Hurricane-prone states The day in pictures Get the USA TODAY app Start the day smarter ☀️ U.S. Elections Sports Entertainment Life Money Tech Travel Opinion ONLY AT USA TODAY: Newsletters For Subscribers From the Archives Crossword eNewspaper Magazines Investigations Podcasts Video Humankind Just Curious Best-selling Booklist 24/7 Live Stream Legals OUR PORTFOLIO: 10Best USAT Wine Club Online Sports Betting Online Casino Reviewed Homefront Blueprint Southern Kitchen Best Auto Insurance Best Pet Insurance Best Travel Insurance Best Credit Cards Best CD Rates Best Personal Loans Home Internet FACT CHECK fact-checking Add Topic # Fact check: Can Trump use the Stafford Act to order a national, mandatory 2-week quarantine? Matthew Brown ![\\"\\"](\\"/gcdn/presto/2020/03/19/USAT/397add5d-3bcf-4b8a-8ad9-817ae00aedda- GTY_1213303211.JPG?crop=6515,3665,x0,y331&width=660&height=371&format=pjpg&auto=webp\\"/) PlayPause Sound OnSound Off 0:00 0:41 AD SKIP ClosedCaptionOpen ShareEnter Full ScreenExit Full Screen ## The claim: President Trump will invoke the Stafford Act to order a national, mandatory two-week quarantine A recent viral post on Facebook claims that the president of the United States would enact a mandatory quarantine using a law called the Stafford Act. \"The president will evoke what is called the Stafford act,\" Facebook user Jasmine Morgan wrote on March 16. \"The president will order a two week mandatory quarantine for the nation.\" Morgan also stated that the information came from sources in the military. The post has been shared more than 400 times. USA TODAY reached out to Morgan about her post but she did not respond to multiple messages. Similar Facebook posts, as well as viral WhatsApp and text messages, have echoed the rumor. The claims in the messages are not true; President Donald Trump already used the Stafford Act to declare a national emergency on March 13, before the viral post was made. More importantly, the Stafford Act does not allow the federal government to impose mandatory quarantines. Daily coronavirus updates:Get them in USA TODAY\'s Daily Briefing and delivered right to your inbox ## The Stafford Act and federal emergency powers On March 13, Trump declared a national emergency under the 1988 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Under the Stafford Act, about $40 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency can be used by the federal government to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration of emergency also allows the federal government to waive certain regulations on health care providers so that resources can be deployed faster. This power is again derived from the Stafford Act, which was enacted by Congress to ensure that states would have a way of signaling for aid from the federal government in times of crisis. When it was signed into law, the Stafford Act was mainly intended to address crises like crop failures or natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. A state’s governor must request a Stafford Act declaration for it to take effect. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee requested the White House declare a national emergency on March 12 to make Stafford Act funds available. The Stafford Act does not allow the federal government to directly intervene in the crisis response of a state, local or tribal government, though it provides considerable resources to help them. What is the Stafford Act?:Trump\'s emergency declaration provides funds, flexibility for state, local officials Text messages and social media posts to the contrary, however, caught the attention of the administration, and the National Security Council tweeted March 15 in an attempt to dispel rumors circulating online. \"Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown,\" the NSC posted. While the Stafford Act does not give the federal government the sweeping authority to quarantine the nation, it\'s less clear if this is a legal impossibility. Other laws and statutes give the federal government – and, specifically the president – a range of powers. None, however, explicitly grants the power to quarantine the country for two weeks. The Congressional Research Service, a federal agency dedicated to research and analysis in support of Congress, published a set of guidelines on federal and state authority regarding quarantines in 2014. In it, the CRS found that the federal government’s constitutional authority in times of health crises