Unemployment benefits in limbo as Biden calls on Trump to sign COVID relief bill

Two federal programs helping more than 12 million unemployed Americans were set to expire Saturday as President Trump refuses to sign a COVID relief and spending bill. 

One program made unemployment insurance available for independent contractors, the self-employed and gig workers, as well as people who became sick or had to quarantine. The second program provides an additional 13 weeks of federal benefits to those who run out of state payments.

The programs would continue if Trump signs the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, which had been considered a done deal prior to his eleventh-hour objection.

Trump has yet to sign or veto it, but he demanded that congress increase stimulus payments to $2,000 for all Americans. House Republicans rejected that idea during a rare Christmas Eve session. But Trump, who has been spending his final days in office golfing, is sticking with his calls.

"I simply want to get our great people $2000, rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill," Trump tweeted Saturday. "Also stop the billions of dollars in 'pork'" 

His refusal to sign could also force a federal government shutdown when money runs out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday in the middle of a pandemic. President-elect Joe Biden called on Trump to sign the bill immediately.

"It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don't know if they'll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump's refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority," Biden said in a statement. 

Even if the president signs the relief bill, states will likely need several weeks to reprogram computers to continue these particular unemployment payments. Benefits would be retroactive, but recipients would not receive any money during that period, meaning Americans will deal with more hardship and uncertainty. 

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The bill waiting to be signed by the president would also activate a $300 federal supplement to unemployment payments. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.