Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas issued a permanent injunction against the Trump Administration’s wasteful, ineffective border wall, ruling that the Administration does not have the authority to steal from money appropriated by Congress for a different purpose:

“Today’s District Court ruling is a victory for the rule of law, our Constitution and our American democracy. Once again, the courts have resoundingly ruled against the President’s attempt to negate our system of separation of powers, which is the genius of our Constitution, by assaulting Congress’s exclusive constitutional power of the purse. Despite what the President may think, Article II does not mean that he can ‘do whatever he wants.’

“This ruling also is an important victory for the American people and our national security. The President’s plan to cancel military construction projects to pay for his ineffective, wasteful wall would have made America less safe by hurting our military readiness and stealing from military families.

“The House will continue to fight the President’s assault on our democracy and national security in the Courts, in the Congress and in the court of public opinion, as we honor our oath to support and defend the Constitution.”