Case: Heenan v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
1:25-cv-03343 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: Sept. 22, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
The plaintiffs in this case are former attorneys in the Office of Fair Housing (OFH) who worked on Fair Housing Act (FHA) matters. They contend that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) forced them to leave the OFH against their will. They were then reassigned to other agencies.
Plaintiffs brought this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on September 22, 2025, bringing claims under the FHA and the Declaratory Judgment Act. They alleged that the reassignments could be attributed to the change in presidential administrations and the Trump Administrations hostility towards civil rights enforcement generally. They further asserted that HUD’s actions contravened the FHA’s anti-interference provision, which provides that “[i]t shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person . . . on account of his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of” fair housing rights. 42 U.S.C. § 3617. The plaintiffs sought to be reinstated to their positions as well as declaratory relief, fees, and costs. This case was assigned to Judge Rudolph Contreras.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Jinan Abufarha (10/17/2025)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71415825/parties/heenan-v-us-department-of-housing-and-urban-development/
Contreras, Rudolph (District of Columbia)
Samuels, Jessica Merry (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71415825/heenan-v-us-department-of-housing-and-urban-development/
Last updated Aug. 20, 2026, 4:43 a.m.
Docket for: HEENAN v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
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: Sept. 22, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiffs are former attorneys in the Office of Fair Housing.
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03343
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:
Case Summary of Heenan v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46979/ (last updated 10/17/2025).