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Happy Friday and welcome back to On The Money, where we’re more than willing to test all 2020-themed ice cream flavors. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.

See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.

Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.

 

Programming note: On The Money won’t be taking a summer vacation, but we’ll only be running once a week throughout August. We’ll still have plenty of coverage of Trump’s trade war, the state of the economy, the battle over Trump’s tax returns and far more at TheHill.com though.

 

THE BIG DEAL–Positive July jobs report: The U.S. added 164,000 jobs in July, the Labor Department reported Friday, a positive sign amid concerns about the long term health of the economy.

The July jobs report largely met expectations, showing a resilient but slowing labor market. The unemployment rate held even at 3.7 percent, and the labor force participation rate was little changed at 63 percent.

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The jobs report comes one week after the Commerce Department released data showing a notable slowdown in U.S. growth and sharp declines in business activity. 

While the labor market has rallied through many of those obstacles, the July jobs report showed unmistakable signs of a cooling economy, a potential challenge for President TrumpDonald John TrumpKentucky miners’ struggle is that of many working Americans Cummings releases statement on attempted break-in after Trump attacks PhRMA top lobbyist to leave post MORE as he seeks reelection. I explain why here.

• May’s dismal jobs gain of 72,000 was revised down to just 62,000, while a stellar June jobs gain of 224,000 jobs was cut to a less impressive 192,000 jobs. The 41,000-job reduction dragged down the average monthly gain over the past three months to 140,000 jobs.

• The economy also leaned heavily on the service sector for expansion, creating roughly 130,000 jobs, while goods-producing and construction industries stayed largely stagnant.

• The manufacturing sector added just 16,000 jobs, remaining largely unchanged, and wage growth has stayed flat since notching 3.2 percent in 2018. The lackluster employment figures follow a decline in U.S. industrial activity since the start of 2019 and a 5.2 percent decline in exports in the second quarter.

 

LEADING THE DAY

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Trump signs two-year budget deal: President Trump on Friday signed a sweeping budget deal that increases federal spending and lifts the nation’s borrowing limit, the White House said.

The new law suspends the debt ceiling through July 2021, removing the threat of a default during the 2020 elections, and raises domestic and military spending by more than $320 billion compared to existing law over the next two fiscal years.

Trump signed the measure without fanfare at the White House one day after the Senate voted 67-28 to send it to his desk. Last week, the House passed the budget package by a vote of 284-149 before starting its August recess. 

Fiscal hawks and some conservative Republicans decried the measure, which is projected to add nearly $2 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. 

Even so, Trump threw his support behind it in large part because it cleared the decks of a messy budget fight as the 2020 campaign kicks into high gear and because it boosts military spending.

 

…But a border fight is throwing a curveball: Lawmakers are bracing for a fierce fight over President Trump’s border wall as they work to prevent a shutdown showdown but with no plan on how to avoid it.

Government funding for Trump’s wall and agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a landmine in spending bill negotiations, with talks late last year leading to a 35-day partial closure that marked the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoTrump border fight throws curveball into shutdown prospects The Hill’s Morning Report — Mueller testimony gives Trump a boost as Dems ponder next steps The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Muller testimony dominates Washington MORE (R-W.Va.), who chairs the Department of Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, put her hand to her chin as though she were deep in thought when asked if there was a plan to avoid another battle over the wall and immigration-related issues.

“Hmm, that’s a good question. I think it’s going to be a problem,” she said. 

 

The issue: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is one of the 12 individual appropriations bills that need to pass Congress and be signed into law by Oct. 1 or be extended by way of a continuing resolution to buy lawmakers more time.

• Senators on both sides of the aisle say they have no appetite to repeat the knock-down, drag-out fight similar to last year’s funding bills.

• But appropriators responsible for moving funding legislation through Congress are struggling to find an offramp to avoid another high-stakes fight.

The Hill’s Jordain Carney tells us why here.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• China threatened on Friday to levy retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in response to President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would place new tariffs on Chinese goods beginning next month.

• President Trump on Friday announced a deal with the European Union to increase market access for U.S. ranchers… and then scared the heck out of U.S. Trade Representative Bob LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerChinese, US negotiators fine-tuning details of trade agreement: report The Trump economy keeps roaring ahead Trump says no discussion of extending deadline in Chinese trade talks MORE with a joke about tariffs on European cars.

• “The American middle class is falling deeper into debt to maintain a middle-class lifestyle,” according to The Wall Street Journal. 

