Days after a federal judge ruled that United States President Donald Trump’s administration cannot unilaterally slash billions in foreign aid funding, the Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

In a court filing on Monday, lawyers for the administration asked for an emergency stay to halt the order issued by the lower court and allow the administration to continue to withhold about $4bn in congressionally approved funds.

Last month , Trump said he would not spend the money, invoking disputed authority that was last used by a US president roughly 50 years ago.

Last week, US District Judge Amir Ali ruled that the Republican administration’s decision to withhold the funding was likely illegal.

The money at issue in the case was approved by Congress for foreign

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