A U.S. District Court denied a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to stay its pending suit to block the American Airlines-US Airways merger.

DOJ sought the stay citing "lapse of appropriations" due to the U.S. federal government shutdown, effective Tuesday, which impacts federal workers. "A stay at this point would undermine this schedule and delay the necessary speedy disposition of this matter," the judge concluded. "It is essential that the Department of Justice attorneys continue to litigate this case." The trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 25.