What It Means When Trump Declares a National Emergency
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Donald Trump made liberal use of emergency powers during his first stint as US president and is employing the same playbook this time around. Just hours after being sworn into office for a second term, he declared that the domestic energy landscape and situation at the border with Mexico constitute national emergencies.
By designating something a “national emergency,” the president can enhance his authority and resources to deal with a crisis, harnessing the special powers written into federal laws and regulations for such situations. The idea is to enable a faster response than Congress can mobilize through legislation — even when, as in Trump’s case, his political party controls both the House of Representatives and Senate.