Federal Update: Trump Eyes Executive Order if Relief Talks Stall, Fauci Says Politics Won’t Have a Role in Vaccine Approval, WHO Asks the U.S. to Reconsider Withdrawing
August 6, 2020
- President Trump said he would likely move forward with executive orders on coronavirus relief later this week if the White House and Congress do not make progress in their negotiations. Trump acknowledged that a legislative deal was still possible, but the two sides remain far apart on both the top-line dollar amount and specific provisions of the legislation.
- U.S. regulators overseeing the approval of potential coronavirus vaccines have promised scientists that politics won’t play a role in their approval process, White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said. President Donald Trump, who faces reelection in November, has said that a vaccine may be made available to the public “far in advance of the end of the year.” “We have assurances, and I’ve discussed this with the regulatory authorities, that they promise that they are not going to let political considerations interfere with a regulatory decision,” Fauci said.
- World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hopes the U.S. will reconsider its decision to leave the United Nations’ health organization, adding that the coronavirus can’t be defeated “in a divided world.” Amid the United States’ departure, which will take until next year to finalize, officials from the country are still collaborating with the organization in its response to the pandemic, Tedros said.
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