U.S. federal court rules Trump’s diversion of military funds to build border wall was illegal. (Photo: AFP)

Washington, October 12 (RHC)-- A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers in 2019 to divert billions of dollars from military construction funds to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall was illegal. 

The court said that the administration's transfer of $2.5 billion from military construction projects to build sections of the U.S. border wall with Mexico was illegal, ruling it sidestepped Congress which gets to decide how to use the funds.

In two opinions, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the money transfer was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats.

The rulings were the latest twist in the legal battle that has largely gone Trump’s way.  Last July, the Supreme Court allowed the $2.5 billion to be spent while the litigation continued, blunting the impact of the latest appeals court action.

The administration has already awarded much of the money, including a $1.3-billion job in Arizona that was announced last month.  

After the $2.5 billion transfer of military funds, the Pentagon diverted another $3.6 billion that an appeals court in New Orleans ruled in January could be spent.