Roberts agreed to put the order on hold and told the grant recipients waiting for their funding to tell the court by Friday why the order should go forward.

His decision came after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administration’s request. The panel of three judges, all of whom were appointed by Democratic presidents, said the federal judge’s order is not subject to review by a higher court at this stage of the litigation.

Roberts did not give a reason for his decision.

Corruption at the Supreme Court on display again