The inspectors general argued that Trump firing them violated the law because he did not do so without justification or a 30-day notice to Congress and that they should be reinstated. The plaintiffs had petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for a temporary restraining order and to reinstate them immediately as the case proceeded.

Judge Ana Reyes, who was appointed to the federal court by former President Joe Biden, denied the requested restraining order and admonished the plaintiffs during the short hearing Friday, according to the New York Times.

Reyes reportedly raised her voice, cut off one of the lawyers representing the fired inspectors general, and found the plaintiffs’ arguments not sufficient for the quick action. She took specific issue with the inspectors general waiting roughly three weeks after they were fired for the emergency relief.

“Why on earth did you not have this figured out with the defendants,” Reyes asked during the hearing, per the outlet, “before coming here and burdening me and burdening my staff on this issue?”

“Are we really here right now on the sixth hearing of this day for me to decide whether to grant a [temporary restraining order] given the circumstances that you guys could not even bother filing a [temporary restraining order] for 21 days?” she added.

Reyes allowed the plaintiffs to continue with a request for a preliminary injunction, a less urgent procedure to halt the president’s actions, and gave the government until next Friday to respond to the plaintiffs’ motion, according to the docket.