WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Virginia blocked the Trump administration’s move to fire more than a dozen intelligence agency employees who worked on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga granted a preliminary injunction Monday that prohibits the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from firing 19 workers who challenged their terminations.

In a written decision published Tuesday, Trenga said the government must allow the employees to seek reassignment or appeal their termination as set forth in employment rules governing their agencies.

Trenga, who was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush, said the employees should remain on paid administrative leave or be reinstated. He said he would review decisions to terminate any employees to ensure they had been given a chance to appeal or be reassigned under the order.

The employees were set to be terminated as part of the Trump administration’s effort to end DEI programs across the federal government. The lawsuit comes amid a push by Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reduce personnel as part of their overhaul of the federal government.

In their lawsuit, the employees argued that their assignments to DEI programs were only temporary and that they also have held other duties as intelligence officers. The employees are not named in the lawsuit.

Intelligence agencies including the CIA and National Security Agency already have offered voluntary resignations to some employees.