Case: Doctors for America v. Office of Personnel Management

1:25-cv-00322 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 4, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In its first weeks, the Trump Administration took down many websites and datasets. This lawsuit challenged the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) order directing agencies to remove or modify webpages and datasets.  On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” directing federal agencies to combat "gender ideology." In response, on January 29, the Acting Director of O…

In its first weeks, the Trump Administration took down many websites and datasets. This lawsuit challenged the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) order directing agencies to remove or modify webpages and datasets. 

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” directing federal agencies to combat "gender ideology." In response, on January 29, the Acting Director of OPM issued a memorandum titled “Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women,” requiring federal agencies to terminate any programs and remove any outward facing media that "promote or inculcate gender ideology.” After, federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), removed medical and healthcare-related webpages and datasets. 

On February 4, 2025, Doctors for America, a nonprofit organization composed of physicians and medical trainees, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Represented by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, Plaintiff filed suit against OPM, CDC, FDA, and HHS. On Count I, Plaintiff alleged that Defendant OPM had no authority to require removal of webpages or datasets by other agencies and thus violated the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 551, by issuing such a requirement. On Count II, Plaintiff alleged that Defendants CDC, FDA, and HHS violated the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501, by removing these webpages and datasets because doing so removed "significant information dissemination products" without public notice. On Count III, Plaintiff alleged that all Defendants violated the Administrative Procedure Act because the removal of these webpages and databases amounted to action that was "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not in accordance with law." Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief that Defendants restore the webpages and databases and ban them from removing any "significant information dissemination products" when doing so would deny the public timely and equitable access to such information. 

The case was assigned to Judge John D. Bates.

On February 6, Plaintiff filed a motion for a temporary restraining order requiring Defendants to restore the medical webpages and datasets and enjoining Defendants from removing or substantially modifying other webpages and datasets in implementation of Defendant OPM's allegedly unlawful memorandum.

On February 11, the court granted Plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order. The court ordered Defendants to restore the medical webpages and datasets by the end of the day. The court further ordered Defendants to work with Plaintiff to identify other resources  

As of February 11, 2025, the case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Madilynn O'Hara (2/4/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69608613/parties/doctors-for-america-v-office-of-personnel-management/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Rosenbaum, Adina H. (District of Columbia)

Shelley, Zachary R. (District of Columbia)

Zieve, Allison Marcy (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Harlow, James William (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00322

Complaint

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

Complaint
6

1:25-cv-00322

Plaintiff's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
11

1:25-cv-00322

Order

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

Order/Opinion

2025 WL 452707

12

1:25-cv-00322

Memorandum Opinion

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

Order/Opinion

2025 WL 452707

13

1:25-cv-00322

Joint Status Report

Feb. 13, 2025

Feb. 13, 2025

Other

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69608613/doctors-for-america-v-office-of-personnel-management/

Last updated Feb. 15, 2025, 12:11 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11454300) filed by DOCTORS FOR AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons)(Shelley, Zachary) (Attachment 1 replaced on 2/5/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 02/04/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

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3 Summons

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4 Summons

View on PACER

5 Summons

View on PACER

6 Summons

View on PACER

7 Summons

View on PACER

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DOCTORS FOR AMERICA (Shelley, Zachary) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

PACER
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Allison Marcy Zieve on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Zieve, Allison) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

PACER
4

NOTICE of Appearance by Adina H. Rosenbaum on behalf of DOCTORS FOR AMERICA (Rosenbaum, Adina) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (znmw)

Feb. 5, 2025

Feb. 5, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Feb. 5, 2025

Feb. 5, 2025

PACER
5

SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 02/05/2025)

Feb. 5, 2025

Feb. 5, 2025

PACER
6

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by DOCTORS FOR AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Declaration of Dr. Reshma Ramachandran, # 4 Declaration of Dr. Stephanie Liou)(Shelley, Zachary) (Entered: 02/06/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

View on RECAP

2 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

3 Declaration of Dr. Reshma Ramachandran

View on RECAP

4 Declaration of Dr. Stephanie Liou

View on RECAP

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

Clearinghouse

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

PACER
7

NOTICE of Appearance by James William Harlow on behalf of All Defendants (Harlow, James) (Entered: 02/06/2025)

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 6 plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendants shall file any response by not later than 2:00pm on February 9, 2025; it is further ORDERED that plaintiffs shall file any reply by not later than 11:00am on February 10, 2025; and it is further ORDERED that a hearing on plaintiff's motion is scheduled for 3:00pm on February 10, 2025, in person in Courtroom 30A. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/6/2025. (lcjdb3)

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

PACER
8

NOTICE OF FILING OF EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER by DOCTORS FOR AMERICA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C)(Shelley, Zachary) (Entered: 02/07/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Exhibit C

View on PACER

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

RECAP
9

Memorandum in opposition to re 6 Motion for TRO, filed by OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Harlow, James) (Entered: 02/09/2025)

Feb. 9, 2025

Feb. 9, 2025

RECAP

.Order

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: The following public access line will be available for the 3:00pm hearing on February 10, 2025, in Courtroom 30A: Toll Free Number: 833-990-9400 and Meeting ID: 367524674. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/10/2025. (lcjdb3)

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER

Order

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER

Motion Hearing

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER
10

REPLY to opposition to motion re 6 Motion for TRO, filed by DOCTORS FOR AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Supplemental Declaration of Dr. Reshma Ramachandran)(Shelley, Zachary) (Entered: 02/10/2025)

1 Declaration Supplemental Declaration of Dr. Reshma Ramachandran

View on PACER

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

RECAP

Minute Entry for Motion Hearing proceeding held on 2/10/2025 before Judge John D. Bates re 6 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order. Both parties presented their arguments. The Court has taken it under advisement. Order forthcoming. (Court Reporter Bryan Wayne.) (zed)

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER
11

ORDER granting 6 plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order. See text of Order and accompanying Memorandum Opinion for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/11/2025. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

Clearinghouse
12

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 2/11/2025. (lcjdb3) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

Clearinghouse
13

Joint STATUS REPORT by OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Harlow, James) (Entered: 02/13/2025)

Feb. 13, 2025

Feb. 13, 2025

Clearinghouse

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 4, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

a nonprofit comprised of medical professionals and trainees

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

Office of Personnel Management (- United States (national) -), Federal

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (- United States (national) -), Federal

Department of Health and Human Services (- United States (national) -), Federal

Food and Drug Administration (- United States (national) -), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet