Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on the Latest Unemployment Filing Numbers Joe Biden Follow Apr 23 · 2 min read

Today, we learned that another 4.4 million people filed new unemployment claims last week, bringing the total number of Americans filing new unemployment claims to 26 million since this crisis started, with many more feeling the direct economic impact of this pandemic.



These aren’t just overwhelming numbers or aggregate statistics — every one is a life thrown into uncertainty, a family unable to make ends meet, a community worried about how it will recover. Every worker left wondering when they will next see a paycheck is part of this American crisis — and Donald Trump isn’t doing enough for them.



Congress gave President Trump the tools to keep people on payroll in the CARES Act, but he hasn’t fully used them. Instead of standing by while the economy sheds millions of jobs each week during this pandemic, Trump should be working around the clock to keep as many people as possible attached to their jobs. That’s what I would be doing if I were in the Oval Office right now.



I would be doing everything in my power to expand short-time compensation programs for workers. I like to call it “employment insurance.” So for example, if a company has to make cutbacks,, instead of laying people off, its employees would remain employed but working reduced hours. The federal government would cover the difference for the duration of the crisis. Those workers stay on the job and their lost wages are replaced. Workers making median wages remain financially whole. And businesses don’t lose money by keeping everyone on payroll. The CARES Act created the framework for this, but it requires presidential leadership to execute.



Trump hasn’t done anything discernible to make this happen. Instead, the entirely predictable has occurred: state unemployment systems are being stretched beyond capacity, and workers are anxiously waiting for their checks as the bills pile up. In Florida, as of this week, only 15 percent of unemployment claims were being paid. 15 percent. That’s so disgraceful, it doesn’t even approach a failing grade. Every Florida worker who has lost their job needs to be made financially whole for the duration of this crisis.



Leadership means taking responsibility — not just credit — especially when things are hard. It’s time for President Trump to step up. The livelihoods and futures of millions of Americans depend on it.