Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer rip into POTUS' decision to declare a national emergency

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joins other political figures in contesting the validity of President Donald Trump's state of emergency.

On February 15. 2019, President Donald Trump decided to declare a national emergency on the southern border in order to bypass Congress and obtain the funding he desires for his proposed border wall.

His decision has set off a storm of protest and varied reactions from the country's most respected and prominent political fugures.

.@realDonaldTrump’s actions clearly violate the Congress’s exclusive power of the purse, which our Founders enshrined in the Constitution. The Congress will defend our constitutional authorities in the Congress, in the Courts, and in the public, using every remedy available.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 15, 2019

"@realDonaldTrump’s unlawful declaration over a crisis that does not exist does great violence to our Constitution and makes America less safe, stealing from urgently needed defense funds for the security of our military and our nation."

A NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO FUND THE BORDER WALL

The conflict between the President and Congress over the funding for the border wall is ongoing. The first round of the tug-of-war over the $5,7 million the President needs to fund the wall culminated in the longest government shutdown in history, which left 800,000 federal workers without a salary.

Now, the President plans to use the state of emergency to access funds in the Treasury and Defense departments, and funnel them into the border wall project.

The American people, the Congress and the courts must show Trump what the Constitution and separation of powers is about. Trump cannot declare a "national emergency" whenever he wants, and spend money on his pet project. Not gonna happen!

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 15, 2019

Although Democrats are overwhelmingly against the President's decision, some Republicans have come out in support of the state of emergency.

NANCY PELOSI'S RESPONSE

The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accuses the President of violating the Constitution and Congress' exclusive power of the purse. Pelosi has promised to fight the President's executive order all the way to the Supreme Court if need be.

Let’s be clear – this is not a national emergency, it is a political emergency for President Trump. Instead of working with Congress on humane, responsible, and effective border security, the President has chosen to abuse his power under the Constitution.

— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) February 15, 2019

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS CALLS ON THE COURTS TO INTERVENE

Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has appealed to the American people, Congress and the courts to defend the constitution:

"Trump cannot declare a 'national emergency' whenever he wants, and spend money on his pet project. Not gonna happen!" 

Let’s be clear, the President is declaring a national emergency because he couldn’t deliver on a ridiculous campaign promise even when Republicans controlled the WH and both chambers of Congress for two full years.

This is a constitutional end run and it’s a terrible idea.

— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) February 15, 2019

REPUBLICANS SUPPORT PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER

Although Democrats are overwhelmingly against the President's decision, some Republicans have come out in support of the state of emergency.

Among the President's supporters is Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell who declared:

"(President Trump's) decision to announce emergency action is the predictable and understandable consequence of Democrats' decision to put partisan obstruction ahead of the national interest."

Just days after President Donald Trump appealed for union and cooperation in his State of the Union address, his decision has widened the rift in an already divided Congress.

President Donald Trump in the White House Rose Garden | Photo: Getty Images

THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF EMERGENCY AND WHAT IT MEANS

President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency will allow him to access and divert funds for his border wall project without Congressional approval.

Congress had agreed to a bipartisan deal which attributed $1.4 billion to new fencing along the border and improved security measures. 

Empowered by the national state of emergency, the Trump administration can now syphon off $2.5 billion from a drug interdiction program of the Defense Department, $3.5 billion from the military construction budget and $600 million from the Treasury forfeiture fund, thereby obtaining the desired funds to materialize the President's project.

In a related story, President Donald Trump declared a National State of Emergency with regards to border security.