BORDER/DHS/GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “The White House is preparing a draft proclamation for President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency along the southern border and has identified more than $7 billion in potential funds for his signature border wall should he go that route, according to internal documents reviewed by CNN. 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…According to options being considered, the administration could pull: $681 million from Treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion in military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, the official said. As lawmakers discussed a short-term measure to fund the government Thursday [1-24-19], Trump again raised the prospect of other ways to fund a border wall without congressional approval.”
–Priscilla Alvarez and Tammy Kupperman, “Exclusive: White House preparing draft national emergency order, has identified $7 billion for wall,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, January 24, 2019 5:57 pm