Donald Trump to declare national emergency over Mexico border wall
White House reveals Trump plan to bypass Congress

Donald Trump plans to sign a bill to avert a government shutdown and then announce he is using executive action, including declaring a national emergency, to help finance construction on his proposed Mexican border wall, the White House has said.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell announced in the Senate that Trump intended to sign the compromise border security measure today to keep the government open, following several phone calls with the president in which he repeatedly pleaded with him to sign the deal.
McConnell said Trump had agreed to sign the bill while simultaneously declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, bypassing Congress on securing the funding for his wall and getting the military to build it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Many of Trump’s GOP congressional allies called the move ill-advised, and Democrats promised immediate action aimed at blocking it,” the Washington Post says.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement following the announcement, saying Trump’s plan to declare the emergency was “a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency”.
“This is not an emergency, and the president’s fear mongering doesn’t make it one,” they said.
Trump is seeking $8 billion (£6.25 billion) in funding to build the wall, despite his campaign promise that he would make Mexico pay for it, CNN notes.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Amazon's James Bond deal could mean a new future for 007
In the Spotlight The franchise had previously been owned by the Broccoli family for its entirety
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Why are Republicans suddenly panicking about DOGE?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As Trump and Musk take a chainsaw to the federal government, a growing number of Republicans worry that the massive cuts are hitting a little too close to home
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What is JD Vance's Net Worth?
In Depth The vice president is rich. But not nearly as wealthy as his boss and many of his boss' appointees
By David Faris Published
-
Ukraine's mineral riches and Trump's shakedown diplomacy
The Explainer President's demand for half of Kyiv's resources in return for past military aid amounts to 'mafia blackmail tactics' and 'colonialism'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Munich Security Conference: will spectre of appeasement haunt old world order?
Today's Big Question Trump's talks with Putin threaten the international rules-based order, say critics
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia frees US teacher Marc Fogel in murky 'exchange'
Speed Read He was detained in Moscow for carrying medically prescribed marijuana
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Hamas pauses Gaza hostage release, upending ceasefire
Speed Read Hamas postponed the next scheduled hostage release 'until further notice,' accusing Israel of breaking the terms of their ceasefire deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why South Africa's land reform is so controversial
The Explainer Donald Trump has turned his ire on the South African government's land reform policies
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
'Riviera of the Middle East': what does Trump's Gaza plan mean for the region?
Today's Big Question Suggestion that the US take over and redevelop the war-torn region, and displace its Palestinian residents, has been condemned by Arab allies but welcomed by Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Donald Trump's grab for the Panama Canal
The Explainer The US has a big interest in the canal through which 40% of its container traffic passes
By The Week UK Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published