Filed Date: July 31, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case challenged provisions of Executive Order No. 14173 (the "Anti-Diversity Order") and Executive Order No. 14168 (the "Gender Order"), which imposed new conditions on recipients of federal contracts and grants. The City of Seattle contended that the Executive Orders unlawfully imposed vague conditions on federal funding, thereby jeopardizing essential municipal services such as transportation, housing, and public safety by threatening to withhold funds based on policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or "gender ideology".
On July 31, 2025, the City of Seattle filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the President of the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other federal agencies and their officials. Plaintiff alleged that Defendants' actions violated the Separation of Powers doctrine, the Spending Clause, the Fifth and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Specifically, Plaintiff contended that the challenged Orders were unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment and that Defendants' actions were arbitrary and capricious, in excess of statutory authority, and contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity, in violation of the APA. Plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment that the Orders were unlawful, an injunction barring their enforcement, and an award of costs and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to U.S. Senior District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein.
Plaintiff filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on August 26, 2025 seeking to enjoin Defendants from enforcing the False Claims Act certification requirement (Section 3(b)(iv)) of the Anti-Diversity Order and the federal funding condition (Section 3(g)) of the Gender Order with respect to any grants awarded to Seattle.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Emma Vayda (8/5/2025)
Dahlia Gottlieb (10/6/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70977516/parties/city-of-seattle-v-trump/
Coopersmith, Jeffrey B (Washington)
Cowart, Kerala Thie (Washington)
Harris, Emily J (Washington)
Hay, Rachel Elizabeth (Washington)
Howard, Renee M. (Washington)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70977516/city-of-seattle-v-trump/
Last updated Oct. 19, 2025, 2:42 p.m.
State / Territory: Washington
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 31, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The City of Seattle.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
President of the United States (- United States (national) -), Federal
Attorney General of the United States (- United States (national) -), Federal
United States Department of Justice (- United States (national) -), Federal
Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs (- United States (national) -), Federal
Office of Management and Budget (- United States (national) -), Federal
United States Department of Transportation (- United States (national) -), Federal
Federal Transit Administration (- United States (national) -), Federal
United States Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
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):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Federalism (including 10th Amendment)
Spending/Appropriations Clauses
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: