CNBC reported that the federal government will suspend its offer of free at-home COVID-19 testing through Friday, September 2 without Congressional approval for an extension.

“Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2, because Congress has failed to allocate additional funds to replenish the nation’s inventory of tests,” the federal government said in a COVID-19 statement website read.

According to a previous CNBC report, Senate Republicans and Democrats have reportedly reached one tentative $10 billion deal in additional COVID-19 funding to support the nation’s pandemic preparedness.

Related: White House warns it cannot afford COVID-19-related solutions as cases surge.

The official said the administration would use its existing “limited” resources to get as many tests as possible, but distribution could resume on a large scale if Congress allocates the funds to do so.

Last year President Biden 500 million ordered free at-home COVID-19 testing as a step to contain the Omicron variant.

The White House announced this in October last year a $1 billion investment to increase the supply of COVID-19 home tests.

CNN first reported that the Biden administration blamed Congress for ending the program, which has allowed up to 16 free tests per household since the beginning of the year.

The federal government has distributed around 600 million tests via its Covid-19 testing website.

With distribution ceasing this week, most people in the US would still have the option to get tested for free or have coverage through private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash