Statement: Trump Will Sign Government Funding Bill, Also Declare State of Emergency at the U.S.-Mexico Border
WASHINGTON, DC - President Trump announced on Thursday, February 14, his plans to sign a compromise border security measure. While this move at least avoids another government shutdown and ends the congressional gridlock, a national emergency has also been declared in order to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
“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,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated in her iPhone notes.
NPR reported that the announcement was first made by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, after speaking with President Trump. This announcement, CNN noted, came before any official word from the White House and after a week of back-and-forth on will-he or will-he-not.
As we previously reported, the deal provides $1.375 billion for 55 new miles of border fencing in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley area. In addition, the deal also provides funding for nine federal departments through the end of the fiscal year.
Immediately following the announcement, those heading President Trump’s opposition voiced their disagreement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was considering challenging President Trump’s declaration legally. According to CNN, when asked if she would challenge the President in court, she said, “I may. That’s an option, and we will review our options.”
Another, Representative Jerrold Nadler, who Chairs the House Judiciary Committee, pointed to the constitutional merits of President Trump’s national emergency declaration, stating to The Washington Post: “This is a gross abuse of presidential power. This is an attempt to overturn the basic constitutional doctrine of separation of powers. Congress has the power of the purse. It cannot be tolerated.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report as updates arise.
