Donald Trump Is About To Declare A State Of National Emergency – Here’s Why

It is normally called upon in a crisis, or when national security is threatened. A state of emergency was called after 9/11, for example.

The US has so far declared 58 states of emergency since 1979, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Barack Obama declared a state of emergency during the swine flu epidemic a decade ago, in a bid to ensure proper patient care.

Trump’s plan is unprecedented, and campaigners warn it could set a dangerous blueprint, as the move has never before been invoked over a campaign promise that lawmakers do not agree on.

The move allows Trump to act without Congress, which controls the government purse strings.

Where Will The Money Come From?

The move could see billions of dollars taken out of funds reserved for disaster recovery – money which has been earmarked by the Pentagon, the US Department of Defence.

Funds put aside for reconstruction efforts in California, parts of which were recently gutted by wildfires, as well as for reconstruction efforts in hurricane-ruined Puerto Rico could also be re-routed into paying for the obstruction. Taking money from those efforts would get Trump nearly $5bn, not far from his $5.7bn total.

Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González, wrote to the president on Thursday, saying: “Seventeen months after the impact of Hurricane Maria, these projects remain critical for the recovery and economic resurgence of the people of Puerto Rico”.