(NewsNation) — In the first address of Donald Trump’s second term, the president declared a national emergency at America’s southern border.
The declaration, if consistent with the National Emergencies Act, gives Trump the executive power to redirect funds and personnel to address the emergency.
It will serve his goal of ramping up deportations and cracking down on criminal offenders, which he outlined following his inauguration.
Trump has already put pen to paper on multiple campaign promises in the first few hours of his presidency, including executive orders relating to ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government, strictly defining two sexes and enforcing heightened border security, among many others.
What does national emergency declaration do?
The declaration will allow Trump to seamlessly deploy military personnel to the border and redirect funds.
It also allows the president the ability to invoke “more than 100 available statutory authorities” he wouldn’t usually have.
Can Congress stop a national emergency?
Yes, Congress has the ability to end a national emergency declaration, but only through the passing of a joint resolution.
The legislature meets every six months after the national emergency is declared to “consider a vote on a joint resolution” on whether to terminate it.
Trump has declared national emergency at border before
Trump did the same in 2019, using the national emergency declaration to fund his border wall construction.
States and organizations filed lawsuits against his redirection of funds and resources through executive power, arguing that no national emergency exists and that he “overstepped his authority,” Congress records show.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali contributed to this report.