The White House is drafting plans to declare a national emergency along the southern US border which would provide $7 billion in potential funds for President Trump’s long-promised border wall, according to CNN – citing internal documents we hope are more accurate than BuzzFeed‘s.
Trump has not ruled out using his authority to declare a national emergency and direct the Defense Department to construct a border wall as Congress and the White House fight over a deal to end the government shutdown. But while Trump’s advisers remain divided on the issue, the White House has been moving forward with alternative plans that would bypass Congress.
“The massive amount of aliens who unlawfully enter the United States each day is a direct threat to the safety and security of our nation and constitutes a national emergency,” a draft of a presidential proclamation reads.
“Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C 1601, et seq.), hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States,” the draft adds.
The draft was updated as recently as last week, a US government official told CNN. –CNN
According to the plans, the administration could use $681 million from treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion in military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds and $200 million in funds from the Department of Homeland Security.
If Trump declares a national emergency, the US Army Corps of Engineers would construct the wall – which CNN then suggests might set the stage for potential lawsuits over eminent domain land seizures. The documents also convey a sense of urgency – as the draft reportedly allows for the wall to be built without environmental reviews, while DHS would be able to bypass contracting laws using waivers.
The draft document cites Title 10 of the US Code, which allows Trump to unlock a stash of Pentagon funds that are earmarked but have no signed contracts for spending that money. That would give the President authority to pull from military construction funds and civil works projects, like infrastructure repair projects.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, tweeted earlier this month that acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, “assured Texans that he understood the deep concerns about using Harvey relief funds for the border.” CNN previously reported that the Pentagon was asked to provide a list of those projects in anticipation of a national emergency.
The Pentagon has assisted the Department of Homeland Security in the past. For example, the Army Corps of Engineers, a federal agency within DOD that provides public engineering services, has helped evaluate prototypes of the border wall. –CNN
Earlier Thursday, Trump said that he would only accept a stopgap spending bill to reopen the government if it contains a “down payment” for the wall. Speaking with reporters at the White House, Trump said that a “prorated down payment” would work.
“If they come to a reasonable agreement I would support it yes,” Trump said when asked about talks between Senate leaders.
On Thursday the Senate failed to pass two measures that would reopen the government, hours before the CNN report ran.
is this what caving looks like?
*TRUMP SAYS THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS TO GET FUNDING FOR WALL
*TRUMP SAYS HE WANTS PRO-RATED DOWN PAYMENT ON WALL
*TRUMP SAYS HE WON'T BE HAPPY WITH STOPGAP LACKING WALL FUNDS— Robert Marchini (@rhcm123) January 24, 2019
Does Trump’s $7 billion include 28-foot cats that shoot lasers and AR-10s?
I did something to help the President out though. I found him a wall I think will work on the border. pic.twitter.com/gx7ejwn1RU
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
In the meantime at least put some snipers down there on the border.
facing which way?
I myself think all of this hoopla really isn’t about The Wall. There’s other things going on and The Wall is just the diversion for all of us peons. Walls have one obvious problem- you can climb over them. If they were really serious about people pouring over the border, anyone with a lick of sense would be talking about how you can’t climb over a field chock full of land mines.
I’m for this wall being built any way neccessary except for the use of ‘treasury forfeiture funds’. This is largely money that has been stolen by the US government on US highways at gun point from those who have not been charged or convicted of any crime whatsoever. All $681 million need to be returned to lawful owners, (those without a conviction supporting the government theft).
“those without a conviction supporting the government theft”
Conviction?! How ’bout an indictment? Or even a charge?
Amazing to say, but this is the LEAST Constitutional (i.e. most blatantly unconstitutuional) official practice that the Federal or State governments have ever engaged in ….
… so far.
Absolutely
We don’t have $50 billion for a wall but somehow manage to fund $168 billion a year giving illegals housing, health, food, legal……..
Ho hum, talk is cheap. Excuses are like assholes, everybody has one. Build the fucking wall.
Just take it from the trillions in “slush” funds the Pentagon has misappropriated over the decades.
Fuggedaboudit.
Those pallets of cash and other fungible assets are comfortably sitting in the Cayman Islands; Liechtenstein and maybe Singaporean private, secure, and very quiet institutions.
The actual owners of the lucre are not shoveling snow this winter but rather are having a splendid time below decks of perhaps a sweet Ferretti 960, the one with the MTU 16V 2000 M96L package. In Martinique or maybe Phuket.
I think this “national emergency” ploy could morph into something horribly bad … down the road.
Let’s say Bernie Sanders gets elected in 2020. (Work with me, OK? We’re just pretending!!) So, for two years he tries to get $100 Billion to battle …. Global Warming, the most serious threat to mankind. Nothing gets passed. So, now that Trump set the stage for “national emergencies”, he declares one and gets his money!
See where I’m going? My fear is always that once the government starts something new …. well, where the fuck does it end? The unintended consequences loom large with this “national emergency” stuff.
That being said, I’m with overthecliff below —> just build the fucking wall!!
No, no. This is a fine precedent.
What could possibliye g(o wong?
There’s a big risk that President Kamala Harris could declare an emergency to fight climate change. She could do that whether or not Trump uses an emergency declaration to build the wall. Just like Dems will immediately nuke the filibuster the instant they control the senate and the White House, so McConnell leaving the filibuster in place now is stupid. They don’t need a precedent. They just need the raw power.
‘Bout fukin’ time. For the wall. Not sure about the cats with lasers. Not a fan of AR-10’s anyway. Gimme an FAL pattern .308 or an M1A any day in their stead.
I smell something fishy.
Is this shutdown all about impeachment? Either the government opens and the Democrats impeach or Trump calls a national emergency “over the wall” in order to stop the impeachment.
Logic or duh?
Balz- Could be, Roger Stone was arrested by the FBI.
Fuck 7 billion . Go for a 100 billion and build a really good wall . The kind that will keep out King Kong .
Relax, Trump has this.
It’s all been planned.
Enjoy the show.
So now its $7Billion? Fiscal conservatism at its best….not.
************ BREAKING NEWS *****************
************ BREAKING NEWS *****************
************ BREAKING NEWS *****************
Drudge Reports Shutdown Agreement Reached
ANNOUNCEMENT SET FOR 1:30 PM
GOVT TO REOPEN ‘TEMPORARILY’
NO WALL FUNDS
https://drudgereport.com/
I’m Not a chump
10cc
I’m not a chump
So don’t proclaim it
It’s just a silly phase I’m going through
And just because
I want a wall
Don’t get me wrong, don’t think you’ve got it made
I’m not a chump, no no,
(it’s because..)
I’d like to please her
But then again
That doesn’t mean Ann means that much to me
So if I call you
And make a fuss
Don’t tell the Dems about the two of us
I’m not a chump, no no,
(it’s because..)
(be quiet,
big prez’s don’t cry
big prez’s don’t cry
big prez’s don’t cry
big prez’s don’t cry..)
I keep insisting
Upon the wall
It keeps the nasty bitch from flaming me
So don’t you ask me
To give it up
I know you know it doesn’t mean that much to me
I’m not a chump, no no,
(it’s because..)
Ooh you’ll wait a long time for me
Ooh you’ll wait a long time
I’m not a chump
I’m not a chump
You’re very good at that…