Stimulus checks could be delayed as the U.S. Department of the Treasury has one more condition before they are sent out to Americans.
According to The Washington Post, the Treasury Department is ordering the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to print President Donald Trumpās name on the stimulus checks.
Administration officials report Trumpās name will appear below a statement that says āEconomic Impact Paymentā in the memo line.
A representative for the Treasury Department claimed there is no delay as the checks were scheduled to be sent out next week.
āEconomic Impact Payment checks are scheduled to go out on time and exactly as plannedāthere is absolutely no delay whatsoever,ā the statement from the representative reads. āIn fact, we expect the first checks to be in the mail early next week which is well in advance of when the first checks went out in 2008 and well in advance of initial estimates.ā
The move garnered reactions from lawmakers, including Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
āStimulus checks will now be delayed several days. Why? Because wants to take credit for them,ā Connolly tweeted. āHeās feeding his fragile ego at your expense. Itās shameless and shameful.ā
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) also voiced his opinion on the decision.
āComing to your $1,200 relief check: Donald J. Trumpās name ⦠unprecedented, cheap political stunt by our BarnumāN Bailey ringmaster, our Joe Exotic! Gives Charlatan a bad name,ā Cohen tweeted.
The stimulus checks come as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package signed into law by Trump to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crises on the economy.
Unemployment claims recently topped 6 million for two consecutive weeks, including the week ending April 4, as IJR previously reported.
As Americans continue to wait for answers on when the economy will reopen, Trump has said he is close to completing a plan.
Despite extending social distancing guidelines through April 30, Trump is hopeful some areas across the country will be able to reopen before May 1, as IJR reported.
