Hoyer denounces Trump’s plan to declare national emergency ‘where there is no national emergency’

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Thursday welcomed news that President Trump will sign legislation to avert another partial government shutdown, but rejected the president’s plans to declare a national emergency at the border.

“I think declaring a national emergency where there is no national emergency is not good for the president to do. In fact, I don’t think it’s good for a precedent for future presidents,” Hoyer said on MSNBC.

{mosads}Reporter Kasie Hunt first informed Hoyer of Trump’s plans to sign a border security funding bill and declare a national emergency.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Hoyer said when Hunt indicated Trump would sign the bill.

When @kasie breaks news to @LeaderHoyer live on @MSNBC … and lets him borrow her mic #SharingIsCaring pic.twitter.com/hqh32hYhMF

— Kasie DC (@KasieDC) February 14, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had announced moments earlier that Trump would sign legislation that includes $1.375 billion in funding for roughly 55 miles of new barriers along the southern border. The president, McConnell said, will also issue an emergency declaration to secure additional funds for his long-desired border wall.

The White House later confirmed Trump’s plans.

Hoyer praised the agreement brokered by lawmakers, but noted that experts have pushed back against the idea that there’s an emergency at the southern border.

The House’s top Democrat added that he believes there are other issues in the country that could warrant an emergency declaration, but did not specify what they were.

Thursday’s announcements ended speculation over whether Trump would sign the deal reached by lawmakers. Trump had said he was “not happy” about the bill’s border security funding, but added that he did not want another shutdown.

The president must sign the bill before midnight on Friday to avoid a second government shutdown this year.

Trump has raised the prospect for weeks of declaring a national emergency to direct construction of his proposed border wall. The move is widely expected to draw legal challenges.

Hoyer suggested Thursday that Democrats would bring such a challenge.

Republicans have been reluctant to support an emergency declaration, noting it could set a dangerous precedent that could allow future presidents to issue similar orders on other policy issues.

— Updated 6:17 p.m.