White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded to questions in a briefing Wednesday about decisions by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves to relax COVID-19 restrictions, including opening businesses and ending mask mandates.

"... This entire country has paid the price for political leaders who ignored the science when it comes to the pandemic," Psaki said.

Psaki added that the president is "hopeful that people in these states will continue to follow the guidelines that have been set out and the recommendations made by health and medical experts."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing Wednesday that the president is "comfortable" with negotiations on Capitol Hill resulting in limiting income thresholds for direct payments in the COVID-19 relief bill.

"We don't have a final bill, as you know. There will be ongoing discussions. He is comfortable and knows there will be tweaks at the margin," Psaki said. "What his firm viewpoint is, is that it needs to meet the scope of the challenge, it needs to be the size he's proposed."

A Democratic aide told ABC News Wednesday morning that changes in the bill include single filers making over $80,000 and joint filers making over $160,000 not receiving $1,400 direct payments.

Psaki added that Biden is "unmovable" on the dollar amount of the payments despite attempts to reduce it.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the public should "not expect" an announcement for director of the Office of Management and Budget after Biden's pick Neera Tanden withdrew her consideration Tuesday night over criticism from her past tweets critical of Republicans.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky responded to the decisions by some governors, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, to relax COVID-19 precautions, including opening businesses and ending mask mandates, saying the CDC and White House have been very clear about the need to step up protections and not relax them.

"Today we are at a critical nexus in the pandemic," Walensky said. "So much can turn in the next few weeks. On the one hand, cases in the country are leveling off at rates just on the cusp of potential to resurge."

Walensky made a personal plea to Americans regardless of local policies to continue making choices that will stop the virus from spreading.

"Whether mandated or not, as individuals and as communities, we can still take the right public health action to protect ourselves and others. Wearing a well-fitting mask, avoiding travel and crowds, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene," Walensky said. "Now more than ever, we must do all we can to stop the spread of the virus."

-ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs