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Report: Trump Setting Up Second Task Force, This One Focused on Reopening Economy

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President Donald Trump is preparing to announce the creation of a second coronavirus task force focused on reopening the economy, according to reports from people familiar with the matter.

The Washington Post reported that four people, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the smaller task force will focus on identifying which businesses need to rebound in order for a lot of the country to be reopened by April 30, the date that the White House’s current social distancing guidelines expire.

Top administration officials including chief of staff Mark Meadows, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and national economic adviser Larry Kudlow will reportedly be part of the new task force.

Officials from the private sector are also reported to be part of the new team.

Unlike the large coronavirus task force led by Vice President Mike Pence, this group would not meet every day. It will most likely hold most of its meetings over the phone and give in-person briefings to the president, according to The Post.

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Two senior administration officials told The Post that Meadows will most likely lead the task force, but a decision has not been made yet.

Do you think this second task force is needed to help reopen the economy?

The announcement could come this week, but officials said there were plans to announce the second task force earlier this week that were delayed.

Trump first hinted at the creation of the new task force in a Saturday morning tweet.

In his tweet, he said Fox News anchor Dana Perino’s idea of creating a second task force to reopen the economy was a “good idea.”

When he was asked about the idea in his media briefing later that day, Trump confirmed he was “thinking about it.”

“Getting a group of people. And we have to open our country. You know, I had an expression: ‘The cure can’t be worse than the problem itself.’ Right?” Trump said.

“I started by saying that and I continue to say it: The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself. We’ve got to get our country open.”

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Trump originally wanted to reopen the country on Easter Sunday, which falls on April 12.

But on March 29, Trump extended the coronavirus safety guidelines through the month of April in an effort to mitigate the effects of the pandemic outbreak.

“The better you do, the faster this whole nightmare will end,” Trump said.

House Republicans also hope to reopen the American economy by the end of April if progress has been made combating the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our focus is on locking down the virus while we’re taking the steps now to prepare to reopen the economy by the end of the month if the virus permits,” Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters on April 2, according to the Washington Examiner.

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Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.
Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.
Birthplace
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated with Honors
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon
Books Written
Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future
Location
Prescott, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, French
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Health, Entertainment, Faith




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