Groups of states are bypassing the federal government to form their own regional economic re-opening plans

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

President Trump assembled a team Monday whose task it is to figure how to re-open the American economy as the country continues to deal with the novel COVID-19 coronavirus.

There weren't too many surprises. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer all made the cut, as did Trump's daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The list elicited some eye rolls from Trump critics.

And it sounds like several states don't have too much faith in the federal government's ability to get things back up and running smoothly, either. So, they're taking matters into their own hands to make sure there is a consistent response across state lines that will help deter a coronavirus rebound. The governors of states in the Northeast announced they're teaming up to form their own regional plan.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

The three West Coast states, who have received praise for their handling of the pandemic, are prepared to do something similar, as well. Tim O'Donnell

Explore More

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.