Show-Me State Times

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that a federal court has blocked the Biden Administration from redirecting funds originally allocated for constructing barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The dispute centered on $40 million set aside during Fiscal Year 2020-2021, which the Biden Administration sought to use for projects such as wildlife corridors instead of border security.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office led the legal challenge, arguing that the administration was not authorized to spend the money on purposes other than those established by Congress. The court sided with Missouri, preventing the redirection of these funds and ensuring they remain dedicated to border security.

“This ruling is a clear win for the rule of law and for Missouri families,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “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. Under the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border, every state has become a border state, Missouri included, because 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 contested funds are set to expire on September 30, 2025. The court decision also indicated that attempts by the executive branch to bypass congressional authority over appropriations were likely unlawful.