Mnuchin says deal likely to fund government through December, keeping 'coronavirus discussion separate'

• US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said he hoped "by the end of the week" to have reached a deal to fund the government "through the beginning of December."
• The deal would fund the federal government at current spending levels.
• It would not include additional stimulus or other spending related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The White House and congressional Democrats are likely to reach a deal this week to fund the federal government through December, US Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday.

"We're going to move forward with a clean CR, hopefully through the beginning of December," Mnuchin told reporters at the White House, referring to the funding legislation known as a continuing resolution.

"I hope by the end of the week we'll have something firmed up," he added, according to Reuters. "Our current plan is to keep the coronavirus discussion separate."

A representative for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week said Democrats supported a "clean continuing resolution" that would extend funding for the federal government at existing levels.

The Trump administration and Senate Republicans have balked at passing House Democrats' coronavirus relief measure, the Heroes Act, which includes nearly $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments. The bill, which was approved by the lower chamber nearly four months ago, also includes direct payments of up to $1,200 a person.

Speaking with Fox News, Mnuchin said the White House also supported further stimulus but suggested any additional spending would be aimed at employers.

"We want to help small businesses, we want to help businesses that are particularly impacted by this, and we'll continue to work on proposed new legislation," he said.

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