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President Biden will not sign his name on the stimulus checks set to be distributed this month as part of his $1.9 trillion COVID relief package — reversing a precedent set by former President Trump in the first two rounds of direct payments last year.
What they're saying: "This was not about him. This was about the American people getting relief," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing on Tuesday. Psaki added that Biden "didn't think that was a priority or a necessary step" and that his "focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible."
- Trump's stimulus checks were the first time an IRS disbursement featured a presidential signature.
- The stimulus checks included in the America Rescue Package, which is set to be passed by the House on Wednesday, will be signed by a career official from the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
The big picture: Americans making less than $75,000 annually and married couples making less than $150,000 are eligible for $1,400 stimulus checks this month. Check amounts phase down from there, with it capped at $80,000 annually for individuals and $160,000 for couples.