Here's What You Need to Remember: In short, despite widespread enthusiasm for the concept, it appears unlikely that a fourth stimulus payment is on the way, given the Biden administration’s other priorities.

Will there be a fourth stimulus check? The discussion might be premature, as the payments from the third stimulus check in March are still being issued. While these payments have slowed down since March, there is no sign that they will stop soon; so far in May, $3.8 billion has been distributed to 2.7 million individuals and families.

Over the past two months, however, many Americans have spent their $1400 stimulus from March, and it is clear that a substantial number support another payment. Some have even gone a step beyond a one-time check, advocating for recurring payments for the duration of the pandemic. A Data for Progress poll, conducted in January 2021, suggested that 65% of Americans support this idea, and a Change.org petition to this effect, calling for monthly payments of $2000 per adult and $1000 per child, has gathered more than two million signatures over the course of a year.

Some lawmakers, particularly progressives on the Democratic Party’s left wing, have run with this idea. A letter written by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and co-signed by dozens of other progressive Democrats called on President Biden to implement recurring cash assistance. Although it did not specify a dollar amount, the $2000 per month figure has been widely supported, including by Omar herself in a tweet.

However, Biden’s ambitious stimulus plans have so far avoided the discussion of further direct payments. In a speech to both houses of Congress marking his hundredth day in office, the president introduced two separate COVID-19 recovery bills: the “American Jobs Plan,” which proposes to rebuild infrastructure and kick-start the economy from its depression, and the “American Families Plan,” which gives a number of key benefits to working families, including child care reimbursements, free pre-K education and community college, and a substantial increase in the Child Income Tax Credit.

Neither of these bills has passed Congress yet, and given opposition to their cost from congressional Republicans, it is likely that both bills will be significantly scaled back before they are entered into law. During his speech, however, Biden made no mention of a fourth stimulus payment – a glaring omission, given the other topics discussed. Later, when White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the possibility of a fourth check, her response was lukewarm; she suggested that the Biden administration would “see what members of Congress propose,” before adding that another stimulus measure would be highly expensive.

In short, despite widespread enthusiasm for the concept, it appears unlikely that a fourth stimulus payment is on the way, given the Biden administration’s other priorities.

Trevor Filseth is a news reporter and writer for the National Interest. This article first appeared earlier this year.

Image: Reuters.