The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ended the pandemic-related federal moratorium on residential evictions imposed by President Joe Biden's administration in a challenge to the policy brought by a coalition of landlords and real estate trade groups.

The justices, who in June had left in place a prior ban that expired at the end of July, granted a request by the challengers to lift the moratorium implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was to have run until October 3.

The high court said in an unsigned opinion that the CDC, which imposed a renewed moratorium early this month to temporarily freeze evictions of those who are behind on their rent until October 3, lacked the authority to do so under federal law without explicit congressional authorization.

"If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it," the court added. 

The three liberal justices of the nine-seat court dissented from the ruling. 

The White House said it was disappointed by the decision and urged states, local governments, landlords and Cabinet agencies to "urgently act" to help prevent evictions. 

The CDC first issued a moratorium in September 2020 after a prior one approved by Congress expired, with agency officials saying the policy was needed to combat the spread of COVID-19 and prevent homelessness during the pandemic.