The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended a short-term order allowing the Trump administration to continue withholding full food stamp payments for November, a move aimed at buying time as Congress works toward reopening the federal government.

The decision came as part of a fast-moving emergency appeal over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide aid to more than 40 million Americans. Several related lawsuits in lower courts could soon be rendered moot if lawmakers reach an agreement to end the shutdown, CNN.

For now, the “administrative stay” issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson last Friday remains in place, blocking a lower-court order that would have required the administration to deliver full federal food benefits. In a brief unsigned order Tuesday, the Court said the stay would be extended through the end of the day Thursday. Jackson dissented from the extension.