A federal judge orders the U.S. Pentagon to temporarily refrain from enforcing a lobbying restriction against Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., according to multiple reports. The measure stems from a Pentagon-linked rule that, after Alibaba is placed on a blacklist of companies tied to China’s military, resulted in the company losing all of its U.S. lobbyists. The judge’s order provides Alibaba a “reprieve” while the court reviews whether the lobbying ban is constitutional. The case, filed in federal court and described as part of broader scrutiny of restrictions on Chinese companies, is expected to test the extent of the U.S. government’s authority to limit certain activities by companies associated with China. One report frames the dispute as connected to the Pentagon’s curbs and blacklist process, while others describe the ruling as granting temporary relief that effectively allows Alibaba to resume lobbying during the pending legal challenge. The order does not resolve the underlying constitutional questions, which remain before the court.