Over the weekend, the White House issued four directives intended to ease financial challenges associated with the COVID-19 crisis, as negotiations with congressional leaders on a comprehensive package have stalled. The orders are described as continuing unemployment assistance, deferring the collection of payroll taxes for individuals earning less than $104,000, minimizing evictions, and deferring student loan payments until December 31st. The executive actions face both legal and logistical challenges. 

Rank and file members of both chambers of Congress have largely gone home for the August recess, while leaders remain in DC with hopes of restarting talks with the White House on a package that could actually bring real relief to impacted sectors of the economy and individuals.

Significant support for higher education exists within both the House-approved Phase IV bill and the recent Senate draft. Since late-March, higher education and research advocacy groups and institutions have pushed for $47 billion to support institutions of higher education, $26 billion spread across federal research agencies to provide relief to impacted projects, expanded tax relief to support new COVID-19 leave requirements, and temporary and limited liability protection. While some success has been achieved on each of the requests, more work remains as the House and Senate reengage and hopefully move towards a compromise bill.