ABC News reports:
President Donald Trump is seriously considering potential options to circumvent Congress, including declaring a national emergency, to reprogram funds from the Department of Defense and elsewhere to help pay for parts of his desired border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to multiple sources familiar with the ongoing discussions.
Sources tell ABC News the discussions are still on the “working level” adding that there’s a range of legal mechanisms that are being considered before such a decision is announced.
The president, when asked about ABC News’ reporting later on Friday during a press conference, acknowledged that he would consider granting himself national emergency powers to help get the wall built “for the security of our country”. He did not elaborate on the details of such a process.
@realDonaldTrump just confirmed ABC News scoop that he's considering declaring a national emergency to get funding. "I am allowed to do that," he says. Others doubt that he is.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 4, 2019
"I can do it if I want," Trump now saying he is "allowed" to build the wall himself without congressional approval or appropriation. "We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 4, 2019
BREAKING: President Trump considering declaring a national emergency to circumvent congressional approval to allocate funds for border wall:
“We can call a national emergency because of the security of our country… I haven’t done it, I may do it.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 4, 2019