News organizations around the country have been lifting their paywalls in an effort to keep as much of the public informed about the latest happenings with the coronavirus pandemic.

The livelihood of many news organizations today is based off of revenue generated from subscriptions and advertisements. While many outlets around the country have made access to their coronavirus coverage free to access, many have also felt the economic sting of the virus and have had to layoff or furlough parts of their staff.

That said, in some cases, free-to-access coverage has driven engagement up which has led to more subscriptions.

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Alan Miller, executive editor of the Columbus Dispatch in Ohio, said that on Sunday alone, the newspaper’s site racked up more than a million page views and 670,000 unique visitors. By comparison, the week prior, the newspaper had 71,000 page views and 55,000 unique visitors.

“We’re making it free as a public service and hope that readers who appreciate that would consider subscribing to the Dispatch,” Miller told The Associated Press.

On the flip side, the weekly Sacramento (California) News & Review had to suspend operations because of a lack of ad revenue.

“We will have to suspend publishing and lay off nearly all of our amazing and talented staff, we hope only temporarily,” Jeff vonKaenel, the publications’ president, said.

The Military Times has also had to furlough dozens of staff members for the next two weeks.

Senate Democrats are calling on Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Navy hospital ship deploying to New York | Trump invokes defense law to boost coronavirus response | Air Force moves 500K virus test swabs to US Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus State warns foreigners ‘attacked’ in Ethiopia over coronavirus fears MORE to do more to help Americans stuck abroad as countries rapidly close their borders to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Sen. Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezHillicon Valley: Facebook launches portal for coronavirus information | EU sees spike in Russian misinformation on outbreak | Senate Dem bill would encourage mail-in voting | Lawmakers question safety of Google virus website Democratic senators press Google over privacy of coronavirus screening site Menendez calls for ‘Marie Yovanovitch bill’ to protect foreign service employees MORE (D-N.J.), the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, sent a letter on Wednesday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to clarify the government’s response to assisting citizens seeking to return to the U.S. amid flight cancelations and border closures.

“We write to express our urgent concerns regarding the support being provided to citizens overseas, including those seeking to return to the United States, as the spread of coronavirus continues to impose significant challenges for governments and communities worldwide,” he wrote.

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The letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerWe need a massive economic response to counter the threat of the coronavirus Democrats introduce bill to promote mail-in voting amid coronavirus crisis Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus MORE (N.J.), Ben CardinBenjamin (Ben) Louis CardinDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Teetering economy sparks talk of second stimulus package Democratic senators ask IRS to extend tax filing deadline amid coronavirus outbreak MORE (Md.), Chris CoonsChristopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Cash assistance for Americans gains steam as coronavirus roils economy Senators balance coronavirus action with risks to health MORE (Del.), Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Warren, Sanders question Trump admin over coronavirus tests Coronavirus adds new element to rising US-Iran tensions MORE (Va.), Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Democrats call for pollution reduction requirements in any aid for airlines, cruises How campaigns are adapting to coronavirus MORE (Mass.), Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Democrats call for pollution reduction requirements in any aid for airlines, cruises Overnight Energy: Trump to buy crude oil to help industry | Sanders, Democrats decry assistance to oil companies amid coronavirus | Judge sides with California in cap-and-trade lawsuit MORE (Ore.), Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Coronavirus takes toll on Capitol Hill Graham warns of ‘aggressive’ response to Iran-backed rocket attack that killed US troops MORE (Conn.) and Tom UdallThomas (Tom) Stewart UdallDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Democrats press FEC pick to recuse himself from Trump matters Overnight Energy: Watchdog blasts planning behind BLM relocation | Progress on Senate energy bill | Dems eye two measures for inclusion ahead of vote MORE (N.M.).

The U.S. has not announced any plans to evacuate Americans abroad since undertaking evacuation flights last month from China and Japan as the coronavirus outbreak grew.

At least 500 Americans in Peru are appealing to the U.S. government for help leaving the country after it shut down its borders for 15 days beginning Monday and canceled all flights.

“We are particularly concerned about an increasing number of reports that Americans and their family members have been unable to leave areas affected by COVID-19 and return home,” Democrats wrote in their letter. “In particular, Americans in Honduras, Morocco, Peru and Tunisia, among other countries have reported to our offices that they are encountering difficulties in obtaining support from U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including to arrange commercial flights home.”

“In some cases they are reporting that they are unable to establish contact with, or receive even basic information from, U.S. Embassy personnel,” the senators added.

The State Department has given no indication it is working to help Americans stranded abroad. Pompeo said in a briefing with reporters Tuesday that he encourages Americans to “make good decisions” with their travel plans.

