Case: Butterbee Farm v. United States Department of Agriculture

1:25-cv-00737 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 13, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 13, 2025, Butterbee Farm, Cultivate KC, Faith in Place, GreenLatinos, Hendrix Farm, One Acre Farm, Red Fire Farm, and Two Boots Farm (Plaintiffs) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the United States Department of Agriculture, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Donald J. Trump in his official capacity as President of the United States of America along with their respective leadership. Plaintiffs challenged the constitut…

On March 13, 2025, Butterbee Farm, Cultivate KC, Faith in Place, GreenLatinos, Hendrix Farm, One Acre Farm, Red Fire Farm, and Two Boots Farm (Plaintiffs) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the United States Department of Agriculture, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Donald J. Trump in his official capacity as President of the United States of America along with their respective leadership.

Plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of Section 7 of the Executive Order No. Exec. 14154 (EO). They sought to compel the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lift an alleged unlawful and indefinite freeze of Congressionally appropriated funds for farmers, non-profit organizations, and other USDA grantees. The plaintiffs’ claims were based on the separation of powers, the Take Care Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

The plaintiffs had received federal USDA grants under programs such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and acted in reliance on these grants. On President Trump's first day in office, however, ordered the EO titled Unleashing American Energy , which paused IRA grant disbursements until the administration could review grants for consistency with the President's policy preferences. Following the EO, the Office of Management and Budget ordered USDA to halt disbursement of funds, including to existing grantees performing projects for which USDA had already obligated funds. USDA complied by cutting off IRA grant recipients’ access to payment portals, refusing to process invoices, canceling check-in meetings, and failing to respond to requests for clarification from grantees.

The plaintiffs argued that the defendants' actions violated the Constitution and the APA. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that 1) the EO exceeded presidential power and usurped legislative authority in violation of the separation of powers; 2) By freezing funding appropriated by Congress without regard to statutes, regulations, and terms governing that funding, the defendants acted contrary to the Executive’s duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed under U.S. Const. art. II, § 3; 3) The defendants’ actions constituted the unlawful impoundment of appropriated funds in violation of the Impoundment Control Act and the APA; and 4) The defendants’ refusal to disburse obligated funds was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the APA. 

The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief and an order vacating the agency actions implementing the freeze, and preliminary and permanent injunctions preventing the defendants from continuing the freeze and compelling them to release the frozen funds.

The plaintiffs were represented by Earthjustice, and the case was assigned to District Judge Rudolph Contreras.

The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on May 19, which removed plaintiffs Butterbee Farm and One Acre Farm, adding instead plaintiffs Foodshed Alliance and Hope for Small Farm Sustainability. The amended complaint also removed OMB and its director from the list of defendants. The new complaint added details on how the defendants' actions caused harm to the plaintiffs and were unlawful under existing regulations. While adding no new legal claims, the amended complaint did request different relief. Due to a preliminary injunction issued in a different case, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council v. Department of Agriculture, that also challenged the freezing of USDA grants, "USDA ha[d] resumed processing invoices and advance requests for IRA grant recipients, including Plaintiffs." Therefore, the plaintiffs no longer requested a preliminary injunction but rather asked the court for declaratory and permanent injunctive relief preventing the defendants from freezing the grants in the future. 

On June 16, the parties proposed a briefing schedule on the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment, with the plaintiffs filing their motion for summary judgment on July 18. The defendants filed a reply to the plaintiffs’ motion along with a cross motion for summary judgement on August 17.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Oliver Farnum (4/9/2025)

Jeremiah Price (6/17/2025)

Muhammad Hammad Amin (12/2/2025)

Related Cases

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council v. Department of Agriculture, District of Rhode Island (2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69733481/parties/butterbee-farm-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture/


Judge(s)

Contreras, Rudolph (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Apfel, Carrie F. (District of Columbia)

Prothero, Mary (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Becker-Cohen, Miriam (District of Columbia)

Gorod, Brianne Jenna (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:25-cv-00737

Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

March 13, 2025

March 13, 2025

Complaint
15

1:25-cv-00737

First Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Cultivate KC v. United States Department of Agriculture

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69733481/butterbee-farm-v-united-states-department-of-agriculture/

Last updated July 22, 2026, 4:43 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 March 13, 2025

COMPLAINT against BUTTERBEE FARM ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11539160) filed by BUTTERBEE FARM. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Summons, # 11 Summons, # 12 Summons, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/13/2025)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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3 Exhibit 3

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4 Exhibit 4

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5 Exhibit 5

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6 Exhibit 6

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7 Civil Cover Sheet

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8 Summons

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9 Summons

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10 Summons

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11 Summons

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12 Summons

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13 Summons

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14 Summons

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Clearinghouse
2 March 13, 2025

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by BUTTERBEE FARM (Attachments: # 1 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 2 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 3 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 4 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 5 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 6 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure, # 7 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/13/2025)

