Washington (CNN) A federal judge in Washington on Monday denied a request by House Democrats to block President Donald Trump from transferring funds from appropriated accounts to construct his wall, a setback for Democrats seeking to use the judicial system to fight the White House.

Judge Trevor McFadden said the House lacks standing to bring the challenge and also he does not believe the court should step into the fight between the President and Congress.

"The Court declines to take sides in this fight between the House and the President," McFadden wrote.

"This case presents a close question about the appropriate role of the Judiciary in resolving disputes between the other two branches of the Federal Government. To be clear, the court does not imply that Congress may never sue the Executive to protect its powers," he added.

It's one of the first times in the numerous court battles between the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Trump's administration that a federal judge has sided with the administration over lawmakers.

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