Trump Says He Will Move Forward With Executive Orders To Help Americans Amid Pandemic

President Trump announced Friday that he will soon sign executive orders to suspend payroll taxes, extend enhanced unemployment benefits and cease student loan interest and payments indefinitely. He also said he would move forward with executive action to protect Americans from evictions.

"If Democrats continue to hold this critical relief hostage, I will act under my authority as president to get Americans the relief they need," Trump said during a press conference at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey.

Trump said his lawyers are currently working on drafting the orders. It’s unclear how some of the actions will be funded without congressional authorization.

The move comes after stimulus negotiations between the White House and Democrats collapsed Friday. Trump said he still would like to reach a deal with Congress on comprehensive stimulus legislation before signing the orders.

Trump also stated that he would sign an order in the coming weeks forcing health companies to cover pre-existing conditions.

"Over the next two weeks I’ll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions for all companies," Trump said. "That’s a big thing. I’ve always been very strongly in favor. We have to cover pre-existing conditions."

Health insurance companies are already obliged to cover pre-existing conditions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed by President Barack Obama in 2010. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the legislation, which would invalidate the pre-existing condition protections under the Act.

On Thursday, Trump signed an order requiring the government buy “essential drugs” from American companies rather than foreign firms. He is also threatening to sign an executive action on drug pricing, but is waiting to negotiate a deal with the pharmaceutical industry.