President Trump is considering declaring a national housing emergency, primarily because housing has become unaffordable. Since most housing is owned by “we the people,” the idea makes me a little nervous. Will my home be seized by the National Guard and given to a Trump supporter?
You may think this is hyperbolic, but if we look at the powers given to the president when he declares an emergency, and how he uses them, we should be worried.
A national emergency gives the president the power to take over domestic communications, seize Americans’ bank accounts, and deploy U.S. troops to any foreign country. Apparently, he can use powers that formerly belonged to Congress, like the power to fund or defund a program and the power to levy tariffs.
None of this sounds good to me. I know my home would become more affordable if it were seized by the government and then sold for less than its value.
It doesn’t seem likely that the government will give people money to pay for houses. Under the Trump regime, funds for food, housing, and medical care is being taken away from the poor.
When predicting what could happen under a national housing emergency, we need to consider how such a move might help the wealthy. It doesn’t seem likely that the Trump regime would suddenly start helping the poor.
