Washington (CNN) The Republican-controlled Senate failed on Thursday to overturn President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration he has used to pay for a wall on the US-Mexico border. By law, Congress can try to block the declaration every six months but has failed to override the President's decree. Thursday's vote was 53-36 to reject the emergency declaration, well short of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto in the Senate. The Pentagon has already authorized the diversion of $3.6 billion from 127 military construction projects around the world to pay for 11 wall projects on the US southern border. "The President's emergency declaration is an unconstitutional power grab," said Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, on Thursday.

Source: CNN October 17, 2019 20:03 UTC