A judge has temporarily halted a Trump administration effort to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program, which imposes a significant toll on cars entering part of Manhattan.

Federal Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order barring the Transportation Department “purporting to terminate” the congestion pricing program.

Liman, a Trump appointee, also barred the department from taking actions laid out in an April letter to punish New York for not eliminating the program. The letter threatens to withhold funds and hold up federal project approvals if the program continues.

“Defendants are enjoined from withholding federal funds, approvals, or authorizations from New York State or local agencies,” the order states.

It lasts until June 9 at 5 p.m.

The congestion pricing program institutes a $9 toll on cars entering lower Manhattan. Proponents of the idea say it will reduce both traffic and pollution, while opponents raise concerns about the cost to commuters.

The Trump administration has sought to revoke federal approval of the program but was sued by New York City for doing so. The plan was initially approved by the Biden administration.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation noted the judge’s ruling doesn’t necessarily mean the administration will lose its case, but said it will comply with the order while it’s in place.

“The judge’s ruling today was not on the merits of our case against Hochul’s class warfare, but rather a temporary pause to have more time to reach a decision,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Enforcement actions for noncompliance were merely under consideration, and we will comply with the judge’s request to hold. We look forward to making our case in court against Hochul’s illegal tolls as we work to protect working-class Americans from being unfairly charged to go to work, see their families, or visit the city.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul offered a triumphal reaction in a statement.

“We’ve won — again,” she stated. “Judge Liman’s temporary restraining order is a massive victory for New York commuters, vindicating our right as a State to make decisions regarding what’s best for our streets.

“New Yorkers deserve to control our own traffic patterns, keep gridlock off our streets and protect our clean air. We need to make the massive investments necessary to support our transit system and prevent it from falling into disarray and disrepair. Congestion pricing is the right solution to get us there.”

She said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy can issue “as many letters and social media posts as he wants” but that a court had blocked the administration from retaliating against New York.

Updated at 4:58 p.m. EDT