RECAP
3 March 13, 2025

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by BUTTERBEE FARM re 1 Complaint, (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/13/2025)

RECAP
4 March 13, 2025

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Mary Prothero, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11540006. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, ONE ACRE FARM, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM, BUTTERBEE FARM. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/13/2025)

RECAP
5 March 13, 2025

SUMMONS (7) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 03/13/2025)

1 Notice and Consent

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RECAP
March 13, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

March 13, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras. (zmtm)

March 14, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice: Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.2, it is hereby ORDERED that Mary Prothero is admitted to represent Plaintiffs pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.6(a). Click for instructions. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 03/14/2025. (lcrc2)

March 14, 2025

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

6 March 17, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Mary Prothero on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Prothero, Mary) (Entered: 03/17/2025)

RECAP
7 March 24, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Deena Tumeh on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Tumeh, Deena) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

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8 March 24, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Carrie F. Apfel on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Apfel, Carrie) (Entered: 03/24/2025)

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9 March 28, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. BROOKE L. ROLLINS served on 3/20/2025 (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/28/2025)

RECAP
10 April 1, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/21/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/20/2025. (Vizcarra, Hana) (Main Document 10 replaced on 4/1/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 04/01/2025)

RECAP
11 April 1, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE served on 3/26/2025 (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 04/01/2025)

RECAP
12 April 15, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. RUSSELL VOUGHT served on 3/25/2025 (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 04/15/2025)

RECAP
13 May 2, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DONALD J. TRUMP served on 4/17/2025 (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

RECAP
14 May 2, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 03/21/2025. (Vizcarra, Hana) (Main Document 14 replaced on 5/5/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 05/02/2025)

RECAP
15 May 19, 2025

AMENDED COMPLAINT against BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE filed by FAITH IN PLACE, GREENLATINOS, RED FIRE FARM, CULTIVATE KC, HENDRIX FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, FOODSHED ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Summons Brooke Rollins, # 5 Summons United States Department of Agriculture, # 6 Summons Donald J. Trump, # 7 Summons United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, # 8 Summons Attorney General of the United States)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 05/19/2025)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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3 Exhibit 3

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4 Summons Brooke Rollins

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5 Summons United States Department of Agriculture

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6 Summons Donald J. Trump

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7 Summons United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

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8 Summons Attorney General of the United States

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Clearinghouse
16 May 19, 2025

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by FOODSHED ALLIANCE, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY (Attachments: # 1 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 05/19/2025)

RECAP
17 May 19, 2025

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by HENDRIX FARM, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM re 15 Amended Complaint,, (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 05/19/2025)

RECAP
18 May 20, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Bradley Silverman on behalf of All Defendants (Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 05/20/2025)

RECAP
19 May 20, 2025

ERRATA (Corrected Notice of Appearance) by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE re 18 Notice of Appearance. (Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 05/20/2025)

RECAP
20 June 2, 2025

ANSWER to 15 Amended Complaint,, by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.(Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 06/02/2025)

RECAP
June 2, 2025

.Order

June 2, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall meet, confer, and jointly submit a proposed schedule to govern further proceedings on or before June 16, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 06/02/2025. (lcrc2)

21 June 16, 2025

Joint STATUS REPORT by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 06/16/2025)

RECAP
June 17, 2025

.Order

June 17, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 21 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the following briefing schedule shall govern further proceedings: Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment shall be filed on or before July 18, 2025; Defendants' Response and Cross-Motion shall be filed on or before August 18, 2025; Plaintiffs' Reply and Cross-Response shall be filed on or before September 1, 2025; and Defendants' Cross-Reply shall be filed on or before September 15, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 06/17/2025. (lcrc2)

June 17, 2025

Order

22 July 18, 2025

MOTION for Summary Judgment by CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration Exhibits 1-9, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 07/18/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

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2 Declaration Exhibits 1-9

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3 Text of Proposed Order

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23 July 24, 2025

Consent MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment by CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Amicus Brief, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Gorod, Brianne) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

RECAP
24 July 24, 2025

NOTICE of Appearance by Miriam Becker-Cohen on behalf of CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER (Becker-Cohen, Miriam) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

RECAP
July 28, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Motions due by 8/18/2025. Response to Cross Motions due by 9/1/2025. Reply to Cross Motions due by 9/15/2025. Response to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 8/18/2025. Reply to Motion for Summary Judgment due by 9/1/2025. (tj)

July 28, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines

25 Aug. 17, 2025

Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 08/17/2025)

RECAP
26 Aug. 17, 2025

RESPONSE re 22 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 08/17/2025)

RECAP
27 Aug. 25, 2025

Consent MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Silverman, Bradley) (Entered: 08/25/2025)

RECAP
Aug. 25, 2025

Order on Motion to Modify

Aug. 25, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting 27 Motion to Modify: It is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern further proceedings: Plaintiffs' Reply and Cross-Response shall be filed on or before September 26, 2025 and Defendants' Cross-Reply shall be filed on or before October 24, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 08/25/2025. (lcrc2)

