The last thing Joe Biden needs is more attention on his administration. But they couldn’t hide this forever.
And the White House just made this shocking emergency announcement that changes everything.
It has been almost three years since the federal government instituted emergency declarations due to COVID-19.
What followed was economic and social upheaval as the economy was shutdown, mandates were instituted, and sides were taken on the issue of addressing the pandemic.
Democrats largely walked in lockstep with Dr. Anthony Fauci, despite Fauci being caught on video flip-flopping on the issue of masking and vaccine efficacy, no matter what the cost to freedom.
Republicans claimed many of the mandates and shutdowns were a smack in the face to small businesses and everyday citizens.
And now in 2023, America is still in a state of emergency over the largely controlled COVID virus.
After extending the state of emergency multiple times in spite of the fact that he declared the pandemic over, Joe Biden appears to be poised to finally take the leash off.
The White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed in a policy statement that it will file one final extension of the national and public health emergency declarations on April 11, then cease both one month later, on May 11. The memo is in reaction to two proposals introduced in Congress that would end these disclosures.
“The COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) were declared by the Trump Administration in 2020,” OMB said in its statement.
“They are currently set to expire on March 1 and April 11, respectively. At present, the Administration’s plan is to extend the emergency declarations to May 11, and then end both emergencies on that date. This wind-down would align with the Administration’s previous commitments to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to termination of the PHE.”
“To be clear, continuation of these emergency declarations until May 11 does not impose any restriction at all on individual conduct with regard to COVID-19.,” OMB continued.
“They do not impose mask mandates or vaccine mandates. They do not restrict school or business operations. They do not require the use of any medicines or tests in response to cases of COVID-19.”
However, the policy was introduced in a statement designed to attack two House proposals that would abolish the emergency declarations by force. H.R. 382, often known as the “Pandemic is Over Act,” was filed by Kentucky Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie and would end the public health emergency.
The second resolution, House Joint Resolution 7, was introduced by Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar and would end the national emergency.
The White House slammed the two legislation in a statement. First, the White House stated that repealing the Declaration would throw the health-care system into disarray. The OMB document argued that removing the public health emergency would threaten Medicaid funding supplied to states by abruptly terminating requirements established by Congress.
Furthermore, the OMB said that removing the emergency will cause turmoil in hospitals and nursing homes by eliminating the pandemic’s flexibilities, disrupting services, delaying reimbursements, and costing institutions money. The office said that ending the emergency would threaten telehealth services.
Second, when the public health emergency ends, so does Title 42. The administration is still attempting to remove the program that allows border officials to send migrants away quickly, but it has been thwarted by the Supreme Court.
“[I]f H.R. 382\sbecomes law and the Title 42 restrictions end precipitously, Congress will effectively be requiring the Administration to allow thousands of migrants per day into the country immediately without the necessary policies in place,” the policy memo argued.
“The Administration strongly opposes enactment of H.R. 382 and H.J. Res. 7, which would be a grave disservice to the American people,” the OMB concluded.
Since President Joe Biden declared that “the pandemic is over” in a 60 Minutes interview in September, the Biden administration has struggled to maintain a coherent message. Last Monday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that the pandemic is still ongoing.
“COVID isn’t over. We’ve been very clear about that,” Jean-Pierre said at a briefing Tuesday. “Hundreds of Americans are dying every day and cases are increasing right now today. That’s why we take common sense measures like COVID testing ahead of large indoor gatherings at the White House.”
Stay tuned to DC Daily Journal.
