HOUSTON, United States 

The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Trump administration is allowed to terminate millions of dollars in teacher grants under the president's anti-Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy, according to reports.

The 5-4 decision by the nation's highest court blocks a previous ruling by a Massachusetts-based judge who deemed the Trump administration had failed to follow the correct legal process in terminating the grants.

About $65 million in grant payments are outstanding.

Five of the court's six conservative judges were in the majority, with Republican Chief Justice John Roberts joining the three liberal justices in dissent.

The unsigned decision stated that the district court judge did not have the authority to order the funds to be paid under a federal law known as the Administrative Procedure Act.

The decision said the administration "compellingly argues" that the entities receiving the funds will not suffer irreparable harm as a result of the funds being withheld.

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissenting opinion, disputed that conclusion, saying that the grant recipients had said they would be forced to cancel some of their programs.

"Nowhere in its papers does the government defend the legality of canceling the education grants at issue here," said Kagan.

The Supreme Court said that the stay will remain in place while legal proceedings move forward.