 

ODDS AND ENDS

• The merger of two major Kosher food brands is like General Motors buying Ford for some American Jews. 

 

RECAP THE WEEK WITH ON THE MONEY:

• Monday: Trump banks on Fed, China to fuel 2020 economy | Judge orders parties to try to reach deal in lawsuit over Trump tax returns | Warren targets corporate power with plan to overhaul trade policy

• Tuesday: Fed poised to give Trump boost with rate cut | Parties unable to reach deal in Trump tax return lawsuit | New York opens investigation into Capital One data breach

• Wednesday: Fed cuts rates for first time since financial crisis | Trump rips Fed after chief casts doubt on future cuts | Stocks slide | Senate kicks budget vote amid scramble for GOP support

• Thursday: Trump to hit China with new tariffs next month | Stocks plummet on latest trade threat | Senate sends budget deal to Trump | Judge orders NY not to share Trump’s tax returns for now

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A prominent conservative group is raising concerns about a potential budget deal that would raise spending caps and suspend the debt limit.

The Club for Growth is taking issue with the fact that a budget agreement could lead to an increase in the debt at a time when debt and deficit levels are already high. The group’s comments come after the Office of Management and Budget estimated that the deficit will be about $1 trillion this year.

“Congressional Leadership continues to aggressively pursue spending agreements that propel our country toward bankruptcy and fiscal crisis,” Club for Growth President David McIntosh said in a statement Friday. “President TrumpDonald John TrumpCould Donald Trump and Boris Johnson be this generation’s Reagan-Thatcher? Merkel backs Democratic congresswomen over Trump How China’s currency manipulation cheats America on trade MORE will be running for reelection with an annual deficit over $1 trillion and without Congress having made any progress on America’s staggering national debt, which exceeds $22 trillion.”

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McIntosh added that the Club for Growth has been encouraged by people in the Trump administration who are interested in reining in deficits, but that “too many in Congress, especially those in Leadership, have no intention of showing fiscal restraint.”

Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinHow China’s currency manipulation cheats America on trade The Hill’s Morning Report: Trump walks back from ‘send her back’ chants Trump faces new hit on deficit MORE said Thursday that he and House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiDHS chief to Pelosi: Emergency border funding ‘has already had an impact’ The Hill’s Morning Report: Trump walks back from ‘send her back’ chants Trump faces new hit on deficit MORE (D-Calif.) have reached an agreement on the top-line numbers for defense and nondefense discretionary spending for a two-year budget deal. 

Mnuchin said that the administration and congressional leaders are still discussing what amount of spending cuts and revenue raisers would be included in the package to help pay for the agreement.

The Trump administration is pushing for about $150 billion in offsets to be included in the deal. The White House sent Capitol Hill a list of offsets on Thursday night.

A Democratic source close to the talks said that the White House’s list is a “starting point for negotiations on this aspect,” and that the administration understands that those levels are “nonstarters” for Democrats. Discussions about offsets remain ongoing.

The Committee for Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a budget watchdog group, said in a statement Friday that any budget deal shouldn’t add to the debt.

“Now is the chance for Congress to show they can support federal investments and national security without abandoning fiscal responsibility and leaving the bill for future generations,” CRFB President Maya MacGuineas said.

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Democratic presidential candidate Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegButtigieg on Biden’s Iraq War vote: ‘that vote was a mistake’ Buttigieg on Biden’s Iraq War vote: ‘that vote was a mistake’ Buttigieg on offers of foreign intel: ‘Just call the FBI’ MORE responded to remarks from President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump defends Stephanopolous interview Trump defends Stephanopolous interview Buttigieg on offers of foreign intel: ‘Just call the FBI’ MORE regarding offers of foreign intelligence, saying that in that case, the president should “call the FBI.”

The South Bend, Ind. mayor told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that it is not acceptable to receive information from a foreign government about a political opponent. 

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“Just call the FBI. It’s not hard. It’s not complicated,” he said. “If you think there’s a foreign effort to tamper with an American election and you’re an American who cares about America, you call the FBI.”

Buttigieg also said that this issue “isn’t hypothetical,” referring to Russian interference attempts in in past elections. 

“We were attacked by a hostile foreign power that decided that they could damage America, destabilize America, by intervening in the election to help him win. And they did and he did, and now America’s destabilized,” he said, apparently talking about Trump. “So this is not some academic exercise. This is something that has happened and will probably happen again.”

The presidential hopeful also questioned how a president who cares about the U.S. could allow a “potentially hostile foreign power” to interfere in its elections. 

