⁍ U.S. congressional Republicans and Democrats are struggling to reach a deal to provide more aid to those hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

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⁍ High-ranking Trump administration officials met privately with lawmakers from both parties to see if they can bridge vast differences.

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⁍ Earlier on Wednesday, Republican President Donald Trump said he was in no hurry to act despite the tight deadlines.

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– “We’re so far apart, we don’t care. We really don’t care,” President Trump said Wednesday as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas, blaming Democrats. Trump was referring to negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to extend the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit that expires this week, reports Reuters. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows met with lawmakers from both parties Wednesday to see if they can hammer out a deal. “We’re far from an agreement,” Mnuchin said after the meeting. “But overall, we’re far from an agreement.” Democrats want to extend the unemployment benefit for several more months, while Republicans want to reduce the federal payment to $200 a week, on top of state unemployment benefits. Republicans, who have proposed reopening businesses and schools for testing, also want more money for education, personal protective equipment for health care workers, and more funding for state and local governments to avoid layoffs. A moratorium on evictions that expired last Friday has also expired. “Our Republican friends don’t seem to come close to meeting the moment,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic leader, after the meeting. Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said lawmakers might have a better idea by the end of this week on whether there is a chance for a deal so “that we could actually get to a package by the end of next week.” (GOP leaders rolled out a $1 trillion package earlier this week.)