The administration had asked the justices to put on hold a lower-court ruling that found top officials likely violated the First Amendment by improperly pressuring tech companies to take down what they saw as problematic posts about public health and election-related disinformation.

The importance of the issue was underscored by the court's decision Friday to accept the case for oral argument this term, which would mean a ruling before end of June.

As is customary in emergency orders, the majority did not explain its reasoning for granting the administration's request. But conservative Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch dissented from the decision not to leave the lower court order in place, calling the development "highly disturbing."