President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency to combat the coronavirus, unleashing $50 billion of federal funding to take on t
President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency to combat the coronavirus, unleashing $50 billion of federal funding to take on the crisis, cutting rules to enable hospitals to expand their capacity to treat people, and promising an expansion of testing as soon as next week.
He said his administration was working with drug companies and retailers to develop drive-through testing locations, with Google developing a website to help people find places to get tested. He also waived interest on federal student loans.
“To unleash the full power of the federal government in this effort, today I am officially declaring a national emergency, two very big words,” Trump said in the Rose Garden. “The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion of, very importantly … a large amount of money for states and territories or localities in our shared fight against this disease.”
Under the 1976 National Emergencies Act, the president is empowered to invoke any of more than 120 statutory powers to address a crisis, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
