In an apparent reversal of republican policy, the White House stated that it was open to reconsidering the extension of a federal supplement to unemployment benefits that put $600 per week in the pockets of those out of work during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Washington Post.

With more than 50 million Americans filing for first time unemployment claims since the coronavirus started sweeping across the nation in March, the additional federal supplement has been a vital in supporting those who have lost their jobs.

More than 30 million Americans receive the federal benefit, a supplement for people whose state benefit doesn’t meet minimum living costs, according to the Post.

White House personnel previously bashed the supplement, saying that it incentivized people from going back to work.

According to the Post, however, White House aides have recently changed their tone, becoming open to a compromise solution that may lower the supplement or put other restrictions on it:

White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement that the administration is opposed to the $600-per-week increase but would not rule out the administration agreeing to a more limited expansion of the benefit. Maintaining unemployment insurance benefits at current levels “does not incentivize returning to work,” Deere said in an email. “UI reform is a priority for this White House in any phase four package and we are in ongoing discussions with the Hill.”

More than one million Americans have filed for first-time unemployment benefits weekly for the last 12 weeks.  Trump’s net job creation since he took office is -8.2 million.

Many analysts foresee another dip in the US economy due to the continuing spread of the coronavirus, primarily through the South.  Facing another spike in cases, California has rolled back its reopening.  Florida recorded more new coronavirus cases in one day last week than New York during the peak of the virus there.