A U.S. federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s plan to lay off half of FEMA’s employees.

A federal judge in the United States declared illegal the plan by President Donald Trump’s administration to cut the staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 50%, according to court documents available Sunday.

The decision concerns one of the most important measures proposed by the U.S. administration to reorganize the agency responsible for coordinating the federal response to natural disasters and other emergencies. The plan would have involved laying off approximately half of FEMA’s employees.

The court ruled that the administration’s measure is illegal, but the information currently available does not specify the extent of the ruling’s immediate effects or whether it can be appealed.

FEMA plays a central role in supporting communities affected by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters. The agency provides funding, coordinates federal responses and works with local and state authorities.

The court ruling represents a new setback for the Trump administration’s plan to reduce the federal workforce. The case will continue to be reviewed, and the implementation of the layoffs depends on the course of the legal proceedings.