'Constitutional conservative' Sen. Ben Sasse blames Nancy Pelosi for his vote to uphold Trump's emergency order


Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) voted against Thursday's resolution to terminate President Trump's emergency declaration for the border, despite having written a Washington Post op-ed saying he would vote for it because he "cannot justify providing the executive with more ways to bypass Congress," adding later: "It's never a tough vote for me when I'm standing on principle." That flip-flop was more awkward because Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) favorably cited Tillis' op-ed before the vote.
"But none of those 'nay' votes seems quite as loud, or discordant, as the one cast by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who is fond of talking about the importance of Congress as a check on runaway executive power," says Eric Boehm at Reason. Twelve Republicans did vote yes, and the resolution easily passed 59-41, so "that really only makes Sasse's opposition more curious."
Sasse explained in a statement after the vote that while he thinks the law Trump used to declare an emergency to sidestep Congress "is overly broad" and in need of a fix, "at present Nancy Pelosi doesn't, so I am therefore voting against her politically motivated resolution. As a constitutional conservative, I believe that the [National Emergencies Act] currently on the books should be narrowed considerably."
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.
"C'mon, this isn't a binary choice," Boehm said. "Voting to stop Trump's executive flexing doesn't prevent Congress from doing more to limit presidents' authority to use the NEA for politically motivated national emergencies that really aren't."
Many of Sasse's admirers were similarly disappointed. "If he refuses to take an actual material stand against perhaps the most egregious and norm-decimating action of Trump's entire presidency, then how is it anything more than grandstanding?" asked Tiana Lowe at The Washington Examiner. "Moral courage means nothing if it nukes your ability to actually do your job. Talk is cheap, but today it cost Sasse far too much."
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
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published