Case: American Federation of Government Employees v. Trump

1:25-cv-00264 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Jan. 29, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This lawsuit, filed on Jan. 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges Executive Order 14171, issued by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and entitled “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce,” which creates a new, less-protected, category of civil service.   The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) s…

This lawsuit, filed on Jan. 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges Executive Order 14171, issued by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and entitled “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce,” which creates a new, less-protected, category of civil service.  

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) sued the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 553, and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The plaintiffs sought injunctive relief to halt enforcement of Executive Order 14085, declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act. 

The Executive Order was issued on January 20, 2025; it reinstates and modifies the first Trump Administration's Executive Order 13957, which aimed to reclassify certain career federal employees into an at-will employment category. The new Executive Order directs OPM to rescind prior regulations that reinforced merit-based employment, allowing agencies to reclassify employees without notice and comment rulemaking.  The complaint alleged that this unlawfully strips federal employees of civil service protections without due process and violates federal statutes governing civil service protections, particularly 5 U.S.C. § 3302, which limits the president’s power to remove competitive service employees from their protected status. The plaintiffs also contended that the EO violated the APA by bypassing required rulemaking procedures and deprived federal employees of vested rights without procedural safeguards.

The plaintiffs in this case asserted that it was related to a case filed several days before, NTEU v. Trump; the NTEU case was assigned to District Judge Jia Cobb, and so was this one.

On April 22, 2025, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked standing and that their claims were not ripe for adjudication. The defendants argued that the plaintiffs' injury was too speculative to support standing, and that their claims were not ripe since they were challenging "a preliminary agency policy that has not been—and may never be—enforced against the plaintiff." Therefore, the defendants claimed the court lacked jurisdiction and asked it to dismiss the case. The court ordered the plaintiffs to file a reply by July 7. However, on June 27, the parties asked the court to stay the case for 120 days. Pointing to proposed rulemaking by OPM that would properly rescind earlier regulations as required by the executive order, the parties told the court that a stay would support judicial economy and allow for more focused litigation. Therefore, the parties asked the court to stay the case for 120 days or until the rulemaking was completed. 

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Karma Karira (2/11/2025)

Jeremiah Price (6/17/2025)

Related Cases

National Treasury Employees Union v. Trump, District of District of Columbia (2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/parties/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Blumin, Matthew Stark (District of Columbia)

Carter, Abigail V. (District of Columbia)

Goldstein, Elena (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Altabet, Jason (District of Columbia)

Bell, Kevin (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00264

Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

Complaint
23

1:25-cv-00264

Motion to Dismiss

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
26

1:25-cv-00264

Consent Motion for Extension of Time

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Resources

Title Description External URL Date / External URL

Black Farmers FAQ: The history of discrimination against Black farmers and policy initiatives to remedy these inequities.

Legal Defense Fund

Black farmers have long faced systemic discrimination by public and private institutions and barriers to economic mobility. Inequities in the administration of government farm programs and discrimina…

https://www.naacpldf.org/...

OPM Memo - Guidance on Implementing President Trump’s Executive Order titled, “Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce”

Charles Ezell

Providing guidance to the Heads and Acting Heads of all federal departments and agencies as to what types of federal positions should be reclassified under Executive Orders 14171 and 13957 as policy-… Jan. 27, 2025

Jan. 27, 2025

https://www.opm.gov/...

EO 14171 - Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

President Donald Trump

Reinstating Schedule F, giving the President more control over the hiring and firing practices in executive agency roles traditionally reserved for non-partisan career civil servants. Jan. 20, 2025

Jan. 20, 2025

https://www.federalregister.gov/...

EO 13957 - Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service

President Donald Trump

Reclassifying certain civil service positions, defined as "positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character that are not normally subject to change as a … Oct. 21, 2020

Oct. 21, 2020

https://www.federalregister.gov/...

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69588089/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-trump/

Last updated Aug. 19, 2025, 11:47 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Notice of Error- New Case

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER
1

COMPLAINT against CHARLES EZELL, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11440861) filed by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons for Donald J. Trump, # 3 Summons for Charles Ezell, # 4 Summons for the United States Office of Personnel Management, # 5 Summons for James R. McHenry III, # 6 Summons for Edward R. Martin Jr)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons for Donald J. Trump

View on RECAP

3 Summons for Charles Ezell

View on PACER

4 Summons for the United States Office of Personnel Management

View on PACER

5 Summons for James R. McHenry III

View on PACER

6 Summons for Edward R. Martin Jr

View on PACER

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. Case related to Case No. 1:25-cv-170. (Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

Clearinghouse
3

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Missing Related Case form. Please use the Notice of Designation of Related Cases (CO 932) form at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and filing using the event Notice of Related Case. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER

ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Missing Related Case form. Please use the Notice of Designation of Related Cases (CO 932) form at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and filing using the event Notice of Related Case. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm) Modified on 1/29/2025 (zmtm).