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“You see our travel advisories as they go out, trying to make sure they’re in step with the latest data sets we have in each – not only in each country, but in every province, county, township,” he said. “So we’re articulating them properly so that Americans make good decisions about whether they should or should not travel.”

But short-notice border closures have given Americans little time to evacuate countries.

Menedez said providing support and assistance to Americans abroad “are among the Department’s most fundamental responsibilities.”

Rep. Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelDemocrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus Overnight Defense: Pentagon curtails more exercises over coronavirus | House passes Iran war powers measure | Rocket attack hits Iraqi base with US troops House passes measure limiting Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran MORE (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has raised the issue with the State Department. 

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented situation, as border closures, travel bans, and other restrictions grow while governments fight to control the virus’s spread,” he wrote in an email to The Hill. “I appreciate the complexities of such a scenario and have stressed to senior State Department leadership Congress’s profound concern for the welfare of American citizens abroad.”

The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia said it is receiving reports of foreigners being harassed and assaulted in the capital Addis Ababa; some are being attacked with stones while others have been denied transportation and accused of being infected with COVID-19.

 

“The Embassy continues to receive reports regarding a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment revolving around the announcement of COVID-19 in Ethiopia,” the embassy wrote in a security alert.

The embassy did not clarify if Americans are in specific danger but said harassment is targeting foreigners in general, with reports of people shouting “China” and “ferengi,” meaning “foreigner” coupled with “coronavirus.”

In Morocco, the U.S. embassy is directing Americans wanting to leave the country to book commercial flights to London through European airline carriers that are running “emergency commercial flights” from Agadir and Marrakesh. Although such flights are expected to end on Thursday.

The flights are being coordinated through the British Embassy in Morocco. The U.S. embassy said it can’t guarantee seats for Americans on British Airways, Easy Jet, Ryan Air and TUI.

 

Stranded American travelers in Peru have criticized the U.S. embassy, calling it unhelpful and unresponsive.

Kristin Monesmith, an emergency department nurse for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who is stranded in Peru, previously told The Hill that the U.S. consulate has provided no informative guidance.

“The consulate has been less than any help, just refers to a website. We truly feel abandoned by the U.S.,” she said.

Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is encouraging foreign travelers unable to depart to register with the agency and receive the latest guidance for tourists.

Other countries have taken matters into their own hands.

Israel sent a commercial El Al flight to Peru to evacuate its citizens who were stuck there, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Twitter.

Last week, India sent a military aircraft to Iran to evacuate its nationals.

Iran has the second highest number of coronavirus cases behind China.

Italy on Sunday reported its biggest one-day increase in cases and deaths during the coronavirus outbreak.

Italy recorded 3,590 cases and 398 deaths in a 24-hour period, Italy’s Civil Protection chief, Angelo Borrelli, announced Sunday, The Associated Press reported. In total, the country has confirmed more than 24,700 cases and more than 1,800 deaths. 

The country, which has been on lockdown since last week, reports that almost 2,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus in the nation.

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Italy’s previous record number of deaths in a 24-hour period was 250, which was announced Friday.

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Italy’s national health institute chief, Silvio Brusaferro, said it is unclear if Italy is reaching its peak number of cases, meaning it could soon decline, according to the AP. 

The World Health Organization has said most people will recover from the virus, and almost 74,000 have, mostly in China, where the virus is believed to have originated. 

The coronavirus has infected more than 156,000 people and killed more than 5,800, leading several countries such as the U.S. to encourage so-called social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS on Sunday morning that Italy left the virus “to its own devices,” leading the number of cases to “go way up.”

“That’s not going to happen if we do what we’re attempting to do and are doing,” he said on “Face The Nation.”

Italy has surpassed China as the country with the most coronavirus deaths, officials announced Thursday.

The European nation reported 427 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing its total to 3,405, Reuters reported.

Italy passed China’s death rate the same day the city of Wuhan, China, where the outbreak is believed to have originated, recorded no new infections. As of Thursday, China has documented 3,249 deaths, 156 fewer than Italy, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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Italy’s number of infected people rose by 5,322 in the last 24 hours, reaching 41,035, according to the Associated Press. The increase in cases was a 14.9 percent faster rate of growth than over the past three days, the Civil Protection Agency said, according to Reuters.

The rise in deaths was slightly lower than the 475 reported in the previous 24 hour period. More than 5,000 people infected in Italy have since recovered.

The majority of those who have died from the virus in Italy have been elderly or have suffered from underlying medical conditions, according to the AP.

Italy’s health care system has been overwhelmed by the rapidly growing number of cases, with the country planning to rush 10,000 student doctors set to graduate this year into the medical field to help without taking the usually mandatory final exams. 

The country has been under lockdown, with law enforcement conducting arrests of people who are in public spaces. 

