House Democrats had challenged parts of the Trump administration’s plan to spend up to $8.1 billion for construction of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images file photo)
by Todd Ruger
Chamber cannot “conscript the Judiciary in a political turf war with the President,” ruling says
A federal judge in Washington on Monday threw out the House’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over funds to construct a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, saying the courts were not the place to settle this dispute over congressional appropriations power.
The Democrat-led House filed the lawsuit challenging parts of the administration plan to spend up to $8.1 billion for construction of southern border barriers, arguing that Congress had turned aside President Donald Trump’s request for $5 billion and instead appropriated $1.375 billion.
The House argued that the spending would violate the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution and usurp Congress’ authority, while the Justice Department called it a case about whether the administration is not appropriately executing a statute. Read the rest HERE.
