A federal judge extended on Thursday a temporary block on a bid by President Donald Trump's administration to lay off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, saying he needed permission from Congress before restructuring the U.

The ruling, which covers 22 agencies and also prohibits shutting down programs or offices, effectively pauses the president’s plans for reshaping much of the government while the case plays out.

It’s the second time the administration has sought emergency intervention from the high court in its bid to downsize the federal bureaucracy.