⁍ White House officials trying to broker a deal on new coronavirus legislation will advise President Donald Trump to act on his own.

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⁍ The global pandemic has taken a particularly heavy toll on the United States, where it has killed more than 160,000 people and thrown tens of millions out of work.

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⁍ Democrats said they offered to reduce a proposed $3.4 trillion coronavirus aid package, which the House passed in May but the Senate ignored.

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– Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the White House will urge President Trump to act on his own to provide relief to people affected by coronavirus after talks with Democrats broke down Friday. “The president would like us to make a deal. But unfortunately we did not make any progress today,” Mnuchin told reporters after meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Capitol Hill, per Reuters. “I will be back here any time to listen to new proposals.” The four leaders had been trying to hammer out a deal on legislation to resume relief programs that expired at the end of July. Democrats said they offered to reduce a proposed $3.4 trillion coronavirus aid package, which the House passed in May but the Senate ignored, by nearly one-third if Republicans would agree to more than double their $1 trillion counter-offer. Trump’s negotiators turned them down. “It was a disappointing meeting,” Schumer told reporters. Both sides said they remained open to further negotiations. The coronavirus pandemic has taken a particularly heavy toll on the US, where it has killed more than 160,000 people and thrown tens of millions out of work. Trump initially played down the disease’s threat and has drawn criticism for inconsistent messages on public health steps such as social distancing and masks.