Case: State of Maine v. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1:25-cv-00324 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Filed Date: June 17, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case challenged the Trump Administration’s termination of a $9 million federal grant awarded to the state of Maine for a project to restore tidal salt marsh habitat and protect coastal infrastructure from flooding. The administration provided no explanation for the termination of the grant; plaintiffs alleged it was in retaliation against Maine’s policies protecting the civil rights of transgender people. NOAA only terminated funding for this project, not for any other similar grants; addi…

This case challenged the Trump Administration’s termination of a $9 million federal grant awarded to the state of Maine for a project to restore tidal salt marsh habitat and protect coastal infrastructure from flooding. The administration provided no explanation for the termination of the grant; plaintiffs alleged it was in retaliation against Maine’s policies protecting the civil rights of transgender people. NOAA only terminated funding for this project, not for any other similar grants; additionally, even after its termination of Maine’s grant, NOAA continued to advertise that federal funding was available for like projects. Plaintiffs alleged the Trump Administration’s termination of the grant violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Separation of Powers, the Take Care Clause, the Appropriations Clause, and the Tenth Amendment.

On June 17, 2025, the state of Maine and the Maine Department of Natural Resources filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Maine. The lawsuit named the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its Administrator, as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Secretary, as defendants. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to Judge Nancy Torresen.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Matt Petrillo (6/23/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70574375/parties/state-of-maine-v-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration/


Judge(s)

Torresen, Nancy (Maine)

Attorney for Plaintiff

ANTON, JASON (Maine)

DAFOE, JACK (Maine)

Attorney for Defendant

OSBORN, JOHN G. (Maine)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00324

Complaint

Maine v. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70574375/state-of-maine-v-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration/

Last updated Oct. 11, 2025, 8:37 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PAYMENT OF FILING FEE DUE WITHIN 48 HOURS. IF FILING FEE IS BEING PAID WITH A CREDIT CARD COUNSEL ARE INSTRUCTED TO LOGIN TO CMECF AND DOCKET Case Opening Filing Fee Paid FOUND IN THE Complaints and Other Initiating Documents CATEGORY. CHECK PAYMENTS DUE WITHIN 48 HOURS., filed by STATE OF MAINE, MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES. (Service of Process Deadline 9/15/2025) Fee due by 6/23/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A: Grant Termination Letter, # 2 Exhibit B: Notice of Funding Opportunity, # 3 Exhibit C: Updated Narrative and Summary for DMR Grant Application, # 4 Exhibit D: Notice of Award, # 5 Exhibit E: Secretary Rollins Letter to Governor Mills, # 6 Exhibit F: SOM v. USDA Settlement Agreement, # 7 Exhibit G: Notice of Award with Termination Endorsement, # 8 Exhibit H: NOAA Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants Funding Notice, # 9 Exhibit I: Letter to Senator Collins)(lcb) (Entered: 06/18/2025)

1 Exhibit A: Grant Termination Letter

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2 Exhibit B: Notice of Funding Opportunity

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3 Exhibit C: Updated Narrative and Summary for DMR Grant Application

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4 Exhibit D: Notice of Award

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5 Exhibit E: Secretary Rollins Letter to Governor Mills

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6 Exhibit F: SOM v. USDA Settlement Agreement

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7 Exhibit G: Notice of Award with Termination Endorsement

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8 Exhibit H: NOAA Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants Funding Notic

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9 Exhibit I: Letter to Senator Collins

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June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET. (lcb) (Entered: 06/18/2025)

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

PACER
3

Summons Issued as to LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. Counsel shall print the embossed summons and effect service in the manner in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P.4. Note-If you are using Version 6 of Adobe Acrobat, be sure the PRINT WHAT field is set to DOCUMENTS AND COMMENTS (Click File, then Print to check this setting). (Attachments: # 1 Summons for Laura Grimm, # 2 Summons for U.S. Department of Commerce, # 3 Summons for Howard Lutnick)(lcb) (Entered: 06/18/2025)

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

PACER
4

NOTICE of Appearance by JASON ANTON on behalf of STATE OF MAINE, MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES (ANTON, JASON) (Entered: 06/18/2025)

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

PACER

Filing Fee Received: Amount Paid: $405. Receipt Number: 3127371. Method of Payment: Credit Card. Purpose of Payment: Case Filing Fee. Date Paid: 6/18/2025 (slg)

