A federal judge on Friday denied a request to block President Donald Trump from placing thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development employees on administrative leave, paving the way to place an additional 2,000 staff on leave.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, rejected the preliminary injunction request from two labor unions representing Foreign Service officers and civilian employees, according to a 26-page decision. The unions had argued the administration’s actions would cause irreparable harm, particularly for staff stationed abroad who faced sudden evacuations and restricted access to government systems.