Trump, Congress near deal on small business, hospital aid
President Donald Trump listens as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 13, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress are laboring toward an agreement on an aid package of more than $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has run out of money.
The emerging deal would also add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.
The package is nearly double the $250 billion White House request of almost two weeks ago.
President Donald Trump offered optimistic assessments Sunday that a deal could be reached Monday, but it’s not clear that will happen.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he is hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the small business payroll program back up by midweek.
