The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge [Name not provided in source], vacated a previous nationwide order that had prevented USPS from taking any steps to carry out the president’s directive. The original block was sought by voting rights groups who argued the order would disenfranchise millions of voters who rely on absentee ballots.

Under Trump’s executive order, signed earlier this year, the Postal Service was instructed to limit the distribution of mail-in ballot applications and to prioritize the delivery of certain types of election mail over others. Critics said the order was an unconstitutional attempt to suppress voter turnout, particularly among communities that disproportionately use mail voting, such as older adults, military personnel overseas, and voters with disabilities.

The judge’s decision to lift the nationwide block is temporary. The court noted that a new, more narrowly tailored injunction may be issued after further hearings. “The legal landscape is fluid,” the judge reportedly said from the bench, urging both sides to prepare for a fast-tracked schedule given the imminent election.

Proponents of the executive order argue that mail-in voting is more susceptible to fraud and that the president has the authority to ensure the integrity of federal elections. They point to isolated incidents of ballot tampering and logistical errors in previous elections as justification for tighter controls.

Voting rights advocates counter that fraud is exceedingly rare and that the real aim of the order is to reduce turnout in Democratic-leaning areas. “This is a transparent attempt to make it harder for people to vote,” said a spokesperson for the League of Women Voters, which is a party to the lawsuit. “We are confident the court will ultimately restore the nationwide block.”

The Postal Service itself has remained neutral in the litigation, stating only that it will follow lawful orders. The agency has faced operational challenges in recent years, including financial strain and delivery delays, which some observers say could be exacerbated by new restrictions on ballot handling.

Attorneys for the Department of Justice, representing the Trump administration, argued that the order falls within the president’s executive authority to manage federal agencies and that the previous injunction was overly broad. They welcomed the judge’s decision to vacate it.

With the midterm election less than two months away, election officials across the country are urging voters to request and return their ballots early to avoid postal disruptions. The legal battle over Trump’s order is expected to accelerate, with appeals likely to reach the Supreme Court.