The Trump administration filed a brief in federal court Wednesday opposing a legal effort by civil rights groups that are aiming to ban workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians in the U.S.

The Justice Department, which is not a party to the relevant case, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit contending that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect against discrimination directed at sexual orientation. The law covers gender bias, not sexual orientation, the Justice Department said.

"The sole question here is whether, as a matter of law, Title VII reaches sexual orientation discrimination," said the Justice Department's brief. "It does not, as has been settled for decades. Any efforts to amend Title VII's scope should be directed to Congress rather than the courts."

The case concerns a former skydiving instructor who said he was fired for being gay in violation of Title VII.

Title VII's scope has been disputed in the political scene and the courts for years.

The brief comes on the same day Trump announced on Twitter a ban of transgender people in the military.