28 Sept. 11, 2025

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Substituting for attorney Bradley Silverman (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 09/11/2025)

RECAP
29 Sept. 24, 2025

Consent MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule by BUTTERBEE FARM, CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 09/24/2025)

RECAP
Sept. 24, 2025

Order on Motion to Modify

Sept. 24, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting 29 Motion to Modify: It is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern further proceedings: Plaintiffs' Reply and Cross-Response shall be filed on or before October 10, 2025 and Defendants' Cross-Reply shall be filed on or before November 13, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 9/24/2025. (lcrc2)

Sept. 26, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines: Replies due by 10/10/2025; Cross Motions due by 10/10/2025; Response to Cross Motions due by 11/13/2025. (tj)

Sept. 26, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines

30 Oct. 10, 2025

REPLY to opposition to motion re 25 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 10/10/2025)

RECAP
31 Oct. 10, 2025

Memorandum in opposition to re 25 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 10/10/2025)

RECAP
32 Nov. 20, 2025

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

RECAP
Nov. 20, 2025

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

Nov. 20, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting 32 Consent Motion to Extend: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall file their Cross-Reply on or before December 12, 2025. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 11/20/2025. (lcrc2)

Nov. 21, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines: Cross Reply due by 12/12/2025. (tj)

Nov. 21, 2025

Set/Reset Deadlines

33 Dec. 12, 2025

REPLY to opposition to motion re 25 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by BROOKE L. ROLLINS, DONALD J. TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

RECAP
March 18, 2026

.Order

March 18, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: Given that the preliminary injunction issued as to USDA in Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council v. U.S. Dep't of Agric., 778 F. Supp. 3d 440 (D.R.I. 2025) remains in effect, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report on or before March 25, 2026, informing the Court of their positions as to whether this case should be stayed--similar to the course taken by Judge Ali in AIDS Vaccine Advoc. Coal. v. U.S. Dep't of State, No. 25-cv-400--pending the D.C. Circuit's disposition of Vera Inst. of Just. v. Dep't of Just., No. 25-5248; or of Climate United Fund v. EPA, Nos. 25-5122 and 25-5123, and Nat'l Treasury Emps. Union v. Vought, No. 25-509. The Court notes that the D.C. Circuit's opinions in these cases are likely to inform the issue of whether this Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' Administrative Procedure Act claims. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/18/2026. (lcrc2)

March 19, 2026

Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 3/25/2026 (tj)

March 19, 2026

Set/Reset Deadlines

34 March 25, 2026

NOTICE of Change of Address by Hana Veselka Vizcarra (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/25/2026)

RECAP
35 March 25, 2026

Joint STATUS REPORT by CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 03/25/2026)

RECAP
March 25, 2026

.Order

March 25, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 35 the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is STAYED until further order of the Court. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report within fourteen days of the D.C. Circuit's disposition of Vera Inst. of Just. v. Dep't of Just., No. 25-5248, or of Climate United Fund v. EPA, Nos. 25-5122 and 25-5123, and Nat'l Treasury Emps. Union v. Vought, No. 25-509, whichever is earlier, advising the Court of their proposed next steps. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 3/25/2026. (lcrc2)

March 26, 2026

Case Stayed (tj)

March 26, 2026

Case Stayed

36 April 23, 2026

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to CULTIVATE KC, FAITH IN PLACE, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, GREENLATINOS, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, RED FIRE FARM, TWO BOOTS FARM. Attorney Mary Prothero terminated. (Prothero, Mary) (Entered: 04/23/2026)

RECAP
37 May 19, 2026

Unopposed MOTION to Dismiss Voluntarily Dismiss without Prejudice by CULTIVATE KC, FOODSHED ALLIANCE, HENDRIX FARM, HOPE FOR SMALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY, TWO BOOTS FARM. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Vizcarra, Hana) (Entered: 05/19/2026)

RECAP
May 19, 2026

Order on Motion to Dismiss

May 19, 2026

MINUTE ORDER granting 37 certain Plaintiffs' Motion to Dismiss: It is hereby ORDERED that the following claims are DISMISSED without prejudice: (1) the claims of Cultivate KC related to its Increase Land, Capital, and Markets Access Program grants (but not its claims related to its Conservation Technical Assistance grants); (2) the claims of Hope for SFS; (3) the claims of Foodshed Alliance; (4) the claims of Hendrix Farm; and (5) the claims of Two Boots Farm. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Rudolph Contreras on 5/19/2026. (lcrc2)

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 13, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are farmers and non-profit organizations that received USDA grants.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Earthjustice

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Donald J. Trump (in his official capacity)

United States Department of Agriculture

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Take Care Clause

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-00737

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Government services

Public assistance grants

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)

Recommended Citation