3=Renae|date=2020-08-08|title=Trump attempts to wrest tax and spending powers from Congress with new executive actions|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/08/trump-executive-order-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-08-08|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809022817/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/08/trump-executive-order-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=golf/>}} and both payroll tax{{efn|Trump used this deferment to promote his 2020 presidential campaign, saying, "If victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax."<ref name=WaPoNo/> This was criticized by Democrats, who have pointed out that the payroll tax funds Social Security and Medicare,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Solender|first=Andrew|date=2020-08-09|title=White House Walks Back 'Permanent' Payroll Tax Cut Amid Social Security Concerns|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/08/09/white-house-walks-back-permanent-payroll-tax-cut-amid-social-security-concerns/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811114120/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/08/09/white-house-walks-back-permanent-payroll-tax-cut-amid-social-security-concerns/|url-status=live}}</ref> but Trump said Social Security would still be funded.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Heavey|first1=Susan|last2=Mason|first2=Jeff|date=2020-08-10|title=Pelosi, Mnuchin open door to narrower COVID-19 aid through 2020|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress-idUSKCN2550LD|access-date=2020-08-11|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811095632/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress-idUSKCN2550LD|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', "A coalition of major business groups warned [Trump and Congress] ... that many of their member companies were unlikely to enforce a payroll-tax deferral ... citing concerns that doing so could expose workers to a large and unexpected tax bill next year."<ref name=Scaled/>}} and federal student loan deferment, forgiving interest on the latter.<ref name="defers">{{Cite web|last=Keith|first=Tamara|date=2020-08-08|title=In Executive Actions, Trump Extends Unemployment Benefits, Defers Payroll Taxes|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/08/900516854/in-executive-actions-trump-extends-unemployment-benefits|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808230604/https://www.npr.org/2020/08/08/900516854/in-executive-actions-trump-extends-unemployment-benefits|archive-date=August 8, 2020|access-date=2020-08-08|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref>{{efn|Trump signed the orders over the weekend in his private New Jersey country club, excusing the crowded gathering by calling it a "peaceful protest".<ref name=golf>{{Cite web|last=McGraw|first=Meridith|date=2020-08-09|title=With latest executive orders, Trump gets approval from his golf club crowd|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/09/trump-executive-orders-golf-club-393050|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Politico|language=en|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810090142/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/09/trump-executive-orders-golf-club-393050|url-status=live}}</ref> The legality of some aspects of the orders has been questioned.<ref name="threatens">{{Cite web|last=Pramuk|first=Jacob|date=2020-08-05|title=White House threatens executive action if it fails to reach coronavirus relief deal with Democrats|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-updates-white-house-increases-unemployment-offer.html|access-date=2020-08-06|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Aleem|first=Zeeshan|date=2020-08-08|title=Trump just signed 4 executive orders providing coronavirus relief. It's not clear if they're all legal.|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/8/8/21360109/trump-executive-order-tax-holiday-unemployment|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Vox|language=en|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808231416/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/8/8/21360109/trump-executive-order-tax-holiday-unemployment|url-status=live}}</ref>}} On August 21, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos implemented a plan suspending federal student loans until 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Berger|first=Rob|date=2020-08-21|title=Federal Student Loan Payments Officially Suspended Until 2021: 0% Interest, No Collections, And Nonpayments Count Toward Forgiveness|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertberger/2020/08/21/federal-student-loan-payments-officially-suspended-until-2021/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824081744/https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertberger/2020/08/21/federal-student-loan-payments-officially-suspended-until-2021/|archive-date=August 24, 2020|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> Trump's payroll tax plan went into effect on August 28.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cassady|first=Daniel|date=August 28, 2020|title=Trump's Payroll Tax Deferment Plan Goes Into Effect|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/08/28/trumps-payroll-tax-deferment-plan-goes-into-effect/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829163522/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/08/28/trumps-payroll-tax-deferment-plan-goes-into-effect/|archive-date=August 29, 2020|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>
