The cash-strapped agency is delaying the increase amid pressure from advocates and elected officials who say the change would hurt essential and low-wage workers.
The value of office buildings and hotel properties, which have all but emptied out since the pandemic began, is expected to take a nosedive.
The president-elect is expected to lay out his plans today for an initial effort to combat the coronavirus and a subsequent one to address economic recovery.
The Senate leader all but ended any chance of increasing direct payments, despite some Republican support for the effort.
The president’s demand that Congress amend a giant coronavirus relief and government spending bill has raised the unexpected prospect that help may no longer be days away.
Top party leaders cinched a $900 billion relief deal after laying down their swords. But it took an empowered, bipartisan group of moderates to help bridge the divide.
Leaders said they had an agreement on a pandemic aid plan including payments to Americans, jobless benefits and funds for businesses and vaccine distribution, but the timing of final votes was unclear.
The emerging compromise would provide emergency stimulus payments, jobless aid and rental assistance, extending help to businesses and funding the distribution of a vaccine. But more is likely to be needed.
The top four congressional leaders had their first in-person spending discussions in months, but were still short of a deal on a pandemic stimulus measure or a broader spending plan.
Reeling from the pandemic, transit agencies are grappling with drastic reductions in ridership and pleading for help from Washington.
Senator Mitch McConnell said negotiations on a new round of coronavirus relief were closer to agreement, but did not endorse a $908 billion compromise measure embraced by Democratic leaders.