“You have to draw a very clear line,” he said. “If you care about this country, if you believe in putting this country first, how could you ever talk about allowing a foreign- potentially hostile foreign power to interfere in the most sacred thing that we have in our civic tradition in America, which is our elections?” 

Buttigieg’s remarks come after President Trump said Wednesday that he would consider accepting information political opponents from foreign entities. 

“I think you might want to listen. There’s nothing wrong with listening,” Trump told ABC News. “It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI.”

In the interview, ABC News host George StephanopoulosGeorge Robert StephanopoulosButtigieg on offers of foreign intel: ‘Just call the FBI’ Buttigieg on offers of foreign intel: ‘Just call the FBI’ Trump weighs in on UFOs in Stephanopoulos interview MORE noted that Trump’s FBI director, Christopher Wray, has said campaigns should report such contact from foreign entities to the bureau.

“The FBI director is wrong,” Trump responded.

 The president’s remarks received criticism from several lawmakers.   

 

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A British human rights watchdog has launched an investigation into the Labor Party following complaints about anti-Semitism.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said Tuesday the investigation will determine if the left-leaning party has “unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimized people because they are Jewish.” 

It will also seek to determine if the party has responded to complaints efficiently and effectively.

The Labour Party has committed to fully cooperate with the investigation, the commission said in a release. 

A report of the investigation findings will be published once the probe is concluded. 

Accusations of anti-Semitism within the party and regarding party leader Jeremy Corbyn have been circulating since mid-2016, ahead of the Brexit vote, according to the BBC.

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In February, seven Labor Party lawmakers quit the party after claiming anti-Semitism was not adequately being addressed within its ranks.

Mike Katz, chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, told the BBC that the party’s response to anti-Semitism for years has been “woeful at best, and institutionally racist at worst.” 

“Last year we took the unprecedented step to refer the party to the EHRC, and we welcome their decision today to launch a full statutory inquiry,” Katz said. 

Accusations of racism among British politicians are not contained to one party. 

On Tuesday, The Muslim Council of Britain asked the watchdog group to launch an investigation into allegations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, the BBC reported.

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Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergFacebook’s Zuckerberg and Sandberg reportedly refuse Canadian hearing summons Hillicon Valley: Facebook won’t remove doctored Pelosi video | Trump denies knowledge of fake Pelosi videos | Controversy over new Assange charges | House Democrats seek bipartisan group on net neutrality On The Money: Conservative blocks disaster relief bill | Trade high on agenda as Trump heads to Japan | Boeing reportedly faces SEC probe over 737 Max | Study finds CEO pay rising twice as fast as worker pay MORE could be held in contempt of Canadian Parliament if he continues to ignore requests from Canadian lawmakers to testify before their government, Canadian Conservative Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer said Tuesday. 

Canadian lawmakers voted Tuesday to issue an open-ended summons for Zuckerberg and Facebook Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Sandberg, meaning the two will face summons to appear before the Parliament the next time they step foot in Canada. If the executives fail to abide by those summons, Canadian lawmakers would vote on a motion to hold them in contempt of Parliament, Zimmer said. 

If approved, that motion could result in jail time for the powerful executives, though it is unlikely it would play out that way. 

“It’s only fitting that there’s an ongoing summons, so as soon as they step foot into our country they will be served and expected to [sit in front of] our committee,” said Zimmer, chairman of the Canadian House of Commons committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

He made the announcement after Zuckerberg and Sandberg flouted a subpoena to appear before the committee during a hearing attended by international lawmakers about privacy, misinformation and hate speech. Throughout the testy event, lawmakers expressed outrage at the executives for failing to comply with the subpoena, instead opting to send Facebook’s head of public policy in Canada Kevin Chan and its director of public policy Neil Potts.

Jo Stevens, a U.K. member of parliament, said at the hearing that members of the committee had crossed oceans to make it more convenient for Zuckerberg to testify. Potts said he and Chan have been tasked with representing the company. 

The international hearing included representatives from countries including Ireland, Singapore, the United Kingdom and more. The lawmakers hit Chan and Potts with scathing and detailed criticisms of Facebook’s business practices, including specific instances in which the platform was slow to take down hate speech or misinformation. 

Representatives from Google and Twitter were also in attendance and fielded questions, but the committee did not send summons to Google CEO Sundar Pichai or Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. 

“Shame on Mark Zuckerberg and shame on Sheryl Sandberg for not showing up today,” Zimmer said. 

