Case: Woodmere Art Museum, Inc. v. Trump
2:25-cv-04887 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Filed Date: Aug. 26, 2025
Closed Date: Sept. 5, 2025
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case centered on a federal grant, previously awarded to the Woodmere Art Museum (in Philadelphia), that the Institute for Museum and Library Services withheld following President Trump’s Executive Order 14238, Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.
On August 26, 2025, Woodmere Art Museum filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, against the President of the United States; the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and other federal agencies and their directors. Plaintiff, represented by private counsel, challenged IMLS's termination of its $750,000 Save America's Treasures (SAT) grant, previously awarded in September 2024. IMLS terminated the partially-disbursed grant after President Trump issued Executive Order 14,238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.” Prior to filing the lawsuit, Plaintiff filed an administrative appeal to IMLS on May 8, 2025 to receive the remaining $554,998, but heard no response from the agency. This case was assigned to District Judge Karen Spencer Marston.
Plaintiff alleged that Defendants' actions violated the Appropriations Clause, the Separation of Powers, the Take Care Clause, constituted an arbitrary and capricious abuse of discretion under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and were ultra vires. Plaintiff sought injunctive relief to reinstate the grant funding.
On the same day plaintiff filed the lawsuit and moved for relief, Judge Marston granted a temporary restraining order and ordered a hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction.
On August 28, 2025, Judge Marston ordered the Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order be converted to a motion for a preliminary injunction.
News media reported in September 2025 that IMLS notified Plaintiff that its earlier appeal was successful, and IMLS fully reinstated the $750,000 grant. The museum dismissed its lawsuit on September 5, 2025. This case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Jack Moore (9/12/2025)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71203569/parties/woodmere-art-museum-inc-v-trump/
Marston, Karen Spencer (Pennsylvania)
MCSHEA, JOHN P. (Pennsylvania)
JONES, LANDON Y. (Pennsylvania)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Resources
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71203569/woodmere-art-museum-inc-v-trump/
Last updated Sept. 5, 2026, 4 a.m.
Docket for: WOODMERE ART MUSEUM, INC. v. TRUMP
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 26, 2025
Closing Date: Sept. 5, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Woodmere Museum, Inc., is a non-profit museum with over 10,000 pieces in its collection from Philadelphia's artistic history.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Spending/Appropriations Clauses
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Pennsylvania 2:25-cv-04887
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Amount Defendant Pays: $554,998
Order Duration: 2025 - 2025
Issues
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:
Impoundment (mandatory spending)
Case Summary of Woodmere Art Museum, Inc. v. Trump, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46875/ (last updated 9/12/2025).