During a Tuesday House Armed Services Committee hearing, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood stated that President Donald Trump has the power to build his coveted wall between the United States’ southern border and Mexico without approval from Congress or declaring a national emergency.
John Binder of Breitbart provided a transcript of the conversation.
Mo Brooks questioned, “Does 10 U.S.C. § 284 as you understand it, require the declaration of a national emergency before it is implemented?”
John Rood answered simply, “No.”
Brooks questioned, “It does not?”
Rood answered, “No.”
Brooks then questioned, “Has President Trump, to your knowledge, ever used 10 U.S.C § 284 to direct the military to build the wall that is necessary for border security?”
Rood answered, “No, not to my knowledge, Congressman.”
“If President Trump were to direct the Pentagon and the United States military pursuant to 10 U.S.C § 284 to build such barriers as are necessary to secure our southern border from drug trafficking and international crime cartels would the United States military obey that order?” Brooks answered.
Rood then stated, “If we judge it to be a lawful order, yes sir. And I assume it would be.”
Take a look: