Case: Doe v. Department of Defense

8:25-cv-02947 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Sept. 8, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is about the Department of Defense’s removal of medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents and young adults under TRICARE. Said removal was made pursuant to EO 14168. On September 8th, 2025, several anonymous transgender young adults along with their parents filed this suit in the District of Maryland against the Department of Defense and several key officials, challenging the sudden removal of coverage for gender affirming care under the U.S. military's hea…

This case is about the Department of Defense’s removal of medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents and young adults under TRICARE. Said removal was made pursuant to EO 14168.

On September 8th, 2025, several anonymous transgender young adults along with their parents filed this suit in the District of Maryland against the Department of Defense and several key officials, challenging the sudden removal of coverage for gender affirming care under the U.S. military's health insurance program. Plaintiffs contend the defendants ended TRICARE coverage and banned military facilities from providing puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender dependents under 19, later extending the facility ban to adults. Plaintiffs were abruptly cut off from care, disrupting treatment and causing financial hardship. Plaintiffs argued that these changes were arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), exceeded statutory authority under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, and were ultra vires and violate the separation of powers. Plaintiffs sought and declaratory relief that the NDAA FY25 does not prohibit treatment for plaintiffs and that the DoD Implementing Rules denying care are unlawful, along with permanent injunctive relief preventing denial of further care.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jack Moore (10/17/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71294148/parties/doe-v-department-of-defense/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

8:25-cv-02947

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Doe et al. v. Department of Defense et al.

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71294148/doe-v-department-of-defense/

Last updated Oct. 23, 2025, 11:34 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12212834.), filed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - (Pre-June 11) Manual Ch. 7 Secs. 1.2 and 1.3, # 2 Exhibit B - EO 14187 (Healthcare Order), # 3 Exhibit C - March 13 Memorandum, # 4 Exhibit D - April 21 Memorandum, # 5 Exhibit E - TRICARE Manuals - Display Chap 7 Sect 1, # 6 Exhibit F - TRICARE Manuals - Display Chap 7 Sect 1, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

1 Exhibit A - (Pre-June 11) Manual Ch. 7 Secs. 1.2 and 1.3

View on PACER

2 Exhibit B - EO 14187 (Healthcare Order)

View on PACER

3 Exhibit C - March 13 Memorandum

View on PACER

4 Exhibit D - April 21 Memorandum

View on PACER

5 Exhibit E - TRICARE Manuals - Display Chap 7 Sect 1

View on PACER

6 Exhibit F - TRICARE Manuals - Display Chap 7 Sect 1

View on PACER

7 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

Clearinghouse
10

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213242.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
11

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Christopher F. Stoll (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213248.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
12

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Sara R. Fitzpatrick (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213253.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
13

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Sharif E. Jacob (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213260.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
14

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Shannon Minter (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213261.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
2

Sealed Document(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
3

MOTION to Seal Complaint and for Protective Order by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

View on RECAP

2 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
4

MOTION for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms, to Waive Requirement Under Local Rule 102.2(a) to Provide Addresses in Complaint Caption, and for Protective Order by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
5

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Jennifer Levi (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213219.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
6

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Luis G. Hoyos (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213225.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
7

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Sarah Austin (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213228.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
8

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Hannah Hussey (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213234.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
9

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Liam Brown (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12213239.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/08/2025)

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

PACER
15

NOTICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe re 1 Complaint,, Summons - Department of Defense (Attachments: # 1 Summons - Pete Hegseth, # 2 Summons - Anthony J. Tata, # 3 Summons - Stephen L. Ferrara, # 4 Summons - Defense Health Agency, # 5 Summons - David J. Smith, # 6 Summons - Pamela Jo Bondi)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
16

NOTICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe re 1 Complaint,, Summons - Kelly O. Hayes, US Attorney for the District of Maryland (Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
17

Summons Issued 60 days as to Defense Health Agency, Department of Defense, Stephen L. Ferrara, Pete Hegseth, David J. Smith, Anthony J. Tata, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General(kk5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
18

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Jennifer Levi. Directing attorney Jennifer Levi to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
19

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Luis G. Hoyos. Directing attorney Luis G. Hoyos to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
20

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Sarah Austin. Directing attorney Sarah Austin to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
21

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Hannah Hussey. Directing attorney Hannah Hussey to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
22

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 9 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Liam Brown. Directing attorney Liam Brown to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
23

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 10 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross. Directing attorney Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
24

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 11 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Christopher Stoll. Directing attorney Christopher Stoll to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
25

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 12 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Sara R. Fitzpatrick. Directing attorney Sara R. Fitzpatrick to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
26

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 13 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Sharif E. Jacob. Directing attorney Sharif E. Jacob to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/9/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/2025)

Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 9, 2025

PACER
27

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 14 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Shannon Minter. Directing attorney Shannon Minter to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/10/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/10/2025)

Sept. 10, 2025

Sept. 10, 2025

PACER
28

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Emily A. Hasselberg (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12236286.) by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

PACER
29

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 28 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Emily A. Hasselberg. Directing attorney Emily A. Hasselberg to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 9/18/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

PACER
30

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. Department of Defense served on 9/15/2025, answer due 10/6/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service - U.S. Department of Justice - Pamela Jo Bondi, # 2 Proof of Service - Kelly O. Hayes U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
31

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. Pete Hegseth served on 9/12/2025, answer due 10/3/2025.(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
32

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. Anthony J. Tata served on 9/12/2025, answer due 10/3/2025.(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
33

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. Stephen L. Ferrara served on 9/17/2025, answer due 10/8/2025.(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
34

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. David J. Smith served on 9/17/2025, answer due 10/8/2025.(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
35

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Parker Poe, Nathan Noe, Diana Doe. Defense Health Agency served on 9/17/2025, answer due 10/8/2025.(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 09/25/2025)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
36

MOTION to Withdraw Appearance of Luis G. Hoyos by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 10/06/2025)

Oct. 6, 2025

Oct. 6, 2025

PACER
37

ORDER granting 36 Motion to Withdraw Appearance of Luis G. Hoyos. Signed by Judge Deborah L. Boardman on 10/7/2025. (kk5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

PACER
38

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe re 36 MOTION to Withdraw Appearance of Luis G. Hoyos (Hill, Eve) (Entered: 10/08/2025)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER
39

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe re 4 MOTION for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms, to Waive Requirement Under Local Rule 102.2(a) to Provide Addresses in Complaint Caption, and for Protective Order, 1 Complaint,, 3 MOTION to Seal Complaint and for Protective Order (Hill, Eve) (Entered: 10/08/2025)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER
40

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe re 4 MOTION for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms, to Waive Requirement Under Local Rule 102.2(a) to Provide Addresses in Complaint Caption, and for Protective Order, 1 Complaint,, 3 MOTION to Seal Complaint and for Protective Order (Hill, Eve) (Entered: 10/08/2025)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER
41

NOTICE by Diana Doe, Nathan Noe, Parker Poe of Supplemental Authority (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1)(Hill, Eve) (Entered: 10/16/2025)

Oct. 16, 2025

Oct. 16, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Maryland

Case Type(s):

Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 8, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are transgender minors, represented by their parents.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Department of Defense (District of Columbia), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

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

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Transgender

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Transgender