Case: International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, AFL-CIO v. Trump

1:25-cv-03615 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Oct. 8, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case challenged Executive Order No. 14343, issued by President Donald Trump on August 28, 2025. The order is a follow-up to Executive Order 14251, which excluded numerous agencies and subdivisions (designated as having primary national security functions) from the collective-bargaining protections of the Federal and Foreign Service Labor-Management Relations Statutes (collectively, the FSLMRS). Executive Order 14343 excluded six additional agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), from labor coverage under the FSLMRS, despite the fact that NASA’s primary mission is not related to national security and that it has maintained collective bargaining relationships with federal employee unions for decades. Similar cases challenging Executive Orders 14251 and 14343 are collected here.

On October 8, 2025, the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald Trump and Acting Administrator of NASA, Sean Duffy. The IFPTE is a labor organization whose local unions serve as bargaining representatives for federal employees across various agencies, including NASA. The organization alleged that the implementation of EO 14343 was ultra vires and violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The IFPTE also claimed that Defendant Duffy’s conduct violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The IFPTE sought a declaratory judgment, permanent injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees. The case was assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols.

In their complaint, the IFPTE asserted that EO 14343 (i) exceeded the President’s authority under 5 U.S.C. § 7103(b); (ii) was issued in retaliation for IFPTE’s protected speech and petitioning activities, violating the First Amendment; (iii) violated the Fifth Amendment by nullifying collective bargaining agreements without proper justification, denying equal protection by targeting disfavored unions, and depriving IFPTE of contract rights without procedural due process; and (iv) was arbitrary, capricious, and beyond statutory authority under the APA.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (10/9/2025)

Dahlia Gottlieb (11/13/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71586723/parties/international-federation-of-professional-technical-engineers-afl-cio-v/

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Block, Sarah M. (District of Columbia)

McGillivary, Gregory K. (District of Columbia)

Miller-Bartley, Patrick John (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Block, Sarah M. (District of Columbia)

McGillivary, Gregory K. (District of Columbia)

Miller-Bartley, Patrick John (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:25-cv-03615	Complaint	Oct. 8, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025 Complaint
6 1:25-cv-03615	Notice of Deisgnation of Related Civil Cases Pending This or Any Other United States Court	Oct. 10, 2025	Oct. 10, 2025 Other

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Resources

Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Further Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Donald Trump			https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Further Exclusions From the Federal Labor- Management Relations Program			https://www.federalregister.gov/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71586723/international-federation-of-professional-technical-engineers-afl-cio-v/

