Biden’s aides told congressional allies they expected a Covid relief package costing around $ 2 trillion

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Biden’s team is taking a “shoot for the moon” approach with the package, a lawmaker in close contact with them told CNN, although they added that the price could still change. The proposal will include large direct payments to American families, significant state and local funding – including for the distribution of coronavirus vaccines and other emergency spending measures – to help those struggling during the pandemic.

Biden is expected to announce details of his plan in Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday night.

Democrats hold only the slimmest of majorities in the House and Senate, and Republicans have recently resisted efforts to take relief from Covid-19 to a multibillion dollar scale. But Biden’s party thinks it may only have a brief window to pass sweeping relief legislation, and the president-elect has faced significant pressure from some Democrats to go further.

Biden calls on Senate to continue impeachment with country's 'other urgent business'

Brian Deese, Biden’s choice to head the National Economic Council, told a conference Wednesday that the package would include $ 2,000 stimulus checks and address other relief measures like unemployment insurance.

Biden’s early focus on a broad relief program reflects the political reality that his first year in office will be defined by his ability to fight the virus and avert an economic collapse.

And just days away from taking office, the pandemic is now killing faster than at any other time in 2020. The United States on Tuesday reported its highest number of Covid-19 deaths in a day: 4,327, according to Johns Hopkins University.

As a result, Biden is pushing to prevent the upcoming Senate impeachment trial from consuming his agenda and eclipsing the early days of his administration. He is still awaiting information on whether the Senate will be able to pursue the indictment alongside Cabinet confirmation hearings and Covid-19 legislation.

Aides says Biden and his team are working behind the scenes with Senate Democrats – and House impeachment officials – to get the impeachment trial as swift as possible, although the question remains open as to whether how far that might be successful.

In a statement Wednesday night, Biden clarified that while the House vote “to impeach and hold the president accountable” was “a bipartisan vote cast by members who have followed the Constitution and their conscience,” he does not want the Senate trial hampers his agenda.

“This nation also remains in the grip of a deadly virus and a growing economy,” Biden continued. “I hope the Senate leadership will find a way to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities for impeachment while also working on other pressing matters of this nation.”

This story was updated with additional information on Wednesday.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Dan Merica, Gregory Krieg and Caroline Kelly contributed to this report.

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