Trump to Declare a National Emergency Over Coronavirus: Bloomberg Report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency over the fast-spreading coronavirus, opening the door to providing more federal aid to fight the disease, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

According to Bloomberg, Trump will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m.

Pressure has been mounting for Trump to declare an infectious disease emergency under a 1988 law that would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide disaster funds to state and local governments and to deploy support teams.

The power is rarely used.

MORE: Trump Met With Official Who Caught Coronavirus — Outrages Liberals by Saying He Doesn’t Need Testing

Former President Bill Clinton in 2000 declared such an emergency for West Nile Virus.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey; editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot)

About Post Author

Follow Us