U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Friday appealed a federal judge's block on mass layoffs by federal agencies, a key piece of the Republican president's plans to downsize the government.

A federal judge said late Thursday that she will continue to halt President Donald Trump’s orders for mass terminations at several agencies, handing down a preliminary injunction that follows up the temporary restraining order she issued earlier this month.

A federal judge has extended her freeze on President Donald Trump’s plan for mass layoffs and reorganizations at 22 federal agencies until a lawsuit against his administration is resolved, saying the president “likely must” seek approval from Congress before carrying out such widespread changes.