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 230,000 people, causing more than 9,700 deaths. Nearly 85,000 people have recovered from the virus, more than 80 percent of whom are in mainland China, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpDe Blasio calls on Trump to deploy military to set up hospitals in New York Hillicon Valley: Facebook launches portal for coronavirus information | EU sees spike in Russian misinformation on outbreak | Senate Dem bill would encourage mail-in voting | Lawmakers question safety of Google virus website Trump signs coronavirus aid package with paid sick leave, free testing MORE is blaming China for the coronavirus pandemic threatening lives and the economy in the United States, further testing a relationship with Beijing already stressed by a trade war.

While Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping praised one another earlier this year over their new trade agreement, both sides are now seeking to pin responsibility on the other for the COVID-19 disease.

Trump on Wednesday opened a press briefing by describing the coronavirus as a “Chinese virus,” echoing remarks by Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Navy hospital ship deploying to New York | Trump invokes defense law to boost coronavirus response | Air Force moves 500K virus test swabs to US Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus State warns foreigners ‘attacked’ in Ethiopia over coronavirus fears MORE and other top cabinet officials.

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The coronavirus is believed to have originated in a food market in Wuhan, China, and that country has suffered through more than 80,000 cases and 3,200 deaths, according to The New York Times.

Trump’s remarks have fueled criticism that the administration is stigmatizing the virus when it poses a threat to all people and all nations. CBS White House reporter Weijia Jiang also claimed that an unnamed administration official dubbed the virus as “Kung-Flu” to her, suggesting officials are taking Trump’s to make racist remarks about the virus.

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Trump on Wednesday defended calling the coronavirus the China virus, and suggested he was doing so in part because of remarks Chinese officials have made to spread propaganda that the U.S. may have been responsible for bringing the disease to their country.

“It comes from China. That’s why. I want to be accurate,” Trump said during a press conference when asked about the criticism. “It is not racist at all … China tried to say at one point — maybe they stopped — that it was caused by American soldiers. That can’t happen. That is not going to happen, as long as I am president. It comes from China.”

A member of China’s Foreign Ministry has publicly linked the coronavirus to the United States.

“When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected?” tweeted Lijian Zhao, a spokesman at the Foreign Ministry’s Information Department. “What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!”

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Other government officials, including a Chinese ambassador, have amplified such unfounded claims that go against experts’ assessment that the virus likely was passed from different animals in the Wuhan wet food market until a host transferred the disease to a human.

Trump’s words are likely to only escalate the battle.

“It is being received very negatively and it will probably invite additional attempts by the Chinese government to point fingers at the United States,” said Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, a Schwarzman senior fellow in Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. “It certainly has the effect of pissing off the Chinese people at a time when they are already engaged in a non-stop propaganda effort.”

Experts on the U.S.-China relationship described the finger pointing as the latest sign of a deteriorating U.S. relationship with China. Since Trump was elected, the two countries have faced multiple battles over trade and the development of 5G telecoms networks, contributing to a general sense of distrust.

Experts say their responses to the crisis is likely a missed opportunity to bring global leadership together and fight the common enemy.

“This is the second and the first and second largest economy, and they are both dealing with a global pandemic,” said Cheng Li, Brookings’ Director of the John L. Thornton China Center. “The common enemy is the virus.”

“This is one of these catastrophic, earth shattering moments that have the potential to pull two otherwise rivals together to provide necessary leadership at a time of crisis and it appears to be pushing them even further apart,” echoed Rapp-Hooper.

Part of the strategy to shift blame comes as the leadership in both countries are currently facing criticism over how they have handled the containment of the virus.

China has come under both international and internal fire for covering up the spread of the virus after the first initial cases were reported and downplaying its severity in early January. An internal speech, later published in mid-February, also revealed that the Chinese president knew about the outbreak roughly two weeks before he made his first public comments about it, sparking questions of why Chinese leaders didn’t work faster to address the deadly issue. 

Still, while China bungled its early response, experts say the U.S. has also failed to effectively handle the crisis.

Trump first compared COVID-19 to the flu, while describing the coronavirus as a malicious attempt by the media and Democrats to hurt his administration. Nine days later, he shifted his rhetoric and claimed during a Tuesday press conference that he felt it was “a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.”

The president tweeted in part on March 9: “The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant.”

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Experts say there are broader implications for the U.S.: The nation is not assuming the role as a global leader at a time of need. Instead, it is scrambling to address the severe shortage of test kits and other equipment, despite the virus being on its radar for months. 

“There is a bigger geopolitics effect because of the Trump team’s utter failure to implement obvious and needed actions that every other nation did. It just undermined American power and reputation in a way never before experienced,” Peter Singer, a senior fellow at New America, told The Hill in an interview.

