A group of CIA and other intelligence officers had sued asking to be reassigned to other positions instead of being fired but the court rejected their challenge.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali denied the Department of Justice's request to push the midnight deadline by which the Trump administration needs to pay more than $1.9 billion in foreign aid. The case is now in the hands of a panel of three appellate judges – each nominated to the bench by Democratic presidents – who will decide whether to issue an emergency stay of the deadline.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali grew impatient during a hearing with a lack of clear responses from the administration’s lawyers.