US Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 72,202; Trump May Disband COVID-19 Task Force By June

President Donald Trump will disband the White House coronavirus task force formed only last January 29 despite deaths in the United States from COVID-19 increasing by more than 2,000 almost every day since last week.

A report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates more than 3,000 Americans might die from COVID-19 every day starting June. There were 72,202 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. as of 7:28 p.m. ET Tuesday. This total was 2,281 larger than the number on Monday, according to Worldometer data. The U.S. reported 1,236,464 confirmed COVID-19 cases at this time. This total was 24,713 larger than that for Monday.

Critics of Trump's move to do away with the task force say it signals Trump is now firm in his decision that saving the economy is more important than saving American lives. Trump, in defending his decision, called Americans "warriors," suggesting warriors are prepared to be badly affected or even face death.

"I'm viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors. They're warriors," Trump said Tuesday when asked about the decision to shut down the task force. "We have to open our country. Will some people be affected, badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open."

Trump's focus on reviving the moribund economy, instead of continuing the social distancing measures that has quelled the spread of the disease, was made clear when he also said the coronavirus task force will be replaced by one focused on "safety and opening" the economy.

"Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job, but we're now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And we'll have a different group probably set up for that."

The coronavirus task force will be dissolved in early June but also might occur within this month. The news was relayed by vice president Mike Pence, task force head. Pence on Tuesdays said the task force's work will be transferred to other government units, including FEMA.

"I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level," said Pence.

"And as I’ve said before, as we continue to practice social distancing and states engage in safe and responsible reopening plans, I truly believe -- and the trend lines support it -- that we could be in a very different place, and by late May and early June –- and that probably represents the timetable for our agencies."

Pence said the Trump administration is "starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage, begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner."

He said disbanding the task force is "a reflection of the tremendous progress we've made as a country".

Trump said he'll continue receiving advice from public health officials and other experts even with the task force gone. He also said the mission to defeat COVID-19 will only be accomplished once the virus is defeated.

News of task force's impending demise was widely criticized by Democrats and members of the medical community. Some cited legitimate concerns coronavirus death rates will balloon as states dispense with restrictions on businesses and people.

"Really?" tweeted Dr. Leana Wen, former president of Planned Parenthood and former Baltimore health commissioner. "We still have a pandemic, with record numbers of Americans dying, and infections and deaths escalating by the day. We still don’t have a national coordinated effort to get testing, tracing, treatment."

Democrats were also incensed. Daniel Wessel of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said Trump is knowingly putting American lives at risk to further his political interests, "it’s as simple as that."

"Trump has declared ‘mission accomplished’ while the virus continues to spread, and he just admitted that a rush to reopen the country too quickly could cause unnecessary deaths. This level of neglect is astonishing even for a president who has always put himself first.”