“While we are about to display a basic inability to do the most simple things to save the lives of our citizens, China is now already distributing needed foreign aid and medical equipment to other nations [that are] suffering. China is doing what the U.S. used to do and now isn’t even able to do for itself. This won’t be forgotten on the international stage,” added Singer.

“Some Europeans are actually now concerned about the United States leadership,” echoed Cheng.

Despite the initial cover-up, experts say the international community may view China more favorably since it has offered aid to Western allies facing high transmission rates, like Italy and Spain as well as other countries like Serbia. In other words, stepping in to fill the void now may give China a competitive edge later, after the crisis passes.

“We cannot bungle our own domestic response to a crisis of this magnitude and expect the world to see us the same way several months from now,” said Rapp-Hooper.

FILL ‘ER UP: The U.S. government will buy 30 million barrels of oil from producers amid a financial downturn for the industry. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Thursday it would conduct the sales to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), fulfilling a pledge by President TrumpDonald John TrumpOn The Money: McConnell introduces third coronavirus relief proposal | Democrats seek bigger stimulus with less aid for business | Washington scrambles to prevent unemployment spike Hillicon Valley: Twitter targets coronavirus misinformation | Facebook bans sanitizer, virus test ads to prevent price gouging | DHS defines critical jobs during outbreak | Remote working apps surge Overnight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru MORE to offer assistance to the oil industry as prices plummet with the twin threats of the coronavirus and a pricing war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

“It is a common sense move. Everyone who has done any version of investing knows you try to buy low and sell high. The same goes with filling the SPR over time,” Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said in a call with reporters.

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This initial purchase comes as oil has fallen to about $25 per barrel, down from roughly $50 a month ago and a steep decline from the average $60 price tag for oil already in the reserve.

The 30 million barrel purchase announced Thursday is a far cry from Trump’s Friday pledge to fill America’s emergency fuel supply “right up to the top,” maxing out at 77 million barrels. 

But DOE said it plans to hold additional sales, perhaps as soon as in two to three months, and is preparing to ask Congress for $3 billion to fill its fuel reserves.

The purchase comes as Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinSenate GOP plan provides massive tax-relief, loans for business Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak GOP plan provides ,200 in cash assistance amid coronavirus MORE floated spending as much as $20 billion to assist the oil industry, figures Brouillette said the two had not discussed.  

Stocking up on oil will no doubt anger some Democrats, who have repeatedly warned that coronavirus aid should include no lifelines for the fossil fuel industry.

“Diverting public funds to bail out this industry will do nothing to stop the spread of this deadly virus or provide relief to those in need,” House lawmakers wrote in a Tuesday letter spearheaded by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.). “A bailout tells the American public that fossil fuel investors can rely on U.S. taxpayers to cover their bills when the industry’s corporate executives’ risky investments don’t pan out.”

Democrats in the Senate echoed a similar sentiment, fearing that money spent propping up the oil industry will accelerate climate change.

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“Using federal assistance–including low-interest loans, royalty relief, tax breaks, or strategic petroleum reserve purchases–in order to prop up oil companies would be a wasteful misuse of government resources that would exacerbate the climate crisis,” Sens. Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Senate Democrat introduces legislation requiring permanent pandemic coordinator MORE (D-Mass.), Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus MORE (D-Ore.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersGillibrand endorses Biden for president Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden moves to unify party before general election MORE (I-Vt.) wrote in a letter to Trump.

Purchasing 30 million barrels now, even with record low oil prices, would still carry a significant cost, coming in at just below $1 billion.

But Brouillette told reporters he feels confident he has the backing from Congress as it weighs future coronavirus relief packages. 

Numerous Republicans have already expressed support for the purchase — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Congress tiptoes toward remote voting Photo of Trump’s notes shows ‘Chinese’ virus written over ‘coronavirus’ MORE (R-Calif.) pegged it as “the right call.”

And when asked if he had personally heard pushback from Democrats, Brouilette simply said, “No, I have not.”

The offer to purchase crude is only open to small- and mid-sized U.S. companies with fewer than 5,000 employees. The oil itself must be produced within the U.S. as well. 

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Read more on the purchase here. 

 

HAPPY THURSDAY! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch. Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

 

THE THINNEST OF SILVER LININGS: Environmental experts say the planet is getting a breather from the constant output of pollution by humans as the coronavirus puts many activities by individuals and businesses on hold.

Smog levels in China were reduced after factories shuttered during the outbreak there, and satellite images show a significant drop in air pollution in Italy while the country remains in a nationwide lockdown.

Similar declines are soon expected in the U.S., where half of all car trips are to and from work or school.

But while the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt daily routines for months, experts say the drop in heat-trapping emissions, while beneficial, will likely amount to just a blip in trend lines that show the world is moving toward unsustainable levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions.

