Trump Blocking Billions For State COVID-19 Testing And Tracing

via GIPHY

The lodestar of the response by Donald "COVID Donnie" Trump to a public health crisis and pandemic continues to be if you stop testing, the coronavirus magically disappears: 

The Trump administration is trying to block billions of dollars for states to conduct testing and contact tracing in the upcoming coronavirus relief bill, people involved in the talks said Saturday.

The administration is also trying to block billions of dollars that GOP senators want to allocate for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and billions more for the Pentagon and State Department to address the pandemic at home and abroad, the people said. [snip]

President Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of conducting widespread coronavirus testing, arguing that if there were fewer tests conducted, the number of infections would be lower. Coronavirus infections and deaths are on the rise in many states.

The administration is also seeking to zero out $10 billion in new funding for the CDC in the upcoming bill, while slashing spending for the Pentagon and State Department related to foreign aid, the person said. Trump has been skeptical of State Department spending and foreign aid generally, but it was unclear why the Trump administration would seek to block money for the Pentagon for a variety of coronavirus-related expenses such as reimbursing contractors for providing paid leave to employees. (our emphasis)

Trump and his minions have now fully committed to bullying past the pandemic, tamping down testing  and contact tracing, refusing to mandate mask wearing, and opening businesses and schools regardless of the science.  Of course, public health policy- wise, it's a complete disaster of burgeoning proportions.  Furthermore, you don't begin to revive the economy and bring back jobs and put students back in classrooms until the pandemic is fully under control.  Politically, it's damaging Trump more than any other issue.

But when you have a sub- moron setting the tone, and spineless toadies willing to do his bidding, you have the perfect storm with a pandemic that's only just beginning to work its way through our country.