WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said a court order barring some federal agencies and officials from communicating with social media companies is overbroad and “ambiguous,” and asked a judge to pause it while the government appeals.
In a motion filed Thursday in federal district court in Louisiana, the Justice Department argued that a nationwide injunction entered earlier this week by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty could interfere with the government’s efforts to work with tech companies “on initiatives to prevent grave harm to the American people and our democratic processes.”
Doughty’s July 4 order took immediate effect. The Justice Department asked him to halt it while it takes the fight to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If the judge denies the request, the department said it would it would file an emergency request for a stay with the appeals court.