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“The damage from CO2 just accumulates, so every ton we don’t release is not inflicted on the environment, but if everything goes back to business as usual when this ends, it won’t have much of an impact,” said David Archer, a professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago.

Experts say emissions are likely to drop this year, continuing a trend already driven by the closure of coal-fired power plants as utilities transition to cleaner forms of energy.

And as schools close and more Americans work from home, the decline in travel is likely to aid the emissions dip.

Vehicle emissions are expected to drop in the U.S. In New York City, traffic congestion was measured at 17 percent this week, compared to 52 percent during the same period in 2019, according to transit data company TomTom.

Air traffic, however, is a more complicated piece of the emissions puzzle.

Airlines have asked the federal government for $50 billion in economic relief amid massive declines in passenger travel as countries close borders, conferences are canceled and family vacations are postponed.

“What counts is not the reduction in the number of people flying but the number of airplanes flying. There are a lot of airplanes running half empty,” said Michael Gerrard, a professor at the Columbia Law School and director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.

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Many airlines are flying with planes that are anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent full, whereas this time last year flights were about 80 percent full, according to information collected by Airline Data Inc.

While planes still account for just a small percentage of global emissions, the airline industry is one of the fastest growing sectors with greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions increased 32 percent between 2013 and 2018.

With more online meetings being held amid the outbreak, some clean energy advocates hope it could lead to a behavioral shift.

“We’ve seen a rise of fly-in, fly-out business travel, where 30 people come in and out, everyone shakes hands and then leaves almost immediately,” said Dan Rutherford, aviation director at the International Council on Clean Transportation.

“That’s bad for the environment and now people are understanding it’s bad for public health, so I’m curious if that takes more of a long-term hit.”

Read more on the environmental impacts of the coronavirus here. 

 

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GOTTA REGULATE: One commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed delaying certain regulatory actions amid the global coronavirus outbreak.

The commission’s chairman, however, is cool to the idea.

The organization’s one Democratic commissioner, Richard Glick, said in a Thursday statement that while FERC is required by law to carry out certain actions, it should pause others to allow the industry to focus on its response the virus. 

“I believe we should refrain from acting to allow parties who are otherwise dealing with the pandemic to avoid putting resources toward seeking rehearing of a Commission order,” Glick said. 

Chairman Neil ChatterjeeIndranil (Neil) ChatterjeeOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Energy regulators disagree on whether to delay actions amid coronavirus  Hillicon Valley: FTC rules Cambridge Analytica engaged in ‘deceptive practices’ | NATO researchers warn social media failing to remove fake accounts | Sanders calls for breaking up Comcast, Verizon MORE, however, said Thursday on a call with reporters that in some cases it might be good to be flexible but that in general “the last thing the industry needs right now is delays.”

He added that delays would be unfair for those waiting on the commission to act.

FERC regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. The energy industry has been particularly affected by the coronavirus, with oil prices plummeting this week to the lowest level since 2003. 

On Thursday, Chatterjee also laid out the commission’s own plan for its employees to deal with the virus. 

He said in a statement that most of the commission’s employees are teleworking and that its headquarters will be closed to visitors until further notice. 

All of its technical work through May will either be done through conference calls or web-conferencing or it will be postponed. 

Read more here. 

 

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:

Coronavirus outbreak may speed decline of US coal sector, S&P Global reports.

Tribes expect little help in fight to protect elders from coronavirus, Stateline reports. 

Crop-dusting bill heads to Idaho governor, the Associated Press reports. 

 

FROM THE HILL’S OPINION PAGES:

Coronavirus calls for an aggressive Green New Deal, writes Michael Brownstein, associate professor of philosophy at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, CUNY.

A pair of lawmakers on Thursday introduced bicameral legislation to send coronavirus testing kits to U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Sen. Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East US general: Afghanistan deployments paused to protect troops from coronavirus MORE and Rep. Mark PocanMark William PocanOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East US general: Afghanistan deployments paused to protect troops from coronavirus MORE, both Wisconsin Democrats, introduced the bill after the Pentagon said testing for troops in Afghanistan is being completed at labs in Germany.

“It is unacceptable that testing kits aren’t immediately and readily available for service members in the Middle East where there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 and this legislation will fix that,” Baldwin said in a statement. “We owe it to our men and women in uniform to protect their health while they are working to protect our national security.”

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The bill would require coronavirus tests be made available to troops in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility within seven days after it is signed into law.

Pentagon officials have pushed back on the characterization that troops in Afghanistan do not have access to testing.

While the equipment to analyze coronavirus tests is not in Afghanistan, they have said, troops can be swabbed in the country. The samples are then sent to a U.S. military lab in Germany or to other certified civilian testing facilities.