Between March and October, Republicans and Democrats proposed a series of prospective bills, with support mostly along party lines, and each side voicing criticism of the other party's inclusion of special interests.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Segers|first=Grace|date=2020-10-16|title=Future of coronavirus relief bill uncertain as White House and Democrats continue negotiations|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-bill-stimulus-uncertain-negotiations-white-house-house-democrats/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016184354/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-bill-stimulus-uncertain-negotiations-white-house-house-democrats/|archive-date=October 16, 2020|access-date=2020-10-16|website=CBS News|language=en-US}}</ref> In May, the House passed the HEROES Act, a $3 Trillion stimulus package proposed by Representative Nita Lowey, but the bill was blocked in the Senate.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Jordain|date=May 12, 2020|title=McConnell, Senate GOP declare House Democrats' $3T coronavirus bill 'dead on arrival'|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/497433-mcconnell-senate-gop-declare-house-3t-coronavirus-bill-dead-on-arrival|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> In July and October, additional bills were passed by the House.<ref name=210b>{{Cite web|last=Emma|first=Caitlin|date=2020-07-31|title=House clears $1.3T spending bill with $210B in emergency cash|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/31/house-clears-spending-bill-389567|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Politico|language=en|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927205544/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/31/house-clears-spending-bill-389567|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Werner">{{Cite news|last1=Werner|first1=Erica|last2=Stein|first2=Jeff|date=2020-10-01|title=House Democrats pass $2.2 trillion stimulus bill over GOP opposition; bipartisan talks continue|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/01/white-house-democrats-economic-stimulus/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002020841/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/01/white-house-democrats-economic-stimulus/|archive-date=October 2, 2020|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Another proposal in the Senate was blocked by the Democratic minority in September.<ref name="block47">{{Cite web|last=Swanson|first=Ian|date=2020-09-10|title=Senate Democrats block GOP relief bill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/515867-senate-democrats-block-gop-relief-bill|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214232553/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/515867-senate-democrats-block-gop-relief-bill|archive-date=February 14, 2021|access-date=2020-09-13|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref>
Another $900 billion stimulus plan was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was passed on December 27.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnstone|first=Liz|date=2020-12-27|title=In reversal, Trump signs spending bill, unlocking Covid aid and averting shutdown|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/covid-unemployment-benefits-expire-after-trump-refuses-sign-aid-bill-n1252392|access-date=2020-12-27|website=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024159/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/covid-unemployment-benefits-expire-after-trump-refuses-sign-aid-bill-n1252392|url-status=live}}</ref> It provided $300–330 billion for PPP, $82 billion for education, $28 billion for vaccines, $25 billion in rental assistance for those whose source of income ceased during the pandemic, $20 billion for state virus testing, $10 billion for child care providers, $2.6 billion for the CDC, and $2 billion for intercity buses. It also funded $300 weekly unemployment insurance for 11 weeks, boosted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and provided $400 million to food banks, extended the eviction moratorium (previously set to expire January 1, 2021) by 30 days, and suspended student loan debt until April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Lobosco|first1=Katie|last2=Luhby|first2=Tami|date=2020-12-20|title=Here's what's in the second stimulus package|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/politics/second-covid-stimulus-package-details/index.html|access-date=2020-12-20|website=CNN|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221160424/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/politics/second-covid-stimulus-package-details/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Raju|first=Manu|date=2020-12-14|title=Stimulus talks: Democrats face key choice|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/politics/stimulus-negotiations-state-of-play/index.html|access-date=2020-12-14|website=CNN|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214155045/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/politics/stimulus-negotiations-state-of-play/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|last1=Raju|first1=Manu|last2=Foran|first2=Clare|date=2020-12-20|title=Congress on brink of deal on $900 billion relief package after resolving key dispute|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/politics/congress-stimulus-deal/index.html|access-date=2020-12-20|website=CNN|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220081424/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/politics/congress-stimulus-deal/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A direct payment of $600 per person was funded, with benefits phasing out for those who make more than $75,000 annually.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Stein|first1=Jeff|last2=DeBonis|first2=Mike|last3=Kane|first3=Paul|date=2020-12-20|title=Details emerge on $600 stimulus checks, jobless benefits as Congress rushes to finalize deal|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/20/stimulus-congress/|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220201515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/20/stimulus-congress/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was expected to rescind over $429 billion in unused CARES Act funding.<ref name=":20">{{Cite news|last1=Cochrane|first1=Emily|last2=Smialek|first2=Jeanna|date=2020-12-20|title=Lawmakers Resolve Fed Dispute as They Race to Close Stimulus Deal|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/politics/stimulus-deal-congress.html|url-access=limited|access-date=2020-12-20|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220081746/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/politics/stimulus-deal-congress.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12" />