comes from the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which governs interstate commerce. “State and local governments have the primary authority to control the spread of dangerous diseases within their jurisdictions,” the report states, while “the federal government has authority to quarantine and impose other health measures to prevent the spread of diseases from foreign countries and between states.” Fact check: COVID-19 can cause worse lung damage than smoking Fact check: COVID-19 vaccine has been nearly 20 years in the making Fact check: Not likely that COVID-19 vaccine was cause of Hank Aaron\'s death Fact check: What\'s true about COVID-19, its vaccine, face masks and seasonal flu? How communities respond to pandemics, then, can vary greatly across the country. “The federal government has clear authority to impose quarantines on individual people for good cause,” says Robert Chesney, a professor at The University of Texas School of Law in Austin. “But it’s much less clear that it has the authority to impose broad regional restraints.” Limiting travel within the country is generally outside the powers of the executive branch, according to Chesney, though a federal law that mandates the surgeon general limit the spread of disease, and regulations under that statute, may allow for “limitations or border screenings, or perhaps even a national shelter-in-place directive, in the right circumstances,” Chesney explained. “If the government claims emergency power to do something that Congress has not already authorized it to do, the only certainty is that there would be litigation; it’s likely that the courts would show deference to the government in a time of pandemic,” Chesney said. The lack of legal precedent and vagueness of the laws regarding how the government can respond to crises has led many experts to conclude that any major federal action would be subject to significant legal challenges. “The president probably does not have substantial inherent constitutional authority to issue many orders affecting the interior of the United States (unlike foreign travel bans),” said Keith Whittington, a professor of political science at Princeton University. “But Congress could empower the president or other executive officials (like the surgeon general) to quarantine some areas of the country so as to prevent the spread of the disease.” ## Our rating: False We rate the claim that Trump will invoke the Stafford Act to order a national, mandatory two-week quarantine FALSE because it is not supported by our research. The president arguably has considerable authority in times of national crisis. The specific powers granted by the Stafford Act, however, do not provide the president or the federal government the authority to order a national quarantine. It is unclear if such power is provided by other federal laws. But current laws and the constitutional scheme, which reserves certain powers for the states, suggests that the power to order quarantines is left to state, local and tribal authorities. ## Our fact-check sources: * White House, Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak, March 13, 2020 * FEMA, The Stafford Act * Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Statement on Potential Emergency Declaration, March 13, 2020 * National Security Council on Twitter, March 20, 2020 * Congressional Research Service, Federal and State Quarantine and IsolationAuthority, October 9, 2014 * 42 U.S. Code § 264, Regulations to Control Communicable Diseases Beachfront 2&3 BHK Residences at Mumbai at ₹ 92 Lakhs*Sunteck Beach Residences, Mumbai - A well-connected address offering a seamless lifestyleSunteck Realty| AdAd Parq by Conscient Apartments in Sector 80, GurgaonRERA Approved A Total Of 450 Units, Starting From 2.99 Cr. Only, With Pool Of AmenitiesConscient Parq New Launch Gurgaon In Sector 80| AdAd Learn More Delhi: Discover Extra Income with Amazon CFDGreat opportunity CPX-Road| AdAd Learn More Delhi: The price (& size) of these hearing aids might surprise youHear.com| AdAd Delhi: Best Public Speaking Course for ChildrenExclusively for Ages 4-15Planet Spark| AdAd Learn More Personalized Modular Kitchen Interiors built to your budget.45 Day Delivery. Upto 10-Year Material Warranty. No Hidden Costs. Book a FREE design session!HomeLane| AdAd Get Quote Top New Property Launches around Dwarka Expressway!Find top properties on Dwarka Expressway, verified by 99acres. Your dream home is just a click