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

PACER
5

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES, STATE OF MAINE re 3 Summons Issued,, (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service, # 2 Proof of Service, # 3 Proof of Service, # 4 Proof of Service, # 5 Proof of Service)(DAFOE, JACK) (Entered: 08/06/2025)

Aug. 6, 2025

Aug. 6, 2025

PACER

Set Answer Deadline for LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Answer due by 8/25/2025. (slg)

Aug. 6, 2025

Aug. 6, 2025

PACER
6

NOTICE of Appearance by JOHN G. OSBORN on behalf of All Defendants (OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 08/14/2025)

Aug. 14, 2025

Aug. 14, 2025

PACER
7

Consent MOTION to Extend Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 9/5/2025. (OSBORN, JOHN) Modified on 8/15/2025 to clean up text (slg). (Entered: 08/15/2025)

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER
8

ORDER granting 7 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Answer or other response to Plaintiffs' Complaint due September 8, 2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 08/15/2025)

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER

Reset Answer Deadline for LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE per order no. 8: Answer due by 9/8/2025. (clp)

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER
10

ORDER granting 9 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer By MAGISTRATE JUDGE DAVID M. COHEN. (COHEN, DAVID) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER
9

Consent MOTION to Extend Time to File Answer by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 9/19/2025. (OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER

Reset Answer Deadline for LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Answer due by 9/15/2025. (slg)

Sept. 2, 2025

Sept. 2, 2025

PACER
11

MOTION for Leave to File a Motion in Excess of 20 Pages by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 10/1/2025. (OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 09/10/2025)

Sept. 10, 2025

Sept. 10, 2025

PACER
12

Consent MOTION to Extend Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,,, by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 10/2/2025. (OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 09/11/2025)

Sept. 11, 2025

Sept. 11, 2025

PACER
13

ORDER granting 11 Motion for Leave to File Brief in Excess of Page Limits. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 09/12/2025)

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

PACER
14

ORDER granting 12 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Response to Plaintiffs' Complaint due September 19, 2025. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 09/12/2025)

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to File

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

PACER

Reset Answer Deadline for LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Answer due by 9/19/2025. (slg)

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

PACER
15

MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 10/10/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - APHA v. NIH District Court Judgment, # 2 Exhibit B - APHA v. NIH District Court Oral Ruling)(OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 09/19/2025)

1 Exhibit A - APHA v. NIH District Court Judgment

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2 Exhibit B - APHA v. NIH District Court Oral Ruling

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Sept. 19, 2025

Sept. 19, 2025

PACER
16

Unopposed MOTION to Extend Time 7 days and for Enlargement of Page Limits by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES, STATE OF MAINE Responses due by 10/16/2025. (DAFOE, JACK). Added MOTION for Enlargement of Page Limits on 9/25/2025 (slg). (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
17

ORDER granting 16 Motion to Extend Time; granting 16 Motion to Exceed Page Limits. Plaintiffs' opposition to Motion to Dismiss due October 17, 2025, with a 30 page limit. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief 1 AND Order on Motion to Extend Time

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER

Reset Deadlines as to 15 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction: Responses due by 10/17/2025. (slg)

Sept. 26, 2025

Sept. 26, 2025

PACER
18

MOTION to Stay in Light of Lapse in Appropriations by LAURA GRIMM, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Responses due by 10/22/2025. (OSBORN, JOHN) (Entered: 10/01/2025)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

RECAP

Reset Deadlines as to 18 MOTION to Stay in Light of Lapse in Appropriations Per Judge Wolf: Responses due by 10/6/2025. No reply permitted. (slg)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

PACER
19

RESPONSE to Motion re 18 MOTION to Stay in Light of Lapse in Appropriations filed by MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES, STATE OF MAINE. Reply due by 10/16/2025. (DAFOE, JACK) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

Oct. 2, 2025

Oct. 2, 2025

RECAP
20

ORDER granting 18 Motion to Stay. The stay is without prejudice to the Plaintiff requesting that the stay be lifted if in place for more than 30 days. By MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAREN FRINK WOLF. (WOLF, KAREN) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

Oct. 2, 2025

Oct. 2, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion to Stay

Oct. 2, 2025

Oct. 2, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Maine

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 17, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The state of Maine and one of its agencies, the Maine Department of Natural Resources.

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (- United States (national) -), Federal

U.S. Department of Commerce (- United States (national) -), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Federalism (including 10th Amendment)

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Separation of Powers

Take Care Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Funding

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Threatened/endangered fauna

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+