=== 2021 === {{See also|American Rescue Plan Act of 2021}} On January 14, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden introduced a $1.9 trillion relief plan which would include $1,400 direct payments, weekly federal unemployment benefits, amongst other measures.<ref name="Franck">{{Cite web |last=Franck |first=Thomas |date=2021-01-14 |title=Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan calls for stimulus checks, unemployment support and more |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/14/biden-stimulus-package-details-checks-unemployment-minimum-wage.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-01-15 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115082118/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/14/biden-stimulus-package-details-checks-unemployment-minimum-wage.html}}</ref>{{Efn|The original version of the plan included measures to: extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through September, both increase the Child Tax Credit to $3,000 per child and make it refundable for 2021, and provide: $350 billion for state and local governments, $170 billion for schools, $50 billion for virus testing, and $20 billion for vaccines.<ref name=Franck/>}}{{Efn|A revised version of the bill includes: $422 billion for stimulus checks, $246 billion for extra unemployment insurance, $350 billion for state and local governments, $160 billion to for virus vaccines and testing, $130 billion for K-12 schools, and $7.25 billion for PPP.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Erik |first1=Wasson |last2=Davison |first2=Laura |date=2021-02-22|title=Biden's $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan Enters 3-Week Dash in Congress |language=en |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/biden-s-1-9-trillion-stimulus-plan-enters-3-week-congress-dash|access-date=2021-02-22}}</ref>}} The plan tentatively included an increase to the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025,<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|last=Cowan|first=Richard|date=2021-02-19|title=U.S. House Democrats advance $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa-congress-idUSL1N2KP25T |access-date=2021-02-19 |language=en}}</ref> but Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on February 25 that it did not comply with the Byrd Rule, which governs reconciliation.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Vlamis |first1=Kelsey |last2=Zeballos-Roig |first2=Joseph |date=2021-02-25 |title=Bernie Sanders says Democrats will try to devise a backdoor to implement a $15 minimum wage after major stimulus setback |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sanders-democrats-devise-backdoor-plan-raise-wages-15-an-hour-2021-2|access-date=2021-02-26 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>{{efn|Lauren Fox of CNN writes that a provision "must not just have an incidental impact on the budget ... [but can] only be in the bill if its purpose is to impact the budget".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Lauren |date=2021-02-15|title=Covid relief negotiations: Stimulus talks get into full swing |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/15/politics/congress-negotiations-covid-relief-package/index.html|access-date=2021-02-16|website=CNN}}</ref>}} The Democrats used the procedure of reconciliation to circumvent a filibuster{{efn|Biden stated a goal of bolstering bipartisan support,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Zeleny |first1=Jeff |last2=Diamond |first2=Jeremy |last3=Liptak |first3=Kevin |date=2021-01-29 |title=Biden seeks to intensify public lobbying for Covid-19 relief bill amid the pandemic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/politics/joe-biden-covid-19-relief-negotiations/index.html|url-status=live |access-date=2021-01-30 |website=CNN |archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130034416/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/politics/joe-biden-covid-19-relief-negotiations/index.html}}</ref> but Republicans have generally rejected the price tag.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Lauren |date=2021-01-28|title=Democrats face their first big challenge to stay united with massive Covid-19 relief bill |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/politics/covid-relief-bill-reconciliation-democrats/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-30|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130012425/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/politics/covid-relief-bill-reconciliation-democrats/index.html |website=CNN}}</ref>}}—expediting the approval of the bill's cost, while leaving room to negotiate amendments.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Elis |first=Niv|date=2021-01-28|title=Byrd Rule, politics threaten $15 per hour minimum wage |website=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/536214-byrd-rule-politics-threaten-15-per-hour-minimum-wage|url-status=live |access-date=2021-01-30 |archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130014943/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/536214-byrd-rule-politics-threaten-15-per-hour-minimum-wage |language=en}}</ref>
On January 31, 2021, ten Senate Republicans announced a $600 billion counterproposal to Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion bill.<ref name="Choi">{{Cite web|last=Choi|first=Joseph|date=2021-01-31|title=Sanders says Democrats have the votes to pass another relief bill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/536662-sanders-says-democrats-have-the-votes-to-pass-another-relief-bill|access-date=2021-01-31|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref>
