Mnuchin Gives Ground on Testing In Relief Negotiations

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC that the White House won’t let differences over funding targets for Covid-19 testing interrupt stimulus talks with top Democrats.

Said Mnuchin: “That issue is getting overblown. We’ve agreed to $178 billion overall for health. It’s an extraordinary amount of money. We’d agreed with the Democrats with $75 billion going to testing, contact tracing.”

He added: “What we have been focused on is the language around testing. When I speak to Pelosi today, I’m going to tell her that we’re not going to let the testing issue stand in the way. We’ll fundamentally agree with their testing language subject to some minor issues. This issue is being overblown.”