Filed Date: June 17, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
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)
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/
Torresen, Nancy (Maine)
ANTON, JASON (Maine)
DAFOE, JACK (Maine)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70574375/state-of-maine-v-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration/
Last updated July 7, 2025, 9:50 a.m.