Case: J. Doe 1-5 v. United States

1:25-cv-00947 | U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Filed Date: June 5, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is about the abrupt termination of fellowships in the Donald M. Payne Fellowship Program following the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by the Trump Administration. The Donald M. Payne Fellowship was established in 2012 to support individuals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, pursuing advanced degrees and careers in the Foreign Service. On June 5, 2025, five anonymous plaintiffs filed this class action lawsuit in the United Stat…

On June 5, 2025, five anonymous plaintiffs filed this class action lawsuit in the United States Court of Federal Claims. The plaintiffs, all former fellows of the Donald M. Payne Fellowship Program, sued the United States for breach of contract under the Administrative Procedure Act. The proposed class included “all individuals who were awarded Payne Fellowship contracts in 2023 and 2024.” Judge Edward H. Meyers presides over the case.

Plaintiffs alleged that they entered into binding fellowship contracts with USAID, under which the agency agreed to provide tuition, stipends, and employment as Foreign Service Officers upon completion of fellowship requirements. Plaintiffs asserted they satisfied all contractual obligations, including academic, medical, and security requirements. Nevertheless, in February 2025, USAID terminated their contracts for non-contractual reasons tied to the Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID.

Plaintiffs claimed that the government’s termination violated their contracts by improperly treating the terminations as “for convenience” and that USAID’s failure to communicate about the terminations exacerbated their financial and professional harm. They further alleged that the terminations violated the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary, capricious, and lacking a rational basis, amounting to an abuse of discretion. Represented by private counsel, plaintiffs sought damages for unpaid fellowship benefits, lost wages, and compensation for forgone opportunities.

On June 6, the court noted an error in the way the plaintiffs' attempt to file anonymously was submitted, and ordered re-filing under seal.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Victoria Tan (6/20/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70463157/parties/j-doe-1-5-v-united-states/

Judge(s)

Meyers, Edward Hulvey (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Schnell, Joshua D. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Byrd, Bryan Michael (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Meyers, Edward Hulvey (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Schnell, Joshua D. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Byrd, Bryan Michael (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:25-cv-00947	Class Action Complaint Doe 1-5 v. United States	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Complaint
2 1:25-cv-00947	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025
5 1:25-cv-00947	Order	June 6, 2025	June 6, 2025

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Resources

Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid	White House statement outlining the misalignment between the United States foreign aid bureaucracy and American interests and values as well as new foreign aid policy moving forward.	Jan. 20, 2025	Jan. 20, 2025 https://www.whitehouse.gov/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70463157/j-doe-1-5-v-united-states/

Last updated Aug. 19, 2025, 11:30 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	COMPLAINT against USA (O) (Filing fee $405, Receipt number AUSFCC-10481387) (Copy Served Electronically on Department of Justice), filed by J. DOE 1-5. Answer due by 8/4/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1-5, # 3 Exhibit 6-13)(py). (Entered: 06/05/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
1	Complaint 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - 5 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 6 - 13 View on PACER	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	MOTION for Protective Order, filed by J. DOE 1-5. Response due by 6/20/2025.(py) (Entered: 06/05/2025)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	Protective Order	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 Clearinghouse
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a) to Judge Edward H. Meyers. (py) (Entered: 06/05/2025)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
3	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	NOTICE of Designation of Electronic Case. (py) (Entered: 06/05/2025)	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
4	Notice of Designation of Electronic Case	June 5, 2025	June 5, 2025 PACER
5	ORDER Signed by Judge Edward H. Meyers. (jc) Service on parties made. (Entered: 06/06/2025)	June 6, 2025	June 6, 2025 Clearinghouse
6	SEALEDCOMPLAINT, filed by J. DOE 1-5 re 1 Complaint, with unredacted exhibits. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-5, # 2 Exhibit 6-13)(Schnell, Joshua) Modified on 6/10/2025 to edit docket text.(py). (Entered: 06/06/2025)	June 6, 2025	June 6, 2025 PACER
7	NOTICE of Appearance by Bryan Michael Byrd for USA . (Byrd, Bryan) (Entered: 06/27/2025)	June 27, 2025	June 27, 2025 PACER
8	Unopposed MOTION Leave to File Response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Protective Order By July 25, 2025 re 2 MOTION for Protective Order, filed by USA.Response due by 7/11/2025.(Byrd, Bryan) (Entered: 06/27/2025)	June 27, 2025	June 27, 2025 PACER
9	ORDER granting 8 Motion for Miscellaneous Relief. The Government shall file its response to the Plaintiffs' motion for a protective order on or before 07/25/2025. Signed by Judge Edward H. Meyers. (dmc) Service on parties made. (Entered: 06/27/2025)	June 27, 2025	June 27, 2025 Clearinghouse
10	Response to Motion	July 25, 2025	July 25, 2025 PACER
11	Extension of Time to File Response	July 30, 2025	July 30, 2025 PACER
12	Extension of Time to File Reply	July 31, 2025	July 31, 2025 PACER
13	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Reply AND Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response	July 31, 2025	July 31, 2025 PACER