Catherine Hanaway
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office secured a federal court ruling blocking the Biden Administration from redirecting more than $40 million in border wall construction funds to other purposes, calling it a major victory for the rule of law and taxpayer accountability.
The lawsuit centered on federal appropriations made during Fiscal Year 2020–2021 under the Trump Administration and Congress, which designated billions of dollars for securing the U.S.-Mexico border through physical barriers.
According to Hanaway, $40 million of that total was specifically set aside for constructing sections of the border wall.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that the Biden Administration attempted to divert those funds for unrelated uses, including wildlife corridor projects, in violation of federal appropriations law.
In its decision, the court agreed with Missouri’s position, finding that the administration could not reallocate congressionally appropriated funds outside the purposes for which they were approved.
The ruling halts any further efforts to spend the funds elsewhere and preserves them for their intended use, border security and public safety.
“This ruling is a clear win for the rule of law and for Missouri families,” Hanaway said in a statement announcing the court’s decision. “Whether it’s the Biden Administration or a local government, we will always hold those in power to the highest standards. Taxpayer dollars must be used lawfully and for their intended purposes.”
Hanaway also linked the outcome to broader concerns about national security and the impact of federal border policy on states like Missouri.
“Under the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border, every state has become a border state, Missouri included,” she said. “The consequences of illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and crime reach far beyond the southern border. That’s why our Office will continue to stop unlawful expenditures and fight crime and criminals wherever they threaten the safety of Missourians.”
The case marks a continuation of Missouri’s legal efforts to challenge what it views as executive overreach by the Biden Administration, particularly in matters of spending authority and border enforcement.
The Attorney General’s Office argued that Congress, not the executive branch, holds the constitutional power to determine how taxpayer dollars are spent, and that the administration’s actions represented a “blatant disregard” for that authority.
The court’s decision prevents the administration from using the $40 million in question for any non-border-related purposes before the funds expire.
The ruling also found that the Biden Administration’s attempt to repurpose the money was likely unlawful under federal appropriations law, which limits the executive branch’s discretion in reallocating funds once Congress has made its budgetary decisions.
Hanaway described the ruling as both a legal and symbolic victory, underscoring the state’s commitment to enforcing constitutional limits on federal power.
She said the judgment ensures that the money will remain available for the construction of physical border barriers, consistent with the intent of Congress when the funds were first appropriated.
The Attorney General’s Office, which led the challenge from its inception, said the decision reinforces the principle that the executive branch cannot unilaterally alter spending directives set by Congress.
The court’s order effectively halts the Biden Administration’s plan to redirect the money, leaving it reserved for the border wall projects originally authorized in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Hanaway framed the outcome as part of a broader effort by her office to protect Missouri taxpayers and uphold constitutional checks and balances.
“This victory shows that no administration is above the law,” she said. “When Washington fails to follow the law, Missouri will step up to defend it.”