On February 2, the Senate passed a budget resolution along party lines.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Snodgrass|first=Erin|title=No Senate Republicans voted to advance the stimulus package that'd give most Americans $1,400 one-time checks|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/not-a-single-republican-voted-to-advance-the-stimulus-package-2021-2|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Business Insider|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204012409/https://www.businessinsider.com/not-a-single-republican-voted-to-advance-the-stimulus-package-2021-2|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 5, both houses of Congress passed the budget plan in party-line votes.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Cornwell|first1=Susan|last2=Cowan|first2=Richard|date=2021-02-06|title=Democrats clear path for approval of Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID package|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress-idUSKBN2A514V|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-06|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206041915/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress-idUSKBN2A514V}}</ref> The House Budget Committee combined separate aid bills into one piece of legislation on February 19.<ref name=":10" /> The bill was passed by the House on February 27<ref>{{Cite web|last1=King|first1=Ledyard|last2=Wu|first2=Nicholas|last3=Hayes|first3=Christal|date=2021-02-27|title=House passes Joe Biden's COVID relief bill with $1,400 stimulus checks, legislation heads to Senate|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/26/joe-bidens-covid-relief-bill-stimulus-checks-passes-house/6836187002/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref> and (after being amended) the Senate on March 6.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kapur|first=Sahil|date=2021-03-06|title=Senate passes $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, including $1,400 stimulus checks, with no Republican support|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-passes-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-bill-including-1-n1259795|access-date=2021-03-06|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref> It was passed again by the House on March 10,<ref>{{Cite web|last=McLeod|first=Paul|date=2021-03-10|title=Congress Just Passed Another Round Of COVID Checks And Unemployment Aid|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/covid-stimulus-checks-unemployment-child-aid-passed-congress|access-date=2021-03-10|website=BuzzFeed News|language=en}}</ref> and signed by Biden on March 11.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Kate|date=2021-03-11|title=Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief law|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/politics/biden-sign-covid-bill/index.html|access-date=2021-03-12|website=CNN|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313211856/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/politics/biden-sign-covid-bill/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== 2023 === In April 2023, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution ending the original national emergency related to the pandemic which had been declared by Alex Azar. Biden signed the resolution on April 10.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Zeke |date=10 April 2023 |title=Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39 |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>
== Intelligence response == On May 26, 2021, Joe Biden tasked the US intelligence community with investigating the origins of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian |last3=Zimmer |first3=Carl |last4=Mueller |first4=Benjamin |title=Biden Orders Intelligence Inquiry Into Origins of Virus |url=http://nytimes.com/2021/05/26/us/politics/biden-coronavirus-origins.html |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527004118/http://nytimes.com/2021/05/26/us/politics/biden-coronavirus-origins.html |archive-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> By August 2021, the intelligence probe assessed that the Chinese government did not have foreknowledge of the outbreak.<ref name="WaPoRuleOutBioweapon">{{cite news|last1=Nakashima|first1=Ellen|last2=Achenbach|first2=Joel|date=27 August 2021|title=U.S. spy agencies rule out possibility the coronavirus was created as a bioweapon, say origin will stay unknown without China's help|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak/2021/08/27/8f20b024-0740-11ec-8c3f-3526f81b233b_story.html|access-date=29 August 2021|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829091607/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak/2021/08/27/8f20b024-0740-11ec-8c3f-3526f81b233b_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, the probe did not render conclusive results on the origins. Of eight assembled teams, one (the Federal Bureau of Investigation) leaned towards a lab leak theory, four others (and the National Intelligence Council) were inclined to uphold a zoonotic origin, and three were unable to reach a conclusion.<ref name="APnewsProbe0827">{{cite news|last=Merchant|first=Nomaan|date=27 August 2021|title=US intelligence still divided on origins of coronavirus|language=en|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2570b89545d4332b8a3bd7289982aa22/|access-date=29 August 2021|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829012940/https://apnews.com/article/science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2570b89545d4332b8a3bd7289982aa22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Science origin">{{Cite journal|last=Cohen|first=Jon|date=27 August 2021|title=COVID-19's origins still uncertain, U.S. intelligence agencies conclude|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-s-origins-still-uncertain-us-intelligence-agencies-conclude|access-date=29 August 2021|website=Science|language=en|doi=10.1126/science.abm1388|s2cid=240981726|quote=The first, and most important, takeaway is that the IC is 'divided on the most likely origin' of the pandemic coronavirus and that both hypotheses are 'plausible.'