Top Dems Say Trump Is Sitting On $14B For Coronavirus Testing, Tracing

"Sens. Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray are calling on the administration to immediately free up the funds."

"WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has been sitting on nearly $14 billion in funding that Congress passed for coronavirus testing and contact tracing, according to Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington.

The top Democrats said in a letter Sunday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar that the Trump administration has "still failed" to distribute more than $8 billion out of $25 billion appropriated by Congress to expand testing and contact tracing. The letter indicated that Congress passed these funds as part of a coronavirus relief bill in April.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also hasn’t awarded nearly $4 billion for surveillance and contact tracing at the state and local levels and tribal territories, they said, and little of $2 billion set aside for free testing for uninsured people has been disbursed."

Rebecca Shabad reports for NBC News June 22, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"Democratic Senators Say Trump Administration Has Been Slow To Use Coronavirus Testing Fund" (Washington Post)

"Trump Sitting On Funds Meant To Boost Coronavirus Testing, Top Democrats Say" (HuffPost)