Zuckerberg and Sandberg’s no-show marks the latest instance in which the top Facebook executives have declined to appear before governmental bodies. Zuckerberg previously declined to appear before the U.K. Parliament, infuriating top British lawmakers, and has repeated the tactic all over the world. 

Canadian lawmakers on Tuesday hit Zuckerberg as they quoted from a recent op-ed in which he vowed to sit down with lawmakers looking to regulate the tech giant.

Canada’s privacy watchdog last month accused Facebook of violating the country’s privacy laws in its handling of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) vowed to take the company to court over its findings.

The OPC had launched the investigation last year after it was revealed that political consulting group Cambridge Analytica had obtained data on millions of Facebook users without their knowledge.

Facebook has said it does not agree with the OPC’s conclusions. 

A Facebook spokesperson after the meeting on Tuesday said, “We are grateful to the Committee for the opportunity to answer their questions today and remain committed to working with world leaders, governments, and industry experts to address these complex issues. As we emphasized, we share the Committee’s desire to keep people safe and to hold companies like ours accountable.” 

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpPapadopoulos on AG’s new powers: ‘Trump is now on the offense’ Pelosi uses Trump to her advantage Mike Pence delivers West Point commencement address MORE‘s decision giving Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrPapadopoulos on AG’s new powers: ‘Trump is now on the offense’ House Democrats must insist that Robert Mueller testifies publicly Why Mueller may be fighting a public hearing on Capitol Hill MORE “full and complete authority” to declassify documents related to surveillance activities during the 2016 campaign has set off a wave of criticism in Washington.

Democrats and former intelligence officials are worried that the move could politicize the intelligence community and put sources and methods at risk, describing his action as “un-American” and “dangerous.” 

Trump on Friday defended his decision to grant Barr declassification authority in his investigation, declaring it would reveal the origins of special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump orders more troops to Mideast amid Iran tensions Trump: Democrats just want Mueller to testify for a ‘do-over’ Graham: Mueller investigation a ‘political rectal exam’ MORE‘s probe into Russia’s election interference. But Democrats, dismayed with Barr’s handling of the Mueller report, have raised concerns that the attorney general cannot be trusted with the task.

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“We still don’t have the full Mueller report, so of course the President gives sweeping declassification powers to an Attorney General who has already shown that he has no problem selectively releasing information in order to mislead the American people,” Sen. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerTrump declassification move unnerves Democrats Hillicon Valley: Assange hit with 17 more charges | Facebook removes record 2.2B fake profiles | Senate passes anti-robocall bill | Senators offer bill to help companies remove Huawei equipment Senators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks MORE (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffFive takeaways from Barr’s new powers in ‘spying’ probe Trump declassification move unnerves Democrats Trump appeals order siding with House Democrats bank subpoenas MORE (D-Calif.) called the move “un-American.”

John McLaughlin, the former deputy director of the CIA during the George W. Bush administration, called it “a really bad idea” to give Barr declassification authority.

“The agencies can cooperate but must retain their legal responsibility for protecting sources,” McLaughlin tweeted late Thursday. “Congressional intelligence committees need to stand in the door on this one.”

The White House issued a memo Thursday evening directing the heads of U.S. intelligence agencies and several departments that include elements of the intelligence community to cooperate with Barr’s review into intelligence activities related to the 2016 presidential campaigns, which the attorney general has described as “spying.”

The memo also states that Barr has the authority to declassify information or intelligence relating to his probe. It instructs him to consult with the heads of intelligence agencies “to the extent he deems it practicable.”

The White House asserted that the declassification process would “restore confidence in our public institutions.”

Director of National Intelligence Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFive takeaways from Barr’s new powers in ‘spying’ probe Trump declassification move unnerves Democrats Hillicon Valley: Facebook co-founder calls for breaking up company | Facebook pushes back | Experts study 2020 candidates to offset ‘deepfake’ threat | FCC votes to block China Mobile | Groups, lawmakers accuse Amazon of violating children’s privacy MORE said in a statement on Friday that the intelligence community would provide the Department of Justice “all of the appropriate information” for its review. 

“I am confident that the Attorney General will work with the [intelligence community] in accordance with the long-established standards to protect highly-sensitive classified information that, if publicly released, would put our national security at risk,” Coats said.

Trump has espoused that his campaign was improperly surveilled by intelligence officials who were biased against him during the 2016 election, an unproven theory echoed by some of his conservative supporters. He has bandied the word “treason” to describe the origins of the Russia investigation, and on Friday defended the declassification order.