|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831193701/https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-s-origins-still-uncertain-us-intelligence-agencies-conclude|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Virus murky">{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Julian E.|date=29 October 2021|title=Origin of Virus May Remain Murky, U.S. Intelligence Agencies Say|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/us/politics/coronavirus-origin-intelligence-report.html|access-date=17 December 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=17 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217032701/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/us/politics/coronavirus-origin-intelligence-report.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy revised its previous estimate of the origin from "undecided" to "low confidence" in favor of a laboratory leak.<ref name="TheHill_DoE_Feb_2023">{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Julia |title=National security adviser: No 'definitive answer' on COVID lab leak |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3874580-national-security-adviser-no-definitive-answer-on-covid-lab-leak/ |access-date=26 February 2023 |work=The Hill |date=26 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="NYT_DoE_Feb2023">{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Julian E. |title=Lab Leak Most Likely Caused Pandemic, Energy Dept. Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/26/us/politics/china-lab-leak-coronavirus-pandemic.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 February 2023 |date=26 February 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+ !Origin theory !US agencies supporting !Confidence level !References |- |Natural occurrence |5 (including the NIC) |low: 5 |<ref name="APnewsProbe0827" /><ref name="Science origin" /><ref name="Virus murky" /> |- |Lab leak |2 |low: 1; moderate: 1 |<ref name="TheHill_DoE_Feb_2023" /><ref name="APnewsProbe0827" /><ref name="Science origin" /><ref name="Virus murky" /> |- |Undecided |2 |N/A |<ref name="APnewsProbe0827" /><ref name="Science origin" /><ref name="Virus murky" /> |}
== Federal Reserve == [[File:June 10, 2020 FOMC Meeting NZ73153CP FOMC remote -20200610- DSC1254 (49992489062).jpg|thumb|Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell participates in a videoconference of the Federal Open Market Committee from the Eccles Building in June 2020.]]On March 3, 2020, the Federal Reserve lowered target interest rates from 1.75% to 1.25%,<ref>{{cite news|date=March 3, 2020|title=In an emergency move, U.S. Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to battle coronavirus|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed/in-an-emergency-move-u-s-federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-to-battle-coronavirus-idUSKBN20Q22F|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525201310/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed/in-an-emergency-move-u-s-federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-to-battle-coronavirus-idUSKBN20Q22F|url-status=live}}</ref> the largest emergency rate cut since the 2008 financial crisis,<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 3, 2020|title=Fed makes largest emergency cut to interest rates since the financial crisis|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/03/economy-coronavirus-rate-cuts/|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=August 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827094646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/03/economy-coronavirus-rate-cuts/|url-status=live}}</ref> in an attempt to counteract the outbreak's effect on the American economy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cox|first=Jeff|date=March 3, 2020|title=Fed cuts rates by half a percentage point to combat coronavirus slowdown|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/03/fed-cuts-rates-by-half-a-percentage-point-to-combat-coronavirus-slowdown.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304005925/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/03/fed-cuts-rates-by-half-a-percentage-point-to-combat-coronavirus-slowdown.html|archive-date=March 4, 2020|access-date=March 3, 2020|publisher=CNBC}}</ref>
On March 15, the Federal Reserve cut their target interest rate again to a range of 0.0% to 0.25% and announced a $700 billion quantitative easing program similar to the one initiated during the 2008 financial crisis.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smialek|first1=Jeanna|last2=Irwin|first2=Neil|date=March 15, 2020|title=Fed Slashes Rates to Near-Zero and Unveils Sweeping Program to Aid Economy|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/business/economy/federal-reserve-coronavirus.html|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=August 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824123147/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/business/economy/federal-reserve-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/15/federal-reserve-slashes-interest-rates-zero-part-wide-ranging-emergency-intervention/|title=Federal Reserve slashes interest rates to zero as part of wide-ranging emergency intervention|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 15, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2024}}</ref> Despite the moves, stock index futures plunged, triggering trading limits to prevent panic selling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Imbert|first=Fred|date=March 15, 2020|title=Stock futures drop—hit 'limit down'—even as Fed slashes rates; Dow futures off 1,000 points|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/traders-await-futures-open-after-fed-cuts-rates-launches-easing-program.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316205041/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/traders-await-futures-open-after-fed-cuts-rates-launches-easing-program.