Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin made headlines earlier this year when he attempted to revoke plea bargain agreements given to those connected with the September 11 terrorist attack.

However, a military appeals court has just blocked the senior White House figure from going through with that plan. 

Plea deals ensure that terrorists will not face the death penalty

Fox News reported on Tuesday that the court found Austin had exceeded his authority in attempting to revoke the plea bargains for detainees being held at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

"Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024," Austin wrote in an August letter.

Among the plea bargain beneficiaries was Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who is accused of masterminding the September 11 attack.

Fox News noted how the Department of Defense may appeal that ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit but has thus far made no effort to do so.

As it stands, Mohammad and two other figures are scheduled to enter guilty pleas next week and thus avoid potential death sentences.

J.D. Vance slammed White House for "cutting a sweetheart deal with 9/11 terrorists"

According to Fox News, the plea bargain arrangements were greeted with vocal criticism, including from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.

"Joe Biden, Kamala Harris have weaponized the Department of Justice to go after their political opponents, but they’re cutting a sweetheart deal with 9/11 terrorists," Vance complained at a campaign rally in August.

JD Vance rips Biden-Harris admin over 9/11 plea deals: ‘We need a president who kills terrorists, not negotiates with them’ https://t.co/gPd9RGgXa0 pic.twitter.com/ObRoqO6WL2

— New York Post (@nypost) August 1, 2024

Family members of those who were killed in the September 11 attacks expressed outrage as well, including retired Air Force Lt. Col. Don Arias.

"If Khalid Shaikh Mohammed doesn’t deserve the death penalty, who does?"

Arias' brother died in the World Trade Center, and he told The New York Times, "If Khalid Shaikh Mohammed doesn’t deserve the death penalty, who does?"

"Most people I talk to figure this was done years ago," he continued. "My brother was 37 years old. It hurts to know that someone I know and love is now all but forgotten."

"After 9/11, we all said, 'Never forget.' Well, we forgot," Arias complained. "And not only did we forget, we don’t give a damn anymore. A lot of people just want this over with."