President Trump to declare national emergency in bid for wall funding
US President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency in a bid to raise funds for his controversial border wall, the White House confirmed last night.
The move could allow Trump to bypass Congress and find the money unilaterally, but is likely to face legal challenges from Democrats.
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The administration said he will sign an executive order on the wall along the southern border with Mexico, alongside a bill to avert a government shutdown.
“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,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.
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The border wall was at the heart of a spat between the President and Democrats in Congress, shutting down the government for a record 35 days in December and January.
The Senate yesterday passed a bill to renew funding for the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies whose money was due to expire today.