White House to launch 2nd coronavirus task force focused on reopening economy: report

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Photo credit FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2020, file photo, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., speaks with reporters during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump has named Meadows as his chief of staff, replacing Mick Mulvaney, who had been acting in the role. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The White House is assembling a second, smaller coronavirus task force -- not led by Vice President Mike Pence -- that will be focused on reopening the economy, The Washington Post is reporting, adding that President Trump may announce it this week. Plans to announce it earlier this week were delayed.

The task force will include newly-installed White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, as well as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, national economic adviser Larry Kudlow, as well as other top administration officials and private sector executives, according to the report. Kevin Hassett, Trump’s former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, may also join the task force.

Meadows is "likely" to lead the task force, although that has not been firmed up, sources told the Washington Post.

The White House has not commented.

The new task force will be separate from the main coronavirus task force, even though both will share members. 

The goal is to get most of the country open by April 30.