After weeks of wrangling, the national budget has been passed by both houses of Congress and is expected to be signed by the president. But because he was forced to compromise away much of the funding he wanted for the border wall, President Trump has decided to instead declare the border a ‘national emergency,’ according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, which will give him broad powers in attempting to deal with that emergency.
The response was explosive on both sides. Supporters said it was the type of bold move that was needed to deal with a poorly maintained border. Detractors said that (beyond their general disagreements on the need for a wall) the move could set a dangerous precedent for future presidents. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the example of gun violence as an issue a future Democratic president could declare a national emergency on, a scenario sure to scare many Republicans.
History shows that whenever a president manages to take on a new power all subsequent presidents retain it, which has led to an executive branch that has expanded and expanded in power for decades.
For now, Republicans appear to be supportive of the move, but as the reality of what it means sets in, that may change.
