The White House had sought an emergency stay of an injunction issued by U.S. Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco in a lawsuit brought by labor unions and cities, including San Francisco and Chicago.

A split three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the staff cuts could have significant ripple effects and should stay on hold while a lawsuit plays out.

President Donald Trump’s directives for mass firings at multiple agencies will remain on hold, a federal appeals court ruled Friday evening