How Unconstitutional Is Trump’s National Emergency Declaration?

FEATURING PAUL SEAMUS RYAN – President Donald Trump on Friday morning made an announcement from the White House that he was declaring a national emergency to obtain the funds to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. The announcement came a day after the House and Senate voted to pass a government-spending bill that included $1.375 billion in funding for fencing along 55 miles of the US-Mexico border. Trump said he would sign the bill even though he wasn’t happy about it. Now, with his declaration of a national emergency at the border, he is testing the limits of Congressional oversight power.

Democrats vowed to challenge the President. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of “making an end-run around Congress,” while Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said it was a, “lawless act,” and “a gross abuse of the power of the presidency.”

How unconstitutional is the President’s declaration?

Paul Seamus Ryan, Vice President of Policy & Litigation at Common Cause.