“People have been asking me to declassify for a long period of time,” Trump said as he departed the White House for Japan. “I’ve decided to do it and you’re going to learn a lot. I hope it’s going to be nice, but perhaps it won’t be.”

In Barr, Trump has found an attorney general who has lent credence to some of his long-standing beliefs. The attorney general sparked a furor when he said he believed “spying” occurred in 2016, but that he didn’t know if it was done improperly.

Democrats and FBI Director Christopher Wray are among those who balked at Barr’s use of the term “spying.”

Democrats have further raised concerns that Barr is acting more as Trump’s personal attorney than the nation’s top law enforcement officer. A number of Democratic senators called on Barr to resign after it became clear that Mueller felt Barr mischaracterized the special counsel’s findings.

“Trump dangerously politicizes intelligence declassification—giving his henchman AG sweeping powers to weaponize classified info against political foes,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) tweeted Friday. “No safeguards, no accountability, no respect for intel sources—a deeply perilous recipe to distract from mounting troubles.”

Trump scoffed at the suggestion that the attorney general was untrustworthy or potentially compromised, calling it “so false and so phony” to raise Mueller’s frustrations with Barr’s portrayal of his findings.

“The attorney general is one of the most respected people in this country, and he has been for a long period of time,” Trump said.

But former intelligence officials wondered whether Trump’s desire to unearth the origins of what he has frequently derided as a “witch hunt” will negatively affect the intelligence community’s ability to do its job.

James ClapperJames Robert ClapperTrump declassification move unnerves Democrats Comey: ‘The FBI doesn’t spy, the FBI investigates’ How I learned to love the witch hunt MORE, a former director of national intelligence and a regular target of Trump’s scorn, said Thursday that the Mueller report already made a significant amount of information public. He suggested further declassification “might risk jeopardizing sources and methods.”

But Trump’s allies in Congress hailed the president’s decision. Several Republicans praised it as a move in support of transparency, and suggested it would validate their claims of anti-Trump bias among former government officials.

“Americans are going to learn the truth about what occurred at their Justice Department,” Rep. Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsFive takeaways from Barr’s new powers in ‘spying’ probe Trump declassification move unnerves Democrats Conservative blocks House passage of disaster relief bill MORE (R-N.C.) tweeted.

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamTrump declassification move unnerves Democrats Climate change is a GOP issue, too New Yorker cover titled ‘The Shining’ shows Graham, McConnell, Barr polishing Trump’s shoes MORE (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the declassification of documents “long overdue.”

“You’re going to find out the mentality of the people investigating the president,” he said on “Fox & Friends.” “You’re going to find out exactly what they did and said.”

Graham, who has made clear he intends to use his position to look into alleged surveillance abuses during the Obama administration, suggested the response when the documents are released will fall along partisan lines.

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“You’ll be interested in it,” he told the Fox News co-hosts. “Not one Democrat will give a damn.”

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The Premier League champions have pipped Chelsea and Tottenham to the signature of the 16-year-old, who will join the club in 2019

Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, the Irish club have confirmed.

Bazunu, 16, became the club’s youngest ever goalkeeper when he featured for Rovers against Bray Wanderers earlier this year, and the clubs have now reached a pre-contract agreement with the teenager.

He has kept a clean sheet in all of his four league appearances.

Reports in Ireland claim that City have paid an initial €400,000 to sign the teenager, who will finish his studies in Ireland befoe moving to England.

Indeed, the club have confirmed that “it is fair to say that this is the biggest transfer by an Irish club in the professional era”.

A statement added: “Shamrock Rovers F.C. can today confirm that the club has reached a pre-contract agreement with Manchester City F.C. for the transfer of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. Gavin will remain with the first team squad at Shamrock Rovers and move to Manchester in 2019.

“The club has spent some time working with the player, Manchester City and Ashfield College to put in place the arrangements to allow Gavin to complete his Leaving Certificate next year.”

Both Chelsea and Tottenham have been heavily linked with the highly-rated Irishman, and it has been reported that Spurs made a number of bids for the player.

 

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The Manchester United midfielder’s initiative has bolstered its ranks with the world-famous freestyler

Freestyle football world champion Liv Cooke has joined Juan Mata’s Common Goal initiative.

Common Goal is a charitable movement run by streetfootballworld that was launched with the support of the Manchester United attacker.

Mata announced in an article for The Players’ Tribune that he was pledging one per cent of his salary to Common Goal, and called for other players to do the same.

The likes of Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini have all signed up, along with Manchester United great Eric Cantona.

