Filed Date: March 14, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case challenged the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) termination of 12 civil servants at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Office of Equity Assurance (OEA) based on the VA's designation of OEA as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) office and the 12 civil servants as DEIA employees. These designations and firings resulted directly from—were carried out in purported compliance with—President Trump’s Executive Order 14151 (EO 14151) that directed elimination of all DEIA-related offices and positions in the federal government. None of the 12 terminated employees were probationary employees and none had been subject to poor performance or misconduct complaints. (To view the Clearinghouse's collection of civil service-related legal challenges to actions by the second Trump administration, click here.)
On March 14, 2025, the 12 terminated employees filed this lawsuit under pseudonyms in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs sued the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Represented by the Law Office of David A. Branch & Associates, the plaintiffs claimed that the defendant’s conduct violated: the APA because it was arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion; the First Amendment because the terminations were based on the plaintiffs' perceived viewpoints about DEIA; Due Process under the Fifth Amendment because they were denied notice and a chance to challenge their designations and terminations; and Equal Protection because they were treated differently than employees in the OEA’s VA companion Office of Health Equity, on the basis of their perceived beliefs.
For relief, the plaintiffs asked the court to find that the defendant’s actions were unlawful; issue declaratory and injunctive relief enjoining the defendant from designating OEA as a DEIA office and the plaintiffs as DEIA employees; order the defendant to recant the designations to the VA and the public; and pay attorneys’ fees.
On March 14, 2025, the plaintiffs filed a sealed motion to proceed anonymously, which the court granted in part and denied in part subject to any future decision of the judge eventually assigned to the case.
On March 27, 2025, the plaintiffs filed a notice of related case, alleging that their case was related to Perkins Coie LLP v U.S. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00716). The District Judge in the Perkins case, Beryl A. Howell, denied relatedness on April 18. Thus, this case was reassigned to District Judge Rudolph Contreras the same day.
On April 18, 2025, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), and the court set a briefing schedule on April 21—ordering the defendants to respond by April 25.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Sylvia Al-Mateen (4/24/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69740178/parties/doe-v-collins/
Branch, David A. (District of Columbia)
Littman, M. Jared (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69740178/doe-v-collins/
Last updated April 28, 2025, 1:29 p.m.
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 (Appointments/Civil Service)
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 14, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
12 anonymous career civil servants who worked in the VA's Office of Equity Assurance (OEA)
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: