GOP Senators Push Back On COVID Funds Request After Biden Says 'Pandemic Is Over'

Senate Republicans expressed skepticism over whether COVID-19 funding is still necessary following President Joe Biden’s recent comments declaring the end of the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the White House put an updated request through for $22.4 billion to spend on vaccines, testing and therapeutics, among other things, as part of a short-term continuing resolution.

“This funding is vital to our ability to protect and build on the progress we’ve made,” wrote Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a blog post for the White House website on Sept. 2.

But this funding may now be...