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 13% the next day, the third-largest one-day decline in the 124-year history of the index.<ref>{{cite web|last=Imbert|first=Fred|date=March 15, 2020|title=Dow drops nearly 3,000 points, as coronavirus collapse continues; worst day since '87|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/traders-await-futures-open-after-fed-cuts-rates-launches-easing-program.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316205041/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/traders-await-futures-open-after-fed-cuts-rates-launches-easing-program.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That day, the CBOE Volatility Index closed at the highest level since its inception in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|last=Li|first=Yun|date=March 16, 2020|title=Wall Street's fear gauge closes at highest level ever, surpassing even financial crisis peak|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/wall-streets-fear-gauge-hits-highest-level-ever.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=March 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317034842/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/wall-streets-fear-gauge-hits-highest-level-ever.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 17, the Federal Reserve announced a program to buy as much as $1 trillion in corporate commercial paper to ensure credit continued flowing in the economy. The measure was backed by $10 billion in Treasury funds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smialek |first1=Jeanna |last2=Kelly |first2=Kate |last3=Eavis |first3=Peter |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Fed Unveils Emergency Lending Programs as Companies Struggle to Raise Cash |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/business/economy/federal-reserve-coronavirus.html |access-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726101025/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/business/economy/federal-reserve-coronavirus.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 23, the Federal Reserve announced large-scale expansion of quantitative easing, with no specific upper limit, and reactivation of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility. This injects newly created money into a variety of financial markets including corporate bonds, exchange-traded funds, small business loans, mortgage-backed securities, student loans, auto loans, and credit card loans. The Fed also lowered its repurchase agreement interest rate from 0.1% to 0.0%.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cox|first=Jeff|date=March 23, 2020 |title=The Federal Reserve just pledged asset purchases with no limit to support markets|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/fed-announces-a-slew-of-new-programs-to-help-markets-including-open-ended-asset-purchases.html|access-date=March 24, 2020|publisher=CNBC|url-status=live |archive-date=August 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826100052/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/fed-announces-a-slew-of-new-programs-to-help-markets-including-open-ended-asset-purchases.html}}</ref>
On April 9, the Federal Reserve announced $2.3 trillion in loans to small businesses and local and state governments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/business/economy/fed-economic-rescue-coronavirus.html|title=With $2.3 Trillion Injection, Fed's Plan Far Exceeds Its 2008 Rescue|website=The New York Times|date=April 9, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN21R1WX/|title=Fed rolls out $2.3 trillion to backstop 'Main Street,' local governments|website=Reuters|date=April 9, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-reserve-rolling-out-2-3-trillion-in-main-street-loans/|title=Federal Reserve rolling out $2.3 trillion in "Main Street" loans|website=CBS|date=April 9, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2024}}</ref>
On November 19, Mnuchin asked the Federal Reserve to release $455 billion in unspent funding from the CARES Act,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elis|first=Niv|date=2020-11-19|title=Mnuchin asks Fed to return $455 billion in unspent COVID-19 emergency funds |url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/526785-mnuchin-asks-fed-to-return-455-billion-in-unspent-covid-emergency-funds|access-date=2020-11-20 |website=The Hill |language=en|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120145114/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/526785-mnuchin-asks-fed-to-return-455-billion-in-unspent-covid-emergency-funds|url-status=live}}</ref> following proposals by himself, Meadows, and Trump in the months before.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Jeff |last2=Werner |first2=Erica |date=2020-10-11|title=White House pivots again on stimulus negotiations after bipartisan backlash|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/11/trump-stimulus-talks/|access-date=2020-10-12 |archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012082650/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/11/trump-stimulus-talks/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kail|first=Benjamin |date=2020-09-09|title=Sen. Ed Markey presses for $2,000 monthly COVID stimulus checks as GOP bill 'headed nowhere' |url=https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/09/sen-ed-markey-again-presses-for-monthly-2000-stimulus-checks-during-covid-as-democrats-say-republican-plan-headed-nowhere.html|access-date=2020-11-12|website=MassLive |archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120003058/https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/09/sen-ed-markey-again-presses-for-monthly-2000-stimulus-checks-during-covid-as-democrats-say-republican-plan-headed-nowhere.html|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> The next day, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell agreed to return $455 billion to the Treasury Department after December 31, when certain CARES Act programs expired.