Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had sought to withdraw agreements with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The Justice Department, on behalf of the Pentagon, on Tuesday asked an appeals court to block an effort to enforce plea deals reached with four accused conspirators of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Department of Defense filed an emergency request with a federal appeals court Tuesday in an effort to stop plea deals given to three accused terrorists involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

An appeals court on Thursday temporarily blocked a plea deal for three accused 9/11 plotters in a win for the Justice Department and Pentagon, which had requested this week that the court block the agreements ahead of a Friday hearing.