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER
4

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Jia M. Cobb. (zmtm)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER
5

SUMMONS(5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER
6

NOTICE of Appearance by James Alexander Rowell on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Rowell, James) (Entered: 01/29/2025)

Jan. 29, 2025

Jan. 29, 2025

PACER
7

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Samburg on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Samburg, Mark) (Main Document 7 replaced on 1/30/2025) (zdp). (Entered: 01/30/2025)

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

PACER
8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Elena Goldstein, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11444118. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Declaration)(Samburg, Mark) (Entered: 01/30/2025)

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Attorney Elena Goldstein is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on January 30, 2025. (lcjmc3)

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

PACER
9

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 1/31/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/1/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

PACER
10

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 02/10/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

PACER
11

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DONALD J. TRUMP served on 2/11/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

PACER
12

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. CHARLES EZELL served on 2/4/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

PACER
13

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT served on 2/4/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

PACER
14

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. Case related to Case No. 1:25-cv-00347. (Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 02/14/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025

Feb. 14, 2025

RECAP
15

NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Stark Blumin on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Blumin, Matthew) (Main Document 15 replaced on 2/18/2025) (zdp). (Entered: 02/18/2025)

Feb. 18, 2025

Feb. 18, 2025

PACER
16

NOTICE of Appearance by Teague Paterson on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Paterson, Teague) (Main Document 16 replaced on 2/20/2025) (zdp). (Entered: 02/18/2025)

Feb. 18, 2025

Feb. 18, 2025

PACER
17

NOTICE of Appearance by Elena Goldstein on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Goldstein, Elena) (Main Document 17 replaced on 2/20/2025) (zdp). (Entered: 02/18/2025)

Feb. 18, 2025

Feb. 18, 2025

PACER

NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 16 NOTICE of Appearance by Teague Paterson on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Paterson, Teague).Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 2/25/2025. (zhcn)

Feb. 18, 2025

Feb. 18, 2025

PACER

RESOLVED.....NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 15 NOTICE of Appearance by Matthew Stark Blumin on behalf of AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Blumin, Matthew) (Main Document 15 replaced on 2/18/2025) (zdp)..Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 2/25/2025. (zhcn) Modified on 2/20/2025 (zhcn).

Feb. 18, 2025

Feb. 18, 2025

PACER

Notice of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status

Feb. 19, 2025

Feb. 19, 2025

PACER
18

LEAVE TO FILE DENIED- Janice Wolk Grenadier, Letter This document is unavailable as the Court denied its filing. Pro Se party has been notified by first class mail. "Leave to file DENIED. This motion does not comply with Local Civil Rule 7 (m).". Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on 2/24/2025. (zdp) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

PACER
19

NOTICE of Appearance by Jason Altabet on behalf of All Defendants (Altabet, Jason) (Entered: 03/27/2025)

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

PACER
20

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to the Complaint, Consent MOTION for Briefing Schedule for Defendants' Upcoming Motion to Dismiss by DONALD J. TRUMP, CHARLES EZELL, UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT. (Altabet, Jason) (Entered: 03/27/2025)

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

RECAP
21

PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE re 20 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to the ComplaintConsent MOTION for Briefing Schedule for Defendants' Upcoming Motion to Dismiss by DONALD J. TRUMP, CHARLES EZELL, UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT. (Altabet, Jason) (Entered: 03/27/2025)

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

RECAP

Order on Motion for Briefing Schedule AND Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 20 Motion for Extension and Briefing Schedule: Having considered the unopposed motion, and for good cause shown, the Court GRANTS the motion. It is further ORDERED that Defendants' response to the complaint is due by April 22, 2025, Plaintiffs' opposition is due by May 22, 2025, and Defendants' reply is due by June 5, 2025. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on March 28, 2025. (lcjmc3)

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

PACER
22

NOTICE of Appearance by Kevin Bell on behalf of All Defendants (Bell, Kevin) (Entered: 03/28/2025)

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

PACER
23

MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, MOTION to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) by CHARLES EZELL, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Altabet, Jason) (Entered: 04/22/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

3 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Clearinghouse
24

MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 23 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction MOTION to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. (Carter, Abigail) (Entered: 04/28/2025)

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

RECAP
25

NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Supplemental Authority)(Samburg, Mark) (Entered: 04/29/2025)

1 Supplement Supplemental Authority

View on PACER

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

RECAP

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER denying 24 Motion for Extension: Plaintiffs' 24 move to extend their deadline to file a response to Defendants' 23 motion to dismiss until 35 days after the completion of the proposed rulemaking announced on April 23, 2025. Defendants would consent to an extension, but not an indefinite one. The Court agrees with Defendants that it is not workable to extend this deadline indefinitely. But the Court would be amenable to a request to stay the case or to extend the deadline until a date certain. As such, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs' 24 motion for extension at this time, subject to Plaintiffs refiling, after conferring with Defendants, a motion seeking an extension until a date certain or seeking to stay the case for a period of time. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on April 29, 2025. (lcjmc3)

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

PACER
26

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 23 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction MOTION to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Samburg, Mark) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

Clearinghouse

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines

May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 26 Motion for Extension: Having considered the unopposed motion, and for good cause shown, the Court GRANTS the motion. It is further ORDERED that Plaintiffs' opposition to Defendants' 23 motion to dismiss is due by July 7, 2025. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on May 12, 2025. (lcjmc3)

May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

PACER
27

Consent MOTION to Stay by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Samburg, Mark) (Entered: 06/27/2025)

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

RECAP

Order on Motion to Stay AND Set/Reset Deadlines

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 27 Motion to Stay: Having considered the unopposed motion, and for good cause shown, the Court GRANTS the motion. The Court ORDERS that this case is stayed until further order of this Court and directs the Parties to file a joint status report apprising the Court of the status of this matter by October 28, 2025. Signed by Judge Jia M. Cobb on June 30, 2025. (lcjmc3)

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Labor Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Appointments/Civil Service)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 29, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 800,000+ workers.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

United States (District of Columbia, - United States (national) -), Federal

United States (District of Columbia, - United States (national) -), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service