President Trump held a press conference on Friday afternoon declaring a national emergency as the spreading coronavirus outbreak outbreak wreaks havoc on the economy and American life.
What an Emergency Declaration Means
Declaring an emergency under the Stafford Act allows Trump to mobilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and direct federal aid to states. Such a declaration allows states to request a 75 percent cost-share for expenses such as emergency workers, testing, medical supplies, and vaccinations, Democrats reportedly had said in a letter sent to the president.
The announcement comes as major sporting and other events are called off or postponed, businesses across the country institute telework policies, government buildings, and schools shutter and other disruptions rock the nation, amid efforts to curb the transmission of the virus. It also comes amid conflicting reports over whether another person who came in contact with Trump in recent days -- Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro -- tested positive.