Economists have said the hiring slowdown last month is a reminder of the risks facing the American economy, as health concerns put a dampener on consumer spending and temporary measures passed in March, including bans on evictions and a $600 emergency boost to unemployment benefits, expire. "As it becomes clear that businesses will be contending with a pandemic economy for some months to come, job losses are shifting from temporary to permanent," Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo said. "That brings us to a more dangerous phase." While Washington lawmakers have been trying to negotiate further stimulus, many Republicans oppose a deal of the size Democrats say is necessary. Republicans want a deal to include legal protections for employers against virus-related health claims from workers. They are also pushing to reduce the $600 emergency supplement to unemployment benefits, which expired last month, and have proposed far less aid to local governments than Democrats want.