The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted a lower-court injunction that had blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to carry out sweeping staff reductions across the federal government, saying the administration is likely to prevail on the merits of the case. The unsigned order, issued on the court’s emergency docket, clears the way for agencies to resume preparations for large-scale reductions in force mandated by a February executive order. The justices did not rule on the legality of any specific layoff plans, noting that those proposals are not yet before the court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joining the 8-1 majority, wrote separately to stress that agencies must act “consistent with applicable law.” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson filed a 15-page dissent, calling the decision “hubristic and senseless” and warning that it unleashes a presidential “wrecking ball” on the civil service. Tuesday’s ruling overturns a May order by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, whose injunction—upheld by a divided Ninth Circuit panel—had frozen further cuts at nearly two dozen agencies. Illston said the president likely overstepped by bypassing Congress in reorganizing agencies and eliminating positions. The administration’s blueprint targets staffing at the Departments of State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs, among others. A Reuters tally estimates about 260,000 jobs have already been lost through firings, buyouts and retirements since Trump returned to office in January, and unions warn that tens of thousands more positions could follow. Implementation now shifts back to the agencies and to the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, which is coordinating the downsizing. Legal challenges to individual reduction plans are expected to continue as the broader case proceeds in the Ninth Circuit and potentially returns to the Supreme Court for a full review.