White House Option for Virus Response Could Set Legal Precedent

President Donald Trump has suggested that he could designate the coronavirus pandemic a “major disaster,” a move that would open many more avenues of federal assistance, including funds for health care infrastructure. But it would come with a catch: A virus has never before been declared a natural disaster.

Trump on March 13 declared the pandemic a “national emergency,” a designation that provides significant funding for states but includes more restrictions than what is allowed for recovery efforts when a natural disaster strikes. A White House declaration of a “major disaster” would allow state and local officials to tap into ...