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

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

On October 7, 2025, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) sued the Trump administration in U.S. District Court in the District of District of Columbia. NDIA brought this lawsuit to challenge the unilateral repeal by the Executive Branch of the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which Congress required under the Digital Equity Act of 2021. NDIA alleges that Defendants’ defiance of Congress’s clear will by eliminating an entire statutory scheme based on a policy set forth in EO 14151 and EO 14173 violates the separation of powers, infringes Congress’s spending power under Article I, usurps the power delegated to the Courts under Article III, and far exceeds the constitutional authority of the Executive Branch. 

This 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 Oct. 28, 2025, 9:02 p.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

PACER
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

PACER
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

PACER
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

PACER
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

PACER

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

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

10

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

PACER
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

PACER
8

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

PACER
9

LCvR 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure - Corporate Affiliations/Financial Interests

Oct. 9, 2025

Oct. 9, 2025

PACER

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

11

Notice of Appearance

Oct. 14, 2025

Oct. 14, 2025

PACER
12

Notice of Appearance

Oct. 14, 2025

Oct. 14, 2025

PACER
13

Notice of Appearance

Oct. 15, 2025

Oct. 15, 2025

PACER
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

PACER

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:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

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

General/Misc.:

Funding