Over $550 Billion of Biden’s COVID Relief Bill Yet to Be Released 6 Months After Passage

Over $550 Billion of Biden’s COVID Relief Bill Yet to Be Released 6 Months After Passage

Over $550 billion of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief bill has yet to be disbursed six months after the package was passed by Congress, administration records show.

The unspent funds have been highly debated, with Republican critics saying it proves Biden's relief plan was too big, while the administration argues the unspent money could help provide additional economic relief over time should further pandemic complications arise, such as virus mutations.

"There are some things designed to address immediate hardship and others that are designed to allow for a multi-year policy response — they're not really bugs, they're features," said Gene Sperling, who is overseeing the rescue plan for Biden. "The fact that a solid portion of these funds can be used over a few-year period is a good news story for ensuring a durable recovery."