A federal appeals court temporarily halted an order that would bar Biden administration officials from communicating with major social media companies while it considers the government’s request for a longer-term pause.
The Justice Department is arguing that it should not be forced to comply with the nationwide injunction while it pursues a full appeal in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court said on Friday that it will put the ban on hold — known as an administrative stay — while the government presses its case before the New Orleans-based circuit judges.
The appeal will be placed on an expedited schedule while a panel of judges assigned to the case decide on the government’s request to keep the injunction on hold until the case is finished, according to Friday’s order. The court didn’t specify a schedule for those next steps.
