What is the difference between the COVID-19 national emergency declaration and the public health emergency?
Under U.S. law, the president can declare a national emergency during a crisis. This allows the president to access previously restricted measures, specialized laws, and funding. Although there are nuanced policy differences between the two emergency declarations, the end of the national emergency declaration will limit executive powers granted under the order. The end of the public health emergency will more directly affect the measures, laws, and funding that were made available to combat COVID-19.