Ten U.S. states form alliances to reopen regions

On Monday, ten U.S. states announced plans to reopen independently from the federal government, according to Reuters. Collectively, the states account for 38.3% of total U.S. economic output.

The plans were made in coordination with seven states on the east coast and three on the west coast. With the exception of Massachusetts, all are Democratic-lead states. 

President Trump stated he’d rather have governors make the decision in a press briefing Monday evening, though he reiterated that the final decision falls to him.

“It is the decision of the President [to open states], and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue,” Trump wrote in a tweet.

On Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he would not follow the direction of the president if he deemed the order unsafe. 

“If he ordered me to reopen in a way that would endanger the public health of the people of my state, I wouldn’t do it,” Cuomo told CNN.

“I think frankly, if we had a clearer national direction earlier on, we probably would have had a more orderly shutdown,” Cuomo said on Monday. 

According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, California will communicate its regional plans with Oregon and Washington on Tuesday. Gov. Newsom, in coordination with six states, began immediately discussing strategies on Monday, according to the New York Times.

President Trump is expected to specify members of the administration’s newest task force to reopen the country on Tuesday evening.

PHOTO CREDIT: John Minchillo | AP Photo