Stimulus cheques will not have Joe Biden’s signature, White House says

White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki announced during the daily press briefing that US President Joe Biden, who initiated the COVID-19 relief package worth $1.9 trillion to financially uplift those impacted by the pandemic, has decided that his signature will not be present on the stimulus cheques which will be delivered to the Americans. 

Psaki stated that according to the President, the signature was not “a priority or a necessary step. His focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible”, reported CNN. 

Also Read: No doubt COVID-19 relief bill will be signed by March 14: Chuck Schumer

The process will deviate away from that followed by former US President Donald Trump, who included a note with his signature in the stimulus cheques sent. Moreover, authorities also sent a letter on behalf of Trump to those who received electronic payments. 

Psaki further announced that the federal authorities will be focusing more on electronic payments as they are faster, which has been defined as the priority of the White House. The Bureau of Fiscal Service will be responsible for overlooking the delivery of physical cheques. 

She said in the briefing, “We are doing everything in our power to expedite the payments and not delay them, which is why the President’s name will not appear on the memo line of this round of stimulus cheques … This is not about him. This is about the American people getting relief, almost 160 million of them.”

Also Read: ‘Help is on the way’: Joe Biden says as $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passes in Senate

The move gained heavy criticism from the members of the Democratic Party, as it was likely seen as a misuse of Trump’s position to sway the upcoming Presidential elections in his favour. 

Trump said, “I’m sure people will be very happy to get a big fat beautiful cheque and my name is on it.”