Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump called a federal court ruling halting construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline a "disgrace" and suggested that his administration intends to appeal.

"It's a political decision made by a judge. I think it's a disgrace. 48,000 jobs, I approved it, it's ready to start," he told reporters Friday morning before departing for Paris.

He added that the case will "end up in the 9th circuit, as usual."

The ruling late Thursday by US District Judge Brian Morris was a blow to the Trump administration and a win for environmental groups that have fought the cross-border route for years.

Morris found that the US government's use of a 2014 environmental review to justify issuing a presidential permit for construction of the cross-border pipeline violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

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