The Justice Department, GOP aides reportedly warned Trump's emergency declaration will be blocked

Trump talks about the border bill
(Image credit: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

President Trump has signaled he will announce an emergency declaration at 10 a.m. on Friday in an attempt to take money from other federally appropriated projects and use it to build his border wall. It's a big gamble on Trump's part. "The Justice Department has warned the White House a national emergency declaration is nearly certain to be blocked by the courts on, at least, a temporary basis," ABC News reports. And, Politico adds, "aides privately predicted Trump will lose a vote on the Senate floor once the Democratic House passes a resolution of disapproval to block the move."

Once the House Democratic majority passes a joint resolution of termination to end Trump's declared emergency, the 1976 National Emergencies Act requires the GOP-controlled Senate to vote on the resolution within 18 days, The New York Times explains. Senate Democrats "would need only a handful of Republicans to join them to pass the resolution," and it's likely they'll get that. But thanks to a 1983 Supreme Court ruling, Trump can veto the resolution, and it's unlikely Democrats would have enough votes to override that veto.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.