US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Wednesday temporarily blocked three decisions of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York that required two Trump officials to appear for depositions regarding a controversial 2020 Census citizenship question.

US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Justice official John Gore were ordered to sit for questioning in two lawsuits related to the question, although several others have been filed.

US Solicitor General Noel Francisco filed a request Tuesday for the Supreme Court to block the depositions indefinitely. Ginsburg wrote the request was stayed pending receipt of a response, due on or before October 11.

Because the population data collected through the census determines the apportionment of seats in the US House of Representatives among the states, as well as the allocation of funding for various programs, several lawsuits have arisen arguing this will result in a disproportionate undercount of persons belonging to or sharing a household with certain demographic groups, including immigrants, non-citizens, those with limited English proficiency, and individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin.