Case: Jones v. U.S. Department of Labor

1:25-cv-12653 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Sept. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case challenged the Department of Labor’s (DOL) abrupt cessation of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). For sixty years, the SCSEP has provided grants to states and nonprofit organizations to support training and community service-based job opportunities for unemployed seniors who want to reenter the workforce. In 2025, however, the DOL failed to issue the continuation grants normally provided for the SCSEP, stating that it was “reviewing” the already-appropriated fund…

On September 18, 2025, plaintiffs filed this putative class action in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the DOL, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the respective leadership of these agencies, as well as the United States of America. Plaintiffs brought claims under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Mandamus Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1361, and the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651. Plaintiffs sought class certification, a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, an order compelling defendants to perform unlawfully withheld or delayed agency actions, and attorneys' fees. Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton was assigned to the case.

In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged that defendants’ conduct violated the APA because: (i) the DOL and OMB acted arbitrarily and capriciously by abruptly changing long-standing SCSEP funding practices without explanation; (ii) the DOL, DOL's leadership, and the United States acted contrary to law and in excess of their statutory authority by withholding congressionally mandated SCSEP grants; (iii) OMB, Director Vought, and the United States acted contrary to law by conditioning SCSEP funding on OMB’s approval of a “spend plan” in violation of the Older Americans Act and the Anti-Deficiency Act; and (iv) all defendants unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed mandatory actions to release and apportion SCSEP funds. Plaintiffs further alleged that all defendants except the United States should be compelled under the Mandamus Act and All Writs Act to perform their nondiscretionary duties to issue and release those funds.

Plaintiffs filed a motion in support of class certification on September 29, 2025.

On October 14, 2025, defendants filed a motion for a stay of all pretrial deadlines in light of a lapse in appropriations affecting the Department of Justice. The motion requested that deadlines be extended until funding is restored and that any deadlines missed during the lapse be adjusted accordingly.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (9/29/2025)

Dahlia Gottlieb (10/27/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71383010/parties/jones-v-us-department-of-labor/

Judge(s)

Gorton, Nathaniel M. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bressler, Steven Y. (Massachusetts)

Eisenberg, Lynn D (Massachusetts)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (Massachusetts)

Schellenberg, Kali J. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Judge(s)

Gorton, Nathaniel M. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bressler, Steven Y. (Massachusetts)

Eisenberg, Lynn D (Massachusetts)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (Massachusetts)

Schellenberg, Kali J. (Massachusetts)

Snow, Kyla (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Yen, Shawna (Massachusetts)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:25-cv-12653	Class Action Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	Sept. 18, 2025	Sept. 18, 2025 Complaint
18 1:25-cv-12653	Memorandum Of Law In Support Of Plaintiffs’ Motion For Class Certification And Appointment Of Class Counsel Jones et al. v. U.S. Department of Labor et al.	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025 Pleading / Motion / Brief
31 1:25-cv-12653	Defendants’ Assented-To Motion For A Stay Of All Pretrial Deadlines In Light Of Lapse Of Appropriations Jones et al. v. U.S. Department of Labor et al.	Oct. 24, 2025	Oct. 24, 2025 Pleading / Motion / Brief

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71383010/jones-v-us-department-of-labor/

Last updated Nov. 12, 2025, 7:34 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against Lori Chavez-Deremer, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Lori Frazier Bearden, Russell Vought, U.S. Department of Labor Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11246145 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 09/18/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP 2 Category Form View on RECAP	Sept. 18, 2025	Sept. 18, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell. (SP) (Entered: 09/18/2025)	Sept. 18, 2025	Sept. 18, 2025
3	Summons Issued as to Lori Frazier Bearden, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, United States of America, Russell Vought. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (NMC) (Entered: 09/18/2025)	Sept. 18, 2025	Sept. 18, 2025
	Notice of Case Assignment	Sept. 18, 2025	Sept. 18, 2025
4	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Steven Y. Bressler Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11248196 by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Main Document 4 replaced on 9/22/2025) (NMC). (Entered: 09/19/2025)	Sept. 19, 2025	Sept. 19, 2025
5	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Daniel F. Jacobson Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11248265 by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Main Document 5 replaced on 9/22/2025) (NMC). (Entered: 09/19/2025)	Sept. 19, 2025	Sept. 19, 2025
6	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Lynn D. Eisenberg Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11248276 by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Main Document 6 replaced on 9/22/2025) (NMC). (Entered: 09/19/2025)	Sept. 19, 2025	Sept. 19, 2025
7	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Kyla M. Snow Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11248289 by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Main Document 7 replaced on 9/22/2025) (NMC). (Entered: 09/19/2025)	Sept. 19, 2025	Sept. 19, 2025
10	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWING 6 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Lynn D. Eisenberg. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (NMC) (Entered: 09/22/2025)	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
11	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWING 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice to be Added Kyla M. Snow. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney. (NMC) (Entered: 09/22/2025)	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
12	NOTICE of Appearance by Lynn D Eisenberg on behalf of Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John (Eisenberg, Lynn) (Entered: 09/22/2025)	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
8	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWING 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Steven Y. Bressler. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (NMC) (Entered: 09/22/2025)	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
9	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWING 5 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Daniel F. Jacobson. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (NMC) (Entered: 09/22/2025)	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear	Sept. 22, 2025	Sept. 22, 2025
13	NOTICE of Appearance by Shawna Yen on behalf of Lori Frazier Bearden, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, United States of America, Russell Vought (Yen, Shawna) (Entered: 09/24/2025)	Sept. 24, 2025	Sept. 24, 2025
14	NOTICE of Appearance by Steven Y. Bressler on behalf of Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 09/24/2025)	Sept. 24, 2025	Sept. 24, 2025
15	NOTICE of Appearance by Kyla Snow on behalf of Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John (Snow, Kyla) (Entered: 09/25/2025)	Sept. 25, 2025	Sept. 25, 2025
16	BRIEF by Lori Frazier Bearden, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, United States of America, Russell Vought Joint Briefing Schedule. (Yen, Shawna) (Entered: 09/26/2025)	Sept. 26, 2025	Sept. 26, 2025
17	MOTION to Certify Class by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John.(Bressler, Steven) (Main Document 17 replaced correcting document for filing on 9/29/2025) (NMC). (Entered: 09/29/2025)	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025
18	MEMORANDUM in Support re 17 MOTION to Certify Class filed by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Vonda Jones, # 2 Declaration of Christina Davies, # 3 Declaration of Rochelle St. John, # 4 Declaration of Maria Garcia Pagan, # 5 Declaration of Steven Y. Bressler, # 6 Declaration of Lynn Eisenberg)(Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 09/29/2025) 1 Declaration of Vonda Jones View on PACER 2 Declaration of Christina Davies View on PACER 3 Declaration of Rochelle St. John View on PACER 4 Declaration of Maria Garcia Pagan View on PACER 5 Declaration of Steven Y. Bressler View on PACER 6 Declaration of Lynn Eisenberg View on PACER	Sept. 29, 2025	Sept. 29, 2025 Clearinghouse
19	NOTICE by Christina Davies, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan, Rochelle St. John re 16 Brief Joint Notice Regarding Release of Funds and Plaintiffs' Planned Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 10/01/2025)	Oct. 1, 2025	Oct. 1, 2025
20	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. Lori Chavez-Deremer served on 9/22/2025, answer due 10/14/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
21	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. Employment and Training Administration served on 9/22/2025, answer due 10/14/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
22	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. Russell Vought served on 9/26/2025, answer due 10/17/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
23	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. U.S. Office of Management and Budget served on 9/26/2025, answer due 10/17/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
24	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. U.S. Department of Labor served on 9/22/2025, answer due 10/14/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
25	AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. Lori Frazier Bearden served on 9/22/2025, answer due 10/14/2025. Acknowledgement filed by Christina Davies; Rochelle St. John; Vonda Jones; Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
26	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
27	SUMMONS Returned Executed as to US Attorney by Christina Davies, Rochelle St. John, Vonda Jones, Maria Garcia Pagan. All Defendants. (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
28	MOTION for Extension of Time to November 20, 2025 to File Response to Motion for Class Certification, MOTION for Extension of Time to November 20, 2025 to File Response/Reply as to 17 MOTION to Certify Class, 18 Memorandum in Support of Motion, ( Responses due by 10/16/2025) by Lori Chavez-Deremer.(Yen, Shawna) (Entered: 10/02/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
29	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ORDER entered. re 16 Brief filed by U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Lori Frazier Bearden, U.S. Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-Deremer, United States of America, Russell Vought, Employment and Training Administration. Treated as a motion and motion allowed, in part, and denied, in part, the timing of the filings is approved but initial briefs will not exceed 20 pages and the reply brief will not exceed 10 pages. (NMC) (Entered: 10/03/2025)	Oct. 2, 2025	Oct. 2, 2025
30	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWING 28 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply re 17 MOTION to Certify Class . ( Responses due by 11/20/2025). (NMC) (Entered: 10/03/2025)	Oct. 3, 2025	Oct. 3, 2025
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time AND Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply	Oct. 3, 2025	Oct. 3, 2025
31	MOTION to Stay OF ALL PRETRIAL DEADLINES IN LIGHT OF LAPSE OF APPROPRIATIONS by Lori Frazier Bearden, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.(Yen, Shawna) (Entered: 10/24/2025)	Oct. 24, 2025	Oct. 24, 2025 Clearinghouse
32	Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ORDER entered re 31 Motion to Stay OF ALL PRETRIAL DEADLINES IN LIGHT OF LAPSE OF APPROPRIATIONS. Motion DENIED. (NMC) (Entered: 10/28/2025)	Oct. 28, 2025	Oct. 28, 2025 RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Spending Freezes/Cuts

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and a putative class, are those that participated in the SCSEP program at local senior centers or labor departments and were furloughed in June 2025 when their programs stopped receiving SCSEP funds.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Democracy Forward

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

U.S. Department of Labor, Federal

Lori Chavez-Deremer, in her official capacity as Secretary of Labor, Federal

Lori Frazier Bearden, in her official capacity as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration, Federal