Legal Actions

The County of Erie in New York sued the Trump administration for its decision to terminate a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program grant, which funded hundreds of senior volunteers in positions across the community, including at food pantries, hospitals, schools, and senior centers. Americorps approved the three-year grant in January 2024. However, in compliance with Executive Orders 14151 and 14173, the Trump administration threatened Erie County with terminating its grant unless the County certified that it did not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. On April 14, 2025, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Voluntarily Dismissal after Americorps withdrew its certification requirement.

Two high-ranking transgender Air Force service members have sued the Trump administration to prevent their discharge from military service. After President Trump issued an executive order banning transgender people from serving in the U.S. military, these service members were pulled from their assignments and sent home. Because the plaintiffs in this case are now covered by the case Talbott v. USA, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal on May 15, 2025.

Sara Aviel, in her personal capacity and in her official capacity as President of the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), sued the Trump administration after she was removed from her position. Plaintiff argues that her termination was unlawful and violates the Inter-American Foundation Act, the Appointments Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

A coalition of civil rights and immigration service organizations have sued the Trump administration for unlawfully freezing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant funding. Executive Order 14159 directed DHS to freeze all funding to organizations that support or provide services to noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents and asylum seekers. Plaintiffs provide citizenship and naturalization assistance and representation for lawful permanent residents looking to become U.S. citizens, and they rely on congressionally-appropriated DHS grants. Plaintiffs argue that DHS’s broad and arbitrary decision to suspend all grants violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Homeland Security Act, federal regulations, the separation of powers, the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause.

Cornell University students Momodou Taal and Siriam Parasurama, and Professor Mũkoma Wa Ngũgĩ have sued the Trump administration for targeting international students and scholars who protest or express support for Palestinian rights. Plaintiffs seek a nationwide injunction of President Trump's executive orders (EO 14161 and EO 14188) that target and deport international students advocating for Palestinian rights. The plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice, and on April 2, 2025, the Court formally closed the case. No injunctive relief was granted, and the case was dismissed without any ruling on the merits.

Civil servants working at the Department of Veterans Affairs sued the Department based on being identified as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) employees. Their firings were a result of President Trump’s executive order that directed the elimination of all DEIA-related offices and positions in the federal government. None of the 12 terminated civil servants were probationary employees, and none had been subject to complaints of poor performance or misconduct. Plaintiffs argue that the administration is in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment. On July 17, 2025, the plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. 

Students and families have challenged the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) decision to effectively stop investigating civil rights complaints. Plaintiffs argue that OCR's decision violates the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act, and they request that OCR continue to investigate civil rights complaints, as required by law. On June 16, 2025, based on the consent of the parties, the court stayed this case pending related litigation in New York v. McMahon (25-cv-10601) and Somerville Public Schools v. Trump (25-cv-10677).

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) sued the Trump administration for pausing federal grant payments awarded to CBP to upgrade the nation's emergency alert system. The nonprofit argues that the hold on federal funds violates the Administrative Procedure Act. On September 23, 2025, the case was stayed based on the consent of the parties.