A US federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday extended a temporary freeze preventing the Department of Labor (DOL) from shutting down its Job Corps program.

The emergency relief granted during Tuesday’s preliminary injunction hearing prevented the DOL from eliminating the $1.5 billion program that provides approximately 25,000 low-income and foster care youth with vocational training, housing, and food.

The extension will remain in effect until June 25.

Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. initially implemented a temporary restraining order on June 4, after the DOL ordered 99 Job Corps centers to cease operations on May 29, prompting a lawsuit from training organizations, labor unions, and a Job Corps student filed days later.

Plaintiffs argued in their brief that the closures exceed the agency’s authority, violate the separation of powers, and breach both the Impoundment Control Act and the Antideficiency Act by effectively defunding a program that only Congress can repeal.

The government countered that the US District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction since the Court of Federal Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over federal contract disputes. The DOL argued that the plaintiffs’ complaint ultimately amounted to a challenge against the DOL’s decision to terminate contracts related to the Job Corps. The agency claimed cost, safety, and performance concerns were the primary justifications for ending the agreements.

Reports claim Carter appeared skeptical of the administration’s position that its actions merely involved contract terminations, noting that the timing coincided with the Trump administration’s budget request to eliminate the Job Corps entirely.

“How should I consider this coincidence?” he asked during Tuesday’s hearing.

At least one plaintiff was homeless prior to joining the Job Corps and would likely be returned to a shelter if the program ceased. The DOL argued that such individuals lacked standing because, while they are program participants, they are not parties to the contracts at issue.

During the hearing, Carter questioned why the loss of shelter and education for vulnerable youth—many of whom are homeless—would not constitute sufficient injury to establish standing.

Job Corps was established through the Equal Opportunity Act of 1964 and under the broader scope of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. A study completed in 2001 found the program was highly effective at providing short-term vocational benefits for participants, with enrollees earning on average $18 more than non-Job Corps counterparts. The program also benefits men and women participants similarly.