The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 19 agreed to hear an appeal of a lower court’s finding that it is illegal for billions of dollars in military construction funds to be diverted to build sections of the U.S.-Mexico border wall—a move that now allows work in four states to continue until justices rule on the dispute, likely not until next year.

The high court's decision follows through on its ruling last year in the funding diversion dispute, when it refused to overturn a lower court's order allowing work to continue—at that time stating that if justices chose to review the funding challenge by environmental group opponents, there would be no change in construction status until after a final ruling on merits of the case is made.