Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to signed an end-of-year COVID- relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

The fate of the bipartisan package remained in limbo Sunday as Trump continued to demand larger COVID- relief checks and complained about “pork” spending. Without the widespread funding provided by the massive measure, a government shutdown would occur when runs out at :01 a.m. Tuesday.

“It’s a chess game, and we are pawns,” said Lanetris Haines, a self-employed single of three in South Bend, Indiana, who stood to lose her $9 weekly jobless benefit unless Trump signed the package into law or succeeded in his improbable quest for changes.