The move by the justices represents an expansion of executive power, allowing President Trump to dismantle the inner workings of a government department.

The majority did not explain its decision in the brief, unsigned order. The court's three liberal justices opposed the order. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majority handed Trump the power to repeal laws passed by Congress “by firing all those necessary to carry them out.”

"The President must take care that the laws are faithfully executed, not set out to dismantle them," Sotomayor wrote.

After a federal judge in Los Angeles barred “roving patrols” by immigration agents in seven California counties, the Trump administration asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to resume operations that lawyers for the state have argued are unconstitutional.

The U.S. Justice Department unit charged with defending against legal challenges to signature Trump administration policies - such as restricting birthright citizenship and slashing funding to Harvard University - has lost nearly two-thirds of its staff,