Trump tariffs: Why the president declared a national emergency | Vox

Trump's National Emergency Declaration

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to justify imposing tariffs, citing a persistent trade deficit. Experts question whether this constitutes a genuine crisis.

Emergency Powers Explained

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allows presidents to implement economic policies without congressional approval. There's no legal definition of an emergency, leading to frequent and sometimes questionable declarations.

• Since 9/11, presidents increasingly rely on inherent constitutional powers, expanding their interpretation of presidential authority.
• Presidents have access to numerous powers during emergencies, some reasonable, others highly concerning (e.g., seizing assets, deploying the military domestically).
• Declarations can last decades; examples include George W. Bush's post-9/11 declaration and Trump's use of emergency powers to address an Air Force pilot shortage.

Why Presidents Abuse Emergency Powers

Congress' decreasing productivity encourages presidents to act unilaterally. Emergency powers provide an easy path to circumvent political obstacles.

• Declaring emergencies allows presidents to sidestep Congress and potentially garner public support by framing issues as crises.
• The system lacks sufficient checks and balances, enabling misuse.
• Examples include Biden's use of emergency powers to cancel student loan debt and Trump's declaration of an emergency to fund the border wall.

The Need for Reform

The overuse of emergency powers warrants reform. Congress should add oversight and ensure accountability to prevent abuse and protect against the erosion of checks and balances on presidential authority.