away. Discover more options.99 Acres| AdAd Enquire Now She has blood cancer and might lose her life any moment nowDon\'t let this disease take her life away from her. Please contributeDonate For Health| AdAd Donate Now Unmissable Deal On Premium WatchesGet Upto 80% Off On WatchesGreatwave| AdAd Buy Now Play War Thunder now for freeFight in over 2000 unique and authentic Vehicles. Fight on Land, on Water and in the Air. Join the most comprehensive vehicular combat game. Over 2000 tanks, ships and aircraft.War Thunder| AdAd Play Now Deal of the Day Want Your Home To Smell Like Fall? Check Out This Festive Pumpkin Spice FragranceREVIEWED| USA Today NetworkUSA Today Network Get A Ready-To-Serve Charcuterie Board From Shark Tank Delivered Overnight For Your Next PartyREVIEWED| USA Today NetworkUSA Today Network Recommendations are independently chosen by our editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Recommended Social Security isn\'t taxed in these 38 statesTHE MOTLEY FOOL Featured Weekly Ad About Us Newsroom Staff Ethical Principles Responsible Disclosure Request a Correction Press Releases Accessibility Sitemap Subscription Terms & Conditions Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Contact Us Help Center Manage Account Give Feedback Get Home Delivery eNewspaper USA TODAY Shop USA TODAY Print Editions Licensing & Reprints Advertise With Us Advertising Acceptance Policy Careers Internships Support Local Business News Tips Submitting letters to the editor Podcasts Newsletters Mobile Apps Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn Threads YouTube Reddit Flipboard 10Best USAT Wine Club Online Sports Betting Online Casino Reviewed Best- selling Booklist Southern Kitchen Jobs Sports Betting Sports Weekly Studio Gannett Classifieds Homefront Home Internet Blueprint Auto Insurance Pet Insurance Travel Insurance Credit Cards Banking Personal Loans LLC Formation Payroll Software © 2024 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Alabama football players react to appearance by former President Donald TrumpAlabama football players shared their thoughts on the Republican presidential nominee\'s appearance at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Georgia game.USA TODAY Sunteck Realty Beachfront 2&3 BHK Residences at Mumbai at ₹ 92 Lakhs*Sunteck Beach Residences, Mumbai - A well-connected address offering a seamless lifestyleSunteck Realty| SponsoredSponsored Learn More Conscient Parq New Launch Gurgaon In Sector 80 Parq by Conscient Apartments in Sector 80, GurgaonRERA Approved A Total Of 450 Units, Starting From 2.99 Cr. Only, With Pool Of AmenitiesConscient Parq New Launch Gurgaon In Sector 80| SponsoredSponsored Learn More Will Harris beat Trump? Polls and odds are changing. What they say nowThe presidential race of 2024 is heating up, but who is leading? Here\'s what we know with update on the polls, odds and historian\'s predictionUSA TODAY Jimmy Carter turning 100 in hospice - holding on to cast final voteFormer President Jimmy Carter\'s 100th birthday tomorrow - as he holds on in hospice care in the hopes of casting his final vote for president.USA TODAY Tropical Storm Joyce tracker: See projected path, spaghetti modelsWhile Helene is expected to continue weakening, Tropical Storm Joyce has formed in the Atlantic. Here\'s what to know about the storm\'s path.USA TODAY Erie intends to bill Trump for rally costsThe city of Erie is preparing a bill to send to former President Donald Trump\'s campaign for his rally in Erie Sunday. He still owes the city $40,330.USA TODAY It\'s getting dark earlier. When we fall back for Daylight Saving TimeThe sunrise times are getting later, and that means the end of daylight savings is coming. When do the clocks turn back?USA TODAY CPX-Road Delhi: Discover Extra Income with Amazon CFDGreat opportunity CPX-Road| SponsoredSponsored Learn More Hear.com Delhi: The price (& size) of these hearing aids might surprise youHear.com| SponsoredSponsored Catherine Zeta-Jones rings in Michael Douglas\' birthday with NSFW photoCatherine Zeta-Jones, 55, who shares a birthday with husband Michael Douglas, admitted she\'s \"running out of gift ideas\" after 25 years together.USA TODAY Election 2024: How the economy has fared under Trump and BidenFormer President Trump claims to have had a much better economy than President Biden but does the data bear that out?USA TODAY
Can Trump use the Stafford Act to order a national mandatory 2week quarantine