President Trump averted another government shutdown by signing a bill Feb. 15 that funds the government through Sept. 30. This came after a weeks-long battle between Trump and House Democrats over an inclusion in the bill of funding for a wall along our southern border. The bill that Trump signed includes $1.37 billion budget to expand existing border fencing. This falls short of the $5 billion Trump was holding out for during the previous government shutdown which lasted 35 days from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019 making it the longest in U.S history.

Before signing the bill, Trump followed through on a proposal he first made during the government shutdown and declared a national emergency as a way to fund the proposed border wall. This action allows him to pull more than $8 billion from other areas of the government without Congressional approval.

After Trump made the announcement, 16 states began the process to sue the federal government. The states claim that it is unconstitutional to use a national emergency in this circumstance. These suits are expected to quickly work through the courts over the next several weeks, possibly making it to the Supreme Court.