Biden administration points fingers at congress for termination of free-at-home COVID-19 tests

This week, the Biden administration plans to suspend its COVID-19 free at-home test program, blaming Congress for failing to provide additional shipments.

Americans who have yet to request all 16 of their free tests through the federal portal have until Friday to place their orders. After that, the program will be suspended until Congress provides additional funding.

“Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests,” the Department of Health and Human Services says on the page.

The move is likely to cause inconvenience for many Americans who have come to rely on the free tests, especially as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge in many parts of the country.

It also highlights the ongoing tensions between the Biden administration and Congress over funding for the fight against COVID-19. The administration has been pushing for more money to be allocated to testing and tracing efforts, but so far lawmakers have not been able to agree on a new relief package.

Without additional funding, the free testing program will be put on hold until further notice. In the meantime, Americans will have to look elsewhere for their COVID-19 testing needs.

The move is likely to disappoint those who have come to rely on the free tests, which have been a key part of the Biden administration’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

It is also likely to renew criticism from Republicans, who have accused the administration of bungling its response to the pandemic.

The free testing program was launched in May and has shipped more than 23 million tests to Americans in all 50 states.

But with cases rising in many parts of the country, demand for the tests has outstripped supply, and the program has been plagued by shipping delays and website glitches.

The pause comes as the administration is facing pressure to do more to contain the virus, which has killed more than 185,000 Americans.