Cooke, the first British female professional football freestyler, has become the latest star to make the pledge, contributing to the rapidly growing football-based initiative tackling some of the world’s toughest social challenges.

A gifted young footballer, Cooke was part of the Blackburn Rovers Centre of Excellence before her promising potential career was cut short by injury.

She found the art of freestyle football via YouTube and quickly turned her hand to it. In August 2017, she became the youngest football freestyle champion in history, winning the Super Ball final in Prague.

On joining the initiative, she said: “One major thing I’ve learnt along the way is that football is more than just a game or a sport. Football can be a powerful force for good – used to tackle some of the world’s toughest social issues and make so many people’s lives better.

“I want to call freestylers from all over the world to come and join us, take the pledge, and help us make a difference.”

Common Goal co-founder and CEO, Jurgen Griesbeck, added: “It is great to have Liv on board at Common Goal with us. She is a world champion and a pioneer in women’s freestyle football – she represents everything we are trying to do here.

“I know she has a great passion to give back to those less fortunate, and I’m excited to work with her going forward.”

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As he heads towards a full year as caretaker coach of the U.S. national team, the 64-year-old will bid farewell to a job that was never in his grasp

It has been a recurring uncomfortable scene that has played out repeatedly for the better part of the past year that Dave Sarachan has been serving as caretaker coach of the U.S. national team. Questions addressed to Sarachan about his chances of being chosen to keep the USMNT job he was given to babysit until a permanent appointment was made. 

What the reporters asking those questions have been consistently oblivious to is the reality that Sarachan was never in the running for the job, was never considered as a candidate, even as weeks turned into months. It wasn’t going to matter how the USA fared, or what results were posted, Sarachan was always a placeholder.

It has been a reality Sarachan fully understood, even as he often found himself trying to provide poilte, bland answers about whether he was hoping to land a job that anyone with a clue knew he had no chance to land, no matter how much he might want it deep down.

Sarachan has spent the past year in the coaching equivalent of the friend zone, doing his best to help the national team program transition to a new generation, all the while knowing another coach would be stepping in to take the program into the heart of a new qualifying cycle.

That new coach is expected to be hired soon, potentially before the team’s November friendlies against England and Italy. All signs point to Columbus Crew boss Gregg Berhalter being the favorite to be hired.  That means Sarachan could have coached his final USMNT match in Tuesday’s draw with Peru, or he could lead the team in November already knowing who the next coach will be.

That isn’t bothering Sarachan, who has fully embraced his temporary status.

“Until they tell me I’m not, I’m full bore man,” Sarachan said when asked if he would still be coaching the team for the November friendlies. “(I’ll) Keep going. This is too much fun.”

That Sarachan has had a year in charge of the national team is a miracle in itself.

He had spent the better part of the past decade as an assistant coach, serving as Bruce Arena’s right-hand man during their title-winning run with the LA Galaxy and then as his lead assistant during the disastrous 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle. Some die-hard USMNT fans may have even been oblivious to the fact Sarachan had his own trophy-winning five-year stretch as head coach of the Chicago Fire more than a decade ago. He came within an MLS Cup final loss of winning a treble with the Fire in 2003, and led the club to four finals, winning a pair of U.S. Open Cup titles.

While Sarachan was never really in the running for the job on a permanent basis, he has impressed his players with his professionalism in what hasn’t been an easy position.

“As an interim (coach), it’s always a tricky position,” midfielder Wil Trapp said of Sarachan. “In many respects, he could have mailed it in and he never did that. From the first game in Portugal last year to tonight, he’s always put out a lineup that he’s confident in and he’s always given the group a plan.

“I can’t say enough good things about how he’s approached this situation and the way he’s brought this group along.”

Sarachan deserves some credit for the work he has done. He has certainly boosted his chances of landing a head coaching job once he’s done with the USMNT, but there’s no denying that the prolonged wait in selecting a new head coach has cost the team valuable time developing in a system that will be in place long term. For all his efforts, Sarachan never really implemented a clear style.

“The U.S. definitely still needs an identity of how we want to play,” Josh Sargent said after Tuesday’s draw with Peru. “Hopefully (we will get that) with a new coach coming in and telling us what he wants with us, and obviously Dave did a great job in these camps.”

Sarachan has taken an unenviable job and made the most of it, helping usher in a new generation of talents while the process to hire a new coach dragged on. There will never be an acceptable justification for U.S. Soccer having taken more than a year to find a new full-time USMNT head coach, but Sarachan deserves some credit for embracing being in the coaching version of the friend zone.

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