Case: Anchorage School District v. U.S. Department of Education

1:25-cv-00347 | U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Filed Date: July 21, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenged the decision of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withhold nearly $7 billion in funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This funding was required by statute to be disbursed to states on July 1, 2025. Statute provides formulas for OMB to use in calculating the exact amount ED must give to each state, provided that state has plans to run ESEA programs previously approved by ED. All 50 states had such plans. Statute also requires these funds…

This case challenged the decision of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withhold nearly $7 billion in funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This funding was required by statute to be disbursed to states on July 1, 2025. Statute provides formulas for OMB to use in calculating the exact amount ED must give to each state, provided that state has plans to run ESEA programs previously approved by ED. All 50 states had such plans. Statute also requires these funds to be awarded on July 1 and then on October 1, with no provision for delay. 

On June 30, 2025, ED apprised states that it would not be doling out the funds as required. Instead, plaintiffs alleged ED adopted a novel policy of delaying distribution of funds until it could complete a review to ensure the funds were "spent in accordance with the President's priorities." Plaintiffs further alleged that ED did not enjoy any legal authority for such a maneuver, and did not give any indication of how long its review would be or what that review would examine. Plaintiffs asserted that defendants' actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the separation of powers, and were ultra vires. Plaintiffs sought a writ of mandamus compelling defendants to distribute the funds in accordance with federal law. 

On July 21, 2025, plaintiffs--several school districts, teachers' groups, and nonprofit organizations--filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island against ED and its Secretary, and OMB and its Director. Plaintiffs sought a declaration that ED and OMB violated the APA, an injunction ordering defendants to issue the funds required by statute without further delay, and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to Judge Melissa R. Dubose.

The same day, plaintiffs filed their motion for a preliminary injunction. The court set a hearing for August 13, 2025 on the motion.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Matt Petrillo (7/25/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70873172/parties/anchorage-school-district-v-us-department-of-education/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Bressler, Steven Y. (Rhode Island)

Eisenberg, Lynn D. (Rhode Island)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (Rhode Island)

Perryman, Skye L. (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Defendant

Azrak, Cesar (Rhode Island)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00347

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Introduction

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70873172/anchorage-school-district-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 11:59 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT ( filing fee paid $ 405.00, receipt number BRIDC-2162968 ), filed by Ohio Federation of Teachers, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Anchorage School District, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, California Federation of Teachers, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida PTA, P.S. 305, Texas American Federation of Teachers, Florida Education Association, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, AFT Pennsylvania. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

Clearinghouse
10

MOTION to Expedite Briefing Schedule filed by All Plaintiffs. Responses due by 8/4/2025. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
2

MOTION for Daniel F. Jacobson to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162969 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
3

MOTION for Kali Schellenberg to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162971 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
4

MOTION for Kyla Snow to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162972 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
5

MOTION for Lynn Eisenberg to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162973 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
6

MOTION for Robert Reilly to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162974 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
7

MOTION for Steven Bressler to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162975 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
8

MOTION for Skye Perryman to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2162976 ) filed by All Plaintiffs. (Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
9

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Plaintiffs. Responses due by 8/4/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Supporting Memorandum, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit Exhibit 11, # 13 Exhibit Exhibit 12, # 14 Exhibit Exhibit 13, # 15 Exhibit Exhibit 14, # 16 Exhibit Exhibit 15, # 17 Exhibit Exhibit 16, # 18 Exhibit Exhibit 17, # 19 Exhibit Exhibit 18, # 20 Exhibit Exhibit 19, # 21 Exhibit Exhibit 20, # 22 Exhibit Exhibit 21)(Weizenbaum, Miriam) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

1 Supporting Memorandum

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2 Exhibit Exhibit 1

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3 Exhibit Exhibit 2

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4 Exhibit Exhibit 3

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5 Exhibit Exhibit 4

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6 Exhibit Exhibit 5

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7 Exhibit Exhibit 6

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8 Exhibit Exhibit 7

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9 Exhibit Exhibit 8

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10 Exhibit Exhibit 9

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11 Exhibit Exhibit 10

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12 Exhibit Exhibit 11

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13 Exhibit Exhibit 12

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14 Exhibit Exhibit 13

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15 Exhibit Exhibit 14

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16 Exhibit Exhibit 15

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17 Exhibit Exhibit 16

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18 Exhibit Exhibit 17

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19 Exhibit Exhibit 18

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20 Exhibit Exhibit 19

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21 Exhibit Exhibit 20

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22 Exhibit Exhibit 21

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July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
11

CASE OPENING NOTICE ISSUED. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

RECAP
12

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
13

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
14

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
15

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
16

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
17

Summons Request filed by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers. (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER
18

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. (Kenny, Meghan) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

CASE CONDITIONALLY ASSIGNED to District Judge Melissa R. DuBose and Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan based upon the indication on the cover sheet that a related case previously was assigned to the presiding judge. Related Case Number 1:25-cv-329-MRD-PAS. The assignment is subject to the presiding judge's determination that the cases, in fact, are related. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion to Expedite

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

Case Conditionally Assigned

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 2 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Daniel F. Jacobson. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Kali Schellenberg. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Kyla M. Snow. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Lynn D. Eisenberg. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Robert T. Reilly. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Steven Y. Bressler. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Skye L. Perryman. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

TEXT ORDER granting 10 Motion to Expedite. Defendants shall file their response to 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction on or before July 28, 2025. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/22/2025. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025

PACER

AMENDED TEXT ORDER: The briefing schedule re Plaintiffs' 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction is amended as follows: Defendants shall file their response by August 4, 2025, and the Plaintiffs shall file their reply by August 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 7/24/2025. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Notice of Hearing on Motion

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

NOTICE of Hearing re 9 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction: Hearing set for 8/13/2025 at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 1 before District Judge Melissa R. DuBose. This proceeding will be streamed on the Court's YouTube Channel (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
19

NOTICE of Appearance by Cesar Azrak on behalf of All Defendants (Azrak, Cesar) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

PACER
20

Joint MOTION for an Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 9 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 8/14/2025. (Azrak, Cesar) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

PACER
21

NOTICE by AFT Pennsylvania, Anchorage School District, California Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati Public Schools, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Kuspuk School District, NYSUT, Ohio Federation of Teachers, P.S. 305, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, Texas American Federation of Teachers re 9 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction of Withdrawal (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 08/04/2025)

Aug. 4, 2025

Aug. 4, 2025

RECAP

TEXT ORDER entering 21 Notice of Withdrawal; denying as moot 20 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply; withdrawing 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 8/5/2025. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

Hearing Cancelled

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

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

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

HEARING CANCELLED re Notice of Hearing on Motion for Preliminary Injunction previously scheduled for August 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM is hereby cancelled. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Grant/Contract rescissions, Defunding or Other Threats against Private Entities )

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 21, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Several school districts, teachers' groups, and nonprofit organizations whose statutorily-required funding was cut by the Trump Administration.

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Democracy Forward

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

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

Office of Management and Budget (- United States (national) -), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

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

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

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.:

Education

Funding

Government services

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)