Trump border wall: Can Congress THWART Trump's national emergency declaration?

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency in order to fund the border wall between the USA and Mexico. Doing so will bypass Congress’ opposition to the wall and grant the President access to billions of dollars. Senior Democrats have accused the president of “gross abuse of power” and a “lawless act” and several Republicans have also voiced concern.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted a statement: “President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action – including a national emergency – to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border. 

“The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country.”

Building a border wall between Mexico and the USA was a key campaign pledge when Mr Trump was running for president and has become a hotly contested issue.

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Can Congress THWART Trump’s national emergency declaration?

Within the National Emergencies Act there is a clause which permits Congress to terminate the emergency status should both houses vote for it – and the president does not veto. 

Democrats have the majority in the House and could pass a termination to the Senate. 

Whilst the Republicans control the Senate, there are a number who have voiced concern over the President triggering a national emergency.

Those Republicans who are opposed include 2012 presidential contender and new senator for Utah Mitt Romney, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and the senator from Maine Lisa Murkowski, who said the President’s move was “of dubious constitutionality”.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to the Press Secretary’s statement, saying the President is setting a precedent that should be met with “great unease and dismay”.

She said the Democrats are considering making a legal challenge, telling reporters: “Did I say I was filing a legal challenge? I may, that’s an option.

“We will review our options, we will prepare to respond appropriately to it. 

“I know the Republicans have some unease about it, no matter what they say, because if the President can declare an emergency on something that he has created as an emergency, an illusion that he wants to convey, just think of what a president with different values can present to the American people. 

“So the precedent that the President is setting here is something which should be met with great unease and dismay by the Republicans. 

“You want to talk about a national emergency? Let’s talk about today, the one year anniversary of another manifestation of the epidemic of gun violence in America. 

“That’s a national emergency. Why don’t you declare that emergency Mr President? I wish you would.”

Mrs Pelosi was referring to February 14, 2019being the year anniversary of the massacre at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, in which 17 people died.

source: express.co.uk