Baldwin and Pocan raised concerns earlier about a lack of testing for troops in Afghanistan after being contacted by Wisconsin military families, sending letters last week to Pentagon officials like Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Navy hospital ship to deploy in 5 to 10 days to help with coronavirus relief Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East MORE.

In a statement Thursday, Pocan said he is “increasingly less confident” the Pentagon is prioritizing service members’ health, adding that he and Baldwin “cannot wait for Pentagon inaction any longer.”

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“In the midst of a global pandemic, no one should be left to fight this virus on their own—especially not our military personnel serving overseas,” Pocan said. “When troops abroad are suffering from coronavirus-like symptoms, they should be tested, not ignored. The lack of responses and answers we have received from the Department of Defense and Secretary Esper on their preparedness has been disappointing to say the least.”

The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said Thursday that 21 members of the international coalition are experiencing flu-like symptoms and are in isolation.

Gen. Scott Miller also said 1,500 multinational troops, civilians and contractors who arrived in Afghanistan in the past week are in quarantine but stressed that the step was taken “out of an abundance of caution, not because they are sick.”

While the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan establishes pre-deployment screening protocols, Miller said, troops will not be moved into Afghanistan. That also means some troops may not be able to leave Afghanistan, he added.

Happy Thursday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

 

THE TOPLINE: Tens of thousands of National Guard troops could be activated in states across the country in the next several weeks to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the National Guard said Thursday.

“It’s hard to tell what the exact requirement will be, but I’m expecting tens of thousands to be used inside the states as this grows,” National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel told reporters at the Pentagon.

“I think that this could quickly blossom in the next couple of weeks as governors and states determine their needs and ways to use their National Guards.”

By the numbers: All 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia have declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

As of Thursday, governors in 27 states have activated a total 2,050 Guardsmen. 

Lengyel said the bureau anticipates that number will go up “relatively quickly, in fact, doubling by this weekend.”

Guard to be federalized?: Asked if the White House could federalize the Guard to respond to the illness, Lengyel said that President TrumpDonald John TrumpOn The Money: McConnell introduces third coronavirus relief proposal | Democrats seek bigger stimulus with less aid for business | Washington scrambles to prevent unemployment spike Hillicon Valley: Twitter targets coronavirus misinformation | Facebook bans sanitizer, virus test ads to prevent price gouging | DHS defines critical jobs during outbreak | Remote working apps surge Overnight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru MORE could do so if desired but that such a move “would not make sense in this situation.”

“Every state has a different way to deal with disasters. If you were to federalize [the Guard], you would lose that ability.”

He added: “There’s no plans that I’m aware of to take the National Guards in the states and put them in a federal status. They’re much better used in a state status under the command and control of the governors.”

Mounting roles: Lengyel likened the coronavirus pandemic to dealing with “54 separate hurricanes in every state, territory and the District of Columbia … unlike a hurricane we don’t know when this is going to dissipate or move out to sea.”

Currently the Guard is providing medical testing and assessments, facilities, ground transportation and logistics and planning, among other services across the states.  

The Tennessee National Guard, for example, on Wednesday helped deliver 500,000 coronavirus testing swabs brought to the United States from Italy earlier this week.

Ship deployment timeline: Two Navy hospital ships will not deploy for at least another week or more to help relieve hospital systems overwhelmed by the influx of new coronavirus cases in New York City and the West Coast, defense officials confirmed on Thursday. 

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced that the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are preparing to deploy to help take on patients not infected by COVID-19 and free up hospitals to treat those that have the virus.

But the Defense Department is five to ten days from deploying the Mercy from its home port in San Diego to an undisclosed location on the West Coast, Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Chris Mitchell said in a statement to The Hill.

And the Comfort, which is currently undergoing maintenance, will be “ready to sail to New York in about two weeks’ time,” he added.  

An undetermined location: CNN reported on Thursday that Mercy is expected to head to the Seattle area – which has been one of the hardest hit U.S. locations for the virus – though defense officials would not confirm the location to reporters

“The location for Mercy has not been determined but I can tell you that the goal is to have Mercy sailing out of San Diego harbor next week,” Navy surgeon general Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham told reporters at the Pentagon via teleconference.

He added that the ships’ core staff reported Thursday to ready the vessels, and that the service is currently working with the Defense Health Agency to identify where the rest of the medical staff will come from to serve on the ships. 

 

DEM BILL WOULD SEND CORONAVIRUS TESTS TO TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST: A pair of lawmakers on Thursday introduced bicameral legislation to send coronavirus testing kits to U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Sen. Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East US general: Afghanistan deployments paused to protect troops from coronavirus MORE and Rep. Mark PocanMark William PocanOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East US general: Afghanistan deployments paused to protect troops from coronavirus MORE, both Wisconsin Democrats, introduced the bill after the Pentagon said testing for troops in Afghanistan is being completed at labs in Germany.

