Trump to Declare <br />National Emergency<br />and Sign Spending Bill The Senate voted 82-16 <br />to pass the 1,159-page <br />bill, averting another <br />government shutdown. It includes $1.375 billion for <br />55 miles of steel-post fencing <br />along the U.S. southern border. White House spokesperson <br />Sarah Sanders announced that <br />President Donald Trump "will <br />also take other executive action - including a national emergency — <br />to ensure we stop the national security <br />and humanitarian crisis at the border." Senate Majority leader Mitch <br />McConnell, R-KY, indicated <br />that he will support the <br />national emergency declaration. By declaring a <br />national emergency <br />on border security, Trump <br />essentially bypasses Congress to divert the amount <br />of funding he seeks to build a <br />wall on the U.S./Mexico border. The president is seeking <br />$5.7 billion to create a <br />steel or concrete wall to <br />run more than 200 miles. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, <br />D-CA, referred to Trump's <br />expected declaration as <br />"an end run around Congress." She said Democrats <br />were "reviewing" <br />options to respond, <br />including a legal challenge.