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Guida|first=Victoria|date=2020-11-20|title=Powell agrees to return unused relief money to Treasury at year end|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/20/powell-relief-money-treasury-438875 |access-date=2020-11-21|website=Politico|language=en|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121001016/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/20/powell-relief-money-treasury-438875|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Federal Reserve did not raise the target interest rate from the 0.0% to 0.25% range until March 2022. A rapid increase in interest rates was then planned to combat rising inflation.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Jeff |date=16 March 2022 |title=Federal Reserve approves first interest rate hike in more than three years, sees six more ahead |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/federal-reserve-meeting.html |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=CNBC}}</ref> Eleven successive rate increases were approved, and rates peaked at 5.25% to 5.5% in the summer of 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wile |first=Rob |date=31 January 2024 |title=Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady as consumer confidence improves and inflation slows |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/federal-reserve-interest-rate-decision-january-2024-increase-decrease-rcna136429 |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=NBC News}}</ref> Economists at the Federal Reserve attributed the inflation to pandemic-era stimulus spending as well as supply chain shortages.<ref name=":9"/><ref name="COVID Stimulus Checks Worsened Inflation – Reason – Eric Boehm">{{cite web |last1=Boehm |first1=Eric |date=April 8, 2022 |title=COVID Stimulus Checks Worsened Inflation |url=https://reason.com/2022/04/08/covid-stimulus-checks-worsened-inflation/ |access-date=8 April 2022 |website=reason.com |publisher=Reason}}</ref>
== Second Trump administration == On April 18, 2025, the second Trump administration replaced the covid.gov website with one in favor of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.<ref name="Diamond_Weber_4/18/2025">{{cite news | last1=Diamond | first1=Dan | last2=Weber | first2=Lauren | title=White House embraces lab leak as 'true' pandemic origin, axes covid website | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 18, 2025 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/18/covid-website-replaced-lab-leak-pandemic-origin/ | access-date=April 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Benadjaoud_Stoddart_4/18/2025">{{cite web | last1=Benadjaoud | first1=Youri | last2=Stoddart | first2=Michelle | title=White House changes COVID.gov web page to page supporting lab leak theory | website=ABC News | date=April 18, 2025 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/white-house-covid-web-page-page-supporting-lab/story?id=120956514 | access-date=April 20, 2025}}</ref> The theory is the idea that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, came from a laboratory. This claim is highly controversial; most scientists believe the virus spilled into human populations through natural zoonosis (transfer directly from an infected non-human animal), similar to the SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV outbreaks, and consistent with other pandemics in human history.{{refn|name=Most scientists zoonosis|See numerous reliable sources since 2023 which support this: {{break}} *{{cite journal |last1=Pekar |first1=Jonathan |title=The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2 |journal=Science |date=26 July 2022 |volume=377 |issue=6609 |pages=960–966 |doi=10.1126/science.abp8337 |pmid=35881005 |pmc=9348752 |bibcode=2022Sci...377..960P}} *{{cite journal |last1=Jiang |first1=Xiaowei |last2=Wang |first2=Ruoqi |title=Wildlife trade is likely the source of SARS-CoV-2 |journal=Science |date=25 August 2022 |volume=377 |issue=6609 |pages=925–926 |doi=10.1126/science.add8384 |pmid=36007033 |bibcode=2022Sci...377..925J |s2cid=251843410 |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384 |access-date=20 November 2022|quote=Although the most probable reservoir animal for SARS-CoV-2 is Rhinolophus bats (2, 3), zoonotic spillovers likely involve an intermediate animal.|url-access=subscription }} *{{cite journal |vauthors=Holmes EC, Goldstein SA, Rasmussen AL, Robertson DL, Crits-Christoph A, Wertheim JO, Anthony SJ, Barclay WS, Boni MF, Doherty PC, Farrar J, Geoghegan JL, Jiang X, Leibowitz JL, Neil SJ, Skern T, Weiss SR, Worobey M, Andersen KG, Garry RF, Rambaut A |title=The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review |journal=Cell |volume=184 |issue=19 |pages=4848–4856 |date=September 2021 |pmid=34480864 |pmc=8373617 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017 |type=Review |display-authors=5|quote=As for the vast majority of human viruses, the most parsimonious explanation for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic event...There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has a laboratory origin. There is no evidence that any early cases had any connection to the WIV, in contrast to the clear epidemiological links to animal markets in Wuhan, nor evidence that the WIV possessed or worked on a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 prior to the pandemic.}} *{{cite journal |last1=Bolsen |first1=Toby |last2=Palm |first2=Risa |last3=Kingsland |first3=Justin T. |title=Framing the Origins of COVID-19 |journal=Science Communication |date=October 2020 |volume=42 |issue=5 |pages=562–585 |doi=10.1177/1075547020953603 |s2cid=221614695 |language=en |issn=1075-5470|quote=Individuals may learn about the origins of COVID-19 through exposure to stories that communicate either what most scientists believe (i.e., zoonotic transmission) or through exposure to conspiratorial claims (e.g., the virus was created in a research laboratory in China).