Case: National Digital Inclusion Alliance v. Trump

1:25-cv-03606 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Oct. 7, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

In 2021, Congress enacted the Digital Equity Act, which, among other things, created the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program to close the “digital divide” between those who have affordable access, skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not. To achieve this goal, the Act appropriated $2.75 billion to be distributed through grant programs to “covered populations,” groups with lower rates of broadband internet adoption than the national average, which are typically …

In 2021, Congress enacted the Digital Equity Act, which, among other things, created the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program to close the “digital divide” between those who have affordable access, skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not. To achieve this goal, the Act appropriated $2.75 billion to be distributed through grant programs to “covered populations,” groups with lower rates of broadband internet adoption than the national average, which are typically in rural areas. 

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (“NDIA”) was awarded a $25.7 million grant under the Program in January 2025 to fund “provision of low or no-cost devices and a cohort of ‘digital navigators’ to assist individuals with accessing low-cost reliable broadband, identifying local online resources, and using digital tools to fulfill basic needs.” After a series of actions—including Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 which characterize “diversity, equity and inclusion” and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” programs inaccurately as “discriminatory” and “illegal,” a Truth Social post by Trump calling the Act “a RACIST and ILLEGAL $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAY”— NDIA was sent formal notice terminating the grant award on May 9, 2025. 

On October 7, 2025, NDIA brought suit against President Trump, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the National Institute Of Standards and Technology, and the Office of Management and Budget. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and assigned to Judge John D. Bates. NDIA alleged a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), alleging the termination of the grant was beyond the constitutional powers of the executive branch, in excess of the statutory authority of the Digital Equity Act, which requires them to carry out the grant program, and was arbitrary and capricious. They also alleged a violation of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the Spending Clause and separation of powers. 

In relief, NDIA sought a declaration that the Competitive Grant Program was not unlawful or unconstitutional, and therefore the Defendants’ termination of the Competitive Grant Program violates the Constitution. It also sought vacatur of the Defendants’ actions terminating the Grant Program.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (10/8/2025)

Madena Mustafa (10/28/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71577961/parties/national-digital-inclusion-alliance-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Bates, John D. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Barbee-Garrett, Alexandra (District of Columbia)

Curran, Christian (District of Columbia)

Dajani, Ahmad Al (District of Columbia)

Epstein, Marc P. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-03606

Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

National Digital Inclusion Alliance v. Trump et al.

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71577961/national-digital-inclusion-alliance-v-trump/

Last updated Jan. 11, 2026, 12:54 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against PAMELA BONDI, US Attorney General, CRAIG BURKHARDT, in his official capacity as Acting Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, HOWARD LUTNICK, in his official capacity as Secretary of Commerce, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, ARIELLE ROTH, in her official capacity as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, RUSSELL VOUGHT, in his official capacity as Director of Office Management and Budget with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number BDCDC-12009814) filed by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

1 Summons

View on PACER

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Christian N. Curran, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12009826. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Warrington S. Parker III, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12009827. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

4

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Alexandra L. Barbee-Garrett, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12009830. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

5

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Ahmad Al Dajani, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12009831. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

6

SUMMONS (11) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 10/08/2025)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (znmw)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

7

NOTICE of Appearance by Marc P. Epstein on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Epstein, Marc) (Entered: 10/09/2025)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Leah E. Frazier, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12014332. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Epstein, Marc) (Entered: 10/09/2025)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

9

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 10/09/2025)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

10

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Gillian Cassell-Stiga, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12014675. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Epstein, Marc) (Entered: 10/09/2025)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 2 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2025. (lcjdb2)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructionsSigned by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2025. (lcjdb2)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 4 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2025. (lcjdb2)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 5 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2025. (lcjdb2)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 10/9/2025. (lcjdb2)

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

11

NOTICE of Appearance by Christian Curran on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Curran, Christian) (Entered: 10/14/2025)

Oct. 14, 2025

Oct. 14, 2025

12

NOTICE of Appearance by Ahmad Al Dajani on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Al Dajani, Ahmad) (Entered: 10/14/2025)

Oct. 14, 2025

Oct. 14, 2025

13

NOTICE of Appearance by Warrington S. Parker, III on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Parker, Warrington) (Entered: 10/15/2025)

Oct. 15, 2025

Oct. 15, 2025

14

NOTICE of Appearance by Alexandra Barbee-Garrett on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Barbee-Garrett, Alexandra) (Entered: 10/17/2025)

Oct. 17, 2025

Oct. 17, 2025

15

NOTICE of Appearance by Leah Frazier on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Frazier, Leah) (Entered: 11/06/2025)

Nov. 6, 2025

Nov. 6, 2025

16

NOTICE of Appearance by Gillian Robin Cassell-Stiga on behalf of NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE (Cassell-Stiga, Gillian) (Entered: 11/11/2025)

Nov. 11, 2025

Nov. 11, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/17/2025. (lcjdb2)

Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Nov. 17, 2025

Nov. 17, 2025

17

NOTICE of Appearance by Sian Jones on behalf of All Defendants (Jones, Sian) (Entered: 12/02/2025)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

18

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Winston Shi on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Sian Jones (Shi, Winston) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

19

ENTERED IN ERROR.....RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the District of Columbia Attorney General. Date of Service Upon District of Columbia Attorney General 10/19/2025. Answer due for ALL D.C. DEFENDANTS by 11/9/2025. (Harrison, Keith) Modified on 12/4/2025 (zjm). (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

20

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,, by CRAIG BURKHARDT, HOWARD LUTNICK, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, ARIELLE ROTH, DONALD J. TRUMP, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, RUSSELL VOUGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

21

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/17/2025. (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

22

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DONALD J. TRUMP served on 10/21/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

23

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET served on 10/21/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

24

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. RUSSELL VOUGHT served on 10/21/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

25

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE served on 11/14/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

26

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. HOWARD LUTNICK served on 11/14/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

27

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. ARIELLE ROTH served on 11/14/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

28

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION served on 11/14/2025 (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 20 the unopposed motion for extension of time, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's complaint by not later than February 6, 2026. If defendants file any dispositive motion, plaintiff shall respond not later than 60 days after the dispositive motion is filed.

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

29

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/9/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/8/2025. (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/04/2025)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 19 Summons Returned Executed as to DC Attorney General,. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect event. Please refile using Summons Returned executed as to US Attorney. Please enter date of delivery (not date mailed). Please refile. (zjm)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

Notice of Error

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

30

Summons Returned Unexecuted as to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2025

31

Summons Returned Unexecuted as to CRAIG BURKHARDT. (Harrison, Keith) (Entered: 12/31/2025)

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 7, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Lawyers Comm. for Civil Rights Under Law

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Commerce (District of Columbia), Federal

President Trump (District of Columbia), Federal

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (District of Columbia), Federal

National Institute Of Standards and Technology (District of Columbia), Federal

Office of Management and Budget (District of Columbia), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03606

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Funding