“It is unacceptable that testing kits aren’t immediately and readily available for service members in the Middle East where there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 and this legislation will fix that,” Baldwin said in a statement. “We owe it to our men and women in uniform to protect their health while they are working to protect our national security.”

What the bill requires: The bill would require coronavirus tests be made available to troops in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility within seven days after it is signed into law.

DOD response: Pentagon officials have pushed back on the characterization that troops in Afghanistan do not have access to testing.

While the equipment to analyze coronavirus tests is not in Afghanistan, they have said, troops can be swabbed in the country. The samples are then sent to a U.S. military lab in Germany or to other certified civilian testing facilities.

Earlier: Baldwin and Pocan raised concerns earlier about a lack of testing for troops in Afghanistan after being contacted by Wisconsin military families, sending letters last week to Pentagon officials like Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Navy hospital ship to deploy in 5 to 10 days to help with coronavirus relief Democrats introduce bill to send coronavirus tests to US troops in Middle East MORE.

In a statement Thursday, Pocan said he is “increasingly less confident” the Pentagon is prioritizing service members’ health, adding that he and Baldwin “cannot wait for Pentagon inaction any longer.”

 

PENTAGON TO THE RESCUE IN PERU?: Trump on Thursday said the military is helping to get Americans stuck in Peru back to the U.S., as more than 1,400 U.S. citizens remain stuck in the country under a strict quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We have a group of young people in Peru and we’re working on taking care of that with the military,” the president said in a press briefing at the White House.

The president said the efforts are “not an evacuation” but that the U.S. is “trying to get them out.”

The Peruvian government on Monday instituted a two-week quarantine across the country, closing all land, sea and airports. Americans traveling in the country say they received last-minute notification, had flights canceled without notice and were unable to rebook flights.

The blame game: The more than 1,400 Americans in the country have organized over social media and in a spreadsheet to raise awareness of their plight. Americans stuck in Peru who have spoken with The Hill say they’ve received little to no guidance from the U.S. embassy, which has told them to contact their airlines to reschedule flights and check the embassy website for updates.

Trump on Thursday said the Americans carry the blame for being stuck in the country but pledged that the U.S. would help get them home.

“They got caught, they were late with their flights, we gave them a period of time, they didn’t make it, but we’re looking to get them out probably through the military.”

Pentagon out of the loop: But the Department of Defense says they have yet to receive any instructions.

In response to an inquiry from The Hill, Department of Defense spokesman LTC Chris Mitchell said the agency had received no requests for assistance in connection with Peru and evacuating Americans there.

Elsewhere in the world: Americans in Morocco are also pleading with the U.S. government to help them get out of that country. The U.S. Embassy encouraged Americans to try booking flights on European carriers flying “emergency” flights to London. Yet Americans are posting on Twitter that they are unable to book the flights and that the airport is overcrowded.

The president on Thursday did not mention the Americans stuck in Morocco, nor other countries like Tunisia, Kuwait or Honduras where U.S. citizens stuck behind border closures have appealed for assistance.

“We have a group of young people, I think young men, or young people, could be women also with them, from Alabama, great state of Alabama, and they are in Peru,” the president said. “And we’re working on that right now. It’s a large group, it’s probably about 300.”

It’s unclear which group the president was referring to. At least six residents of Alabama are in a group of 20 medical professionals in the country on a mission trip. They are among the more than 1,400 Americans from 47 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., stuck in the country.

  

ICYMI

— The Hill: Boeing pleads for bailout under weight of coronavirus, 737 fallout

— The Hill: White House scraps G-7 summit in favor of videoconference due to coronavirus

— The Hill: Iran grants medical furlough to imprisoned US Navy veteran amid coronavirus outbreak

— The Hill: Nikki HaleyNimrata (Nikki) HaleyOvernight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru Nikki Haley resigns from Boeing board, cites opposition to bailout Meghan McCain: Trump will replace Pence with Haley to counter ‘identity politics’ MORE resigns from Boeing board, cites opposition to bailout

— The Hill: State Department urges US citizens to avoid all international travel

— The Hill: Textron to furlough 7,000 workers as aviation industry takes hit from coronavirus

The U.S. government will buy 30 million barrels of oil from producers amid a financial downturn for the industry. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Thursday it would conduct the sales to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), fulfilling a pledge by President TrumpDonald John TrumpOn The Money: McConnell introduces third coronavirus relief proposal | Democrats seek bigger stimulus with less aid for business | Washington scrambles to prevent unemployment spike Hillicon Valley: Twitter targets coronavirus misinformation | Facebook bans sanitizer, virus test ads to prevent price gouging | DHS defines critical jobs during outbreak | Remote working apps surge Overnight Defense: ‘Tens of thousands’ of National Guard troops could be activated for coronavirus response | Hospital ships could take week to deploy | Trump says military to help Americans stuck in Peru MORE to offer assistance to the oil industry as prices plummet with the twin threats of the coronavirus and a pricing war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

“It is a common sense move. Everyone who has done any version of investing knows you try to buy low and sell high. The same goes with filling the SPR over time,” Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said in a call with reporters.

