A federal judge in Texas has permanently blocked a Biden administration rule that aimed to expand overtime pay to about 4 million additional salaried workers. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan ruled that the Department of Labor exceeded its authority by linking overtime eligibility to wages instead of job duties. The rule, which took effect in July, temporarily raised the salary threshold for overtime from $35,500 to nearly $44,000, with a further increase planned for next year. Legal challenges led by the state of Texas and various business groups halted the rule's implementation, reverting the threshold back to the 2019 level. While the Labor Department can appeal the decision, it faces potential opposition from the incoming Trump administration. Critics argue the rule would have restricted employers' ability to offer other benefits to lower-level employees.