|doi-access=free |pmid=38603006 |pmc=7484600 }} *{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Lori |title=Still No Determination on COVID-19 Origin |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2023/03/scicheck-still-no-determination-on-covid-19-origin/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=FactCheck.org |date=2 March 2023|quote=most scientists suspect a zoonotic spillover in which the virus transferred from bats, or through an intermediate animal, to humans – the same way the SARS and MERS coronaviruses originated.}} *{{cite news |last1=Gajilan |first1=A. Chris |title=Covid-19 origins: Why the search for the source is vital |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/19/health/covid-19-origins-documentary/index.html |access-date=24 May 2023 |publisher=CNN |date=19 September 2021 |language=en|quote=The zoonotic hypothesis hinges on the idea that the virus spilled over from animals to humans, either directly through a bat, or through some other intermediary animal. Most scientists say that this is the likely origin, given that 75% of all emerging diseases have jumped from animals into humans.}} *{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Jessica |title=Where Did COVID-19 Start? The Facts and Mysteries of Its Origin |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/fact-check-the-facts-and-gaps-on-the-origin-of-the-coronavirus/2668053/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |date=28 June 2021|quote=The default answer for most scientists has been that the virus, SARS-CoV-2, probably made the jump to humans from bats, if it was a direct spillover – or, more likely, through one or more intermediate mammals.}} *{{cite news |last1=McKeever |first1=Amy |title=We still don't know the origins of the coronavirus. Here are 4 scenarios. |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/we-still-dont-know-the-origins-of-the-coronavirus-here-are-4 |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=National Geographic |date=6 April 2021 |language=en-gb|quote=The most controversial hypothesis for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is also the one that most scientists agree is the least likely: that the virus somehow leaked out of a laboratory in Wuhan where researchers study bat coronaviruses.}} *{{cite news |last1=Ball |first1=Philip |title=Three years on, Covid lab-leak theories aren't going away. This is why |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60415/three-years-on-covid-lab-leak-theories-arent-going-away.-this-is-why |work=prospectmagazine.co.uk |language=en|quote=The leading theory now backed by most scientists is that the virus arose in wild bats and found its way into animals (perhaps via a pangolin or a civet cat) sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.}} *{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Christina |title=Controversy Aside, Why the Source of COVID-19 Matters |url=https://www.genengnews.com/insights/controversy-aside-why-the-source-of-covid-19-matters/ |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News |date=21 September 2020|quote=Most scientists studying the origins of COVID-19 have concluded that the SARS-CoV-2 virus probably evolved naturally and infected humans via incidental contact with a wild or domesticated animal.}} *{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Simone |title=Bat-human virus spillovers may be very common, study finds |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3149026/its-only-matter-time-bat-human-virus-spillovers-may-be-very |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=South China Morning Post |date=16 September 2021 |language=en|quote=Questions have been raised about whether the virus could have leaked from a laboratory studying related viruses in Wuhan – a scenario most scientists...feel is less likely than a natural spillover.}} *{{cite news |last1=Danner |first1=Chas |title=Biden Joins the COVID Lab-Leak-Theory Debate |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/05/latest-developments-in-the-covid-lab-leak-hypothesis-debate.html |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=Intelligencer |date=26 May 2021 |language=en-us|quote=There continues to be no evidence at all for the conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was developed as some kind of bioweapon, and most scientists believe that the majority of available evidence indicates the virus jumped from animal to human.}}}}
== See also == {{Donald Trump series}} * U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic ** California government response to the COVID-19 pandemic ** New York state government response to the COVID-19 pandemic ** Texas government response to the COVID-19 pandemic * Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion * Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics * Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education * Political effects of Hurricane Katrina * Political interference with science agencies by the first Trump administration * Chinese government response to COVID-19
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |last1=Gottlieb |first1=Scott |year=2021 |title=Uncontrolled spread: Why COVID-19 crushed us and how we can defeat the next pandemic |location=New York |publisher=Harper |isbn=9780063080010}} * {{cite book |title=The Premonition: A Pandemic Story |year=2021 |author=Lewis |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=978-0393881554|first=Michael}}
==External links== * {{cite episode|title=The Virus: What Went Wrong?|series=Frontline|series-link=Frontline (American TV program)|network=PBS|station=WGBH|date=June 16, 2020|season=38|number=20|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/the-virus/|access-date=3 October 2023}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic}} {{COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}} {{Donald Trump}} {{Joe Biden}} {{Portal bar|COVID-19|Medicine|United States|Viruses}}
Federal government COVID-19 response COVID-19 response Category:U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic Category:Articles containing video clips