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This initial purchase comes as oil has fallen to about $25 per barrel, down from roughly $50 a month ago and a steep decline from the average $60 pricetag for oil already in the reserve.

The 30 million barrel purchase announced Thursday is a far cry from Trump’s Friday pledge to fill America’s emergency fuel supply “right up to the top,” maxing out at 77 million barrels. 

But DOE said it plans to hold additional sales, perhaps as soon as in two to three months, and is preparing to ask Congress for $3 billion to fill its fuel reserves.

The purchase comes as Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinSenate GOP plan provides massive tax-relief, loans for business Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak GOP plan provides ,200 in cash assistance amid coronavirus MORE floated spending as much as $20 billion to assist the oil industry, figures Brouillette said the two had not discussed.  

Stocking up on oil will no doubt anger some Democrats, who have repeatedly warned that coronavirus aid should include no lifelines for the fossil fuel industry.

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“Diverting public funds to bail out this industry will do nothing to stop the spread of this deadly virus or provide relief to those in need,” House lawmakers wrote in a Tuesday letter spearheaded by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.). “A bailout tells the American public that fossil fuel investors can rely on U.S. taxpayers to cover their bills when the industry’s corporate executives’ risky investments don’t pan out.”

Democrats in the Senate echoed a similar sentiment, fearing that money spent propping up the oil industry will accelerate climate change.

“Using federal assistance—including low-interest loans, royalty relief, tax breaks, or strategic petroleum reserve purchases—in order to prop up oil companies would be a wasteful misuse of government resources that would exacerbate the climate crisis,” Sens. Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Senate Democrat introduces legislation requiring permanent pandemic coordinator MORE (D-Mass.), Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Trump administration prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump Democrats press Pompeo to help Americans stranded abroad amid coronavirus MORE (D-Ore.) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersGillibrand endorses Biden for president Overnight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden moves to unify party before general election MORE (I-Vt.) wrote in a letter to Trump.

Purchasing 30 million barrels now, even with record low oil prices, would still carry a significant cost, coming in at just below $1 billion.

But Brouillette told reporters he feels confident he has the backing from Congress as it weighs future coronavirus relief packages. 

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Numerous Republicans have already expressed support for the purchase — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyOvernight Energy: Trump prepares to buy 30M barrels of oil amid industry slump | Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | Energy regulators split on delaying actions amid outbreak Congress tiptoes toward remote voting Photo of Trump’s notes shows ‘Chinese’ virus written over ‘coronavirus’ MORE (R-Calif.) pegged it as “the right call.”

And when asked if he had personally heard pushback from Democrats, Brouilette simply said, “No, I have not.”

The offer to purchase crude is only open to small- and mid-sized U.S. companies with fewer than 5,000 employees. The oil itself must be produced within the U.S. as well. 

With current prices, the U.S. could fill its petroleum reserve with less than $2.1 billion but Brouillette said he expects prices to begin to rise as coronavirus’s hold on the economy settles down, increasing the overall cost of filling the SPR. He also said the department may limit future purchases if oil prices rise rapidly, potentially due to a resolution between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

“We have every expectation that once we’re beyond this coronavirus pandemic we’re going to see a very robust upturn in demand and very strong economy coming back, but at this point in time we don’t know exactly when that will occur so we’re just trying to be as cautious and conservative as possible,” he said. 

—Updated at 2:07 p.m.

Trade tops agenda for Rousseff’s Europe trip

Brazil’s president to meet Barroso and Van Rompuy.

On her first tour of Europe since becoming president of Brazil in January, Dilma Rousseff will next week visit Belgium and Turkey – and Bulgaria, where she has family roots. At a summit in Brussels on Tuesday (4 October), she will discuss her country’s relationship with the EU with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. 

The EU is Brazil’s biggest trading partner, and the stock of EU investments in the country exceeds EU investments in China and India combined. Despite strong commercial links, diplomats suggest that the EU has undervalued the relationship and that both sides are now interested in raising the ambition of the annual summits, which began in 2007.

Climate change

Rousseff, Van Rompuy and Barroso will discuss the global economic crisis and the prospects for a legally binding climate change treaty, an issue on which Brazil has been ambivalent. They will reaffirm their commitment to a future free-trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur, which includes Brazil and Argentina.