Executive Order 13916-National Emergency Authority To Temporarily Extend Deadlines for Certain Estimated Payments
Issued 2020-04-18 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
Executive Order 13916, signed by President Donald J. Trump on April 17, 2020, is titled "National Emergency Authority To Temporarily Extend Deadlines for Certain Estimated Payments." This order gives the Secretary of the Treasury additional authority to respond to the national emergency declared due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It directs the Secretary to consider temporarily extending deadlines for certain estimated payments, using powers under the National Emergencies Act.
This action specifically affects importers who are suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19, allowing for potential extensions on their estimated payment deadlines, though some types of payments are excluded. The Secretary of the Treasury is instructed to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security before exercising this authority.
The President stated the reason for this order was the threat the novel coronavirus poses to the nation's healthcare systems. Executive orders are a long-established exercise of presidential power, used by every President since George Washington and grounded in Article II of the Constitution. However, they cannot create new law or contradict existing federal statutes, and their legitimacy can be reviewed by courts to ensure they conform with the Constitution and federal law.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13916 addresses "Executive Order 13916-National Emergency Authority To Temporarily Extend Deadlines for Certain Estimated Payments". The President's stated reasoning: "Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19) Outbreak), which declared a national emergency by reason of the threat that the novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS–CoV–2 poses to our Nation s healthcare systems, I hereby order as follows: Section 1 ." Executive orders are a long-established exercise of presidential power, used by every President since George Washington. They are grounded in Article II of the Constitution, which vests executive power in the President and directs them to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
Executive orders cannot create new law, contradict existing federal statutes, or exceed the President's constitutional authority. The legitimacy of any specific order depends on whether it operates within statutory authority Congress has delegated, directs the executive branch on matters within its constitutional purview, or attempts to substitute executive policy for legislative choices. Courts can and do review executive orders for conformity with the Constitution and federal law.
Official Summary
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