Trump will declare national emergency in dubious move to build wall after signing shutdown-averting budget deal

By CHRIS SOMMERFELDT
FEB 14, 2019 | 3:10 PM



President Trump says he'll declare a national emergency to get the wall built, according to Mitch McConnell. (Evan Vucci / AP)



President Trump will sign a massive spending package to avoid another government shutdown and simultaneously declare a national emergency in a legally dubious maneuver to build his long-promised border wall, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday.


The Kentucky Republican said from the Senate floor that Trump had personally told him he’s on board with the bipartisan budget proposal, which does not include any funding for the construction of a conventional wall on the Mexican border.


However, upon signing the bill, Trump will also declare emergency — which would in theory allow him to allocate money from the Pentagon’s budget and use it towards building a wall.


McConnell said he backs Trump’s plan.




“I’ve indicated to him that I’m going to support the national emergency declaration,” McConnell said. “To all my colleagues: the President will sign the bill.”


However, Democrats and legal experts say an emergency declaration would trigger immediate legal challenges and all but certainly be struck down in court, especially since Trump has teased the


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi affirmed that standpoint during her weekly press conference


This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.

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Chris Sommerfeldt
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Chris Sommerfeldt is a reporter covering national politics and the Trump administration. He started working for the Daily News in May 2015 as a city desk reporter.