Last updated June 20, 2026, 3:57 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12012352) filed by INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons (Defendant Donald J. Trump), # 3 Summons (Defendant Sean Duffy), # 4 Summons (U.S. Attorney General Bondi), # 5 Summons (U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Pirro))(McGillivary, Gregory) (Entered: 10/08/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons (Defendant Donald J. Trump) View on PACER 3 Summons (Defendant Sean Duffy) View on PACER 4 Summons (U.S. Attorney General Bondi) View on PACER 5 Summons (U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Pirro) View on PACER	Oct. 8, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025 Clearinghouse
2	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, AFL-CIO (McGillivary, Gregory) (Entered: 10/08/2025)	Oct. 8, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025
3	NOTICE of Appearance by Sarah M. Block on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Block, Sarah) (Entered: 10/08/2025)	Oct. 8, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025
4	NOTICE of Appearance by Patrick John Miller-Bartley on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Miller-Bartley, Patrick) (Entered: 10/08/2025)	Oct. 8, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025
5	SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 10/09/2025)	Oct. 9, 2025	Oct. 9, 2025
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Oct. 9, 2025	Oct. 9, 2025
	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm)	Oct. 9, 2025	Oct. 9, 2025
6	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, AFL-CIO. Case related to Case No. 1:25-cv-02947-PLF; 1:25-cv-2990-PLF; 1:25-cv-3306-PLF; 1:25-cv-935-PLF; 1:25-cv-1030-PLF; 1:25-cv-1362-PLF; 1:25-cv-2445-PLF; 1:25-cv-2657-PLF. (McGillivary, Gregory) (Entered: 10/10/2025)	Oct. 10, 2025	Oct. 10, 2025 Clearinghouse
7	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General October 22, 2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Certified Mail Confirmations)(Miller-Bartley, Patrick) (Entered: 11/26/2025)	Nov. 26, 2025	Nov. 26, 2025
8	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. SEAN DUFFY served on 10/21/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Certified Mail Confirmations)(Miller-Bartley, Patrick) (Entered: 11/26/2025)	Nov. 26, 2025	Nov. 26, 2025
9	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/22/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 12/21/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Certified Mail Confirmations)(Miller-Bartley, Patrick) (Entered: 11/26/2025)	Nov. 26, 2025	Nov. 26, 2025
10	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DONALD J. TRUMP served on 11/3/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Certified Mail Confirmations)(Miller-Bartley, Patrick) (Entered: 11/26/2025)	Nov. 26, 2025	Nov. 26, 2025
11	Case directly reassigned to Judge Paul L. Friedman as there is an earlier related case. Judge Carl J. Nichols is no longer assigned to the case. (rj) (Entered: 12/11/2025)	Dec. 11, 2025	Dec. 11, 2025
	MINUTE ORDER: In light of the D.C. Circuit's anticipated decision(s) in National Treasury Employees Union v. Trump, No. 25-5157 (D.C. Cir.), American Foreign Service Ass'n v. Trump, No. 25-5184 (D.C. Cir.), and Federal Education Ass'n v. Trump, No. 25-5303 (D.C. Cir.), it is hereby ORDERED that all proceedings in this matter are STAYED pending further order of this Court. It is further ORDERED that within 14 days of the D.C. Circuit's decision(s), the parties shall file a Joint Status Report proposing next steps for how this case should proceed. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 12/22/2025. (lczl)	Dec. 22, 2025	Dec. 22, 2025
	.Order	Dec. 22, 2025	Dec. 22, 2025
	Case Stayed (tj)	Jan. 9, 2026	Jan. 9, 2026
	Case Stayed	Jan. 9, 2026	Jan. 9, 2026
12	NOTICE of Appearance by Brian J. Levy on behalf of SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 01/30/2026)	Jan. 30, 2026	Jan. 30, 2026
13	Emergency MOTION to Intervene Modify Stay & for TRO/PI by GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proposed Complaint, # 2 Exhibit Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit Rule 7 Certificate, # 4 Declaration GESTA Declaration, # 5 Declaration Weil Declaration)(Weil, Zachary). Added MOTION to Modify, MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, MOTION for Preliminary Injunction on 5/5/2026 (zjm). (Entered: 05/01/2026) 1 Exhibit Proposed Complaint View on PACER 2 Exhibit Proposed Order View on PACER 3 Exhibit Rule 7 Certificate View on PACER 4 Declaration GESTA Declaration View on PACER 5 Declaration Weil Declaration View on PACER	May 1, 2026	May 1, 2026 RECAP
14	NOTICE of Appearance by Zachary Weil on behalf of GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA) (Weil, Zachary) (Entered: 05/01/2026)	May 1, 2026	May 1, 2026
15	NOTICE LCvR 65.1 Certificate by GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA) re 13 Motion to Intervene, (Weil, Zachary) (Entered: 05/01/2026)	May 1, 2026	May 1, 2026
16	NOTICE by SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP re 13 Motion to Intervene, (Levy, Brian) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	May 4, 2026	May 4, 2026
17	Consent MOTION to Modify the Time for the May 8 Hearing by SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levy, Brian) Modified on 5/6/2026 to correct relief (zjm). (Entered: 05/06/2026)	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	.Order	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	Set/Reset Hearings	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: All parties shall appear for a scheduling conference on May 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom videoconference to discuss movant's 13 Emergency Motion to Intervene, Modify Stay and for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. The videoconference details will be sent the morning of or in advance of the conference. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 5/6/2026. (lczl)	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	Order on Motion to Modify	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	Set/Reset Hearings: Scheduling Conference set for 5/8/2026 at 10:00 AM in Telephonic/VTC before Judge Paul L. Friedman. (tj)	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER granting the parties' 17 Consent Motion to Reschedule. The scheduling conference currently scheduled for May 8 at 10:00 a.m. is hereby RESCHEDULED for 11:00 a.m. on the same day via Zoom videoconference. The videoconference details will be sent the morning of or in advance of the conference. So ORDERED. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 5/6/2026. (lczl)	May 6, 2026	May 6, 2026
18	NOTICE of Appearance by Ronald P. Weil on behalf of GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA) (Weil, Ronald) Modified docket text on 5/8/2026 (mg). (Entered: 05/07/2026)	May 7, 2026	May 7, 2026
	.Order	May 7, 2026	May 7, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Due to scheduling conflicts, the scheduling conference on May 8, 2026 is hereby VACATED. The parties are directed to meet and confer and file a joint status report at or before 10:00 a.m. on May 11, 2026 proposing a briefing schedule for plaintiff-intervenors 13 emergency motions. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 5/7/2026. (lczl)	May 7, 2026	May 7, 2026
19	Joint STATUS REPORT by SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Levy, Brian) (Entered: 05/11/2026)	May 11, 2026	May 11, 2026
20	ORDER setting forth a briefing schedule in light of the parties' 19 Joint Status Report. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 5/13/2026. (lczl) (Entered: 05/13/2026)	May 13, 2026	May 13, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines	May 13, 2026	May 13, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Opposition due by 6/8/2026; Responses due by 6/21/2026 (tj)	May 13, 2026	May 13, 2026
21	NOTICE of Appearance- Pro Bono by Ronald P. Weil on behalf of GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA) (Weil, Ronald) (Entered: 05/20/2026)	May 20, 2026	May 20, 2026
	MINTUE ORDER: All parties shall appear for a hearing on June 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 29 in the William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse at 333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, to address plaintiffs-intervenor's 13 emergency motions. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 05/29/2026. (lczl)	May 29, 2026	May 29, 2026
	.Order	May 29, 2026	May 29, 2026
	Set/Reset Hearings	May 29, 2026	May 29, 2026
	Set/Reset Hearings: Motion Hearing set for 6/10/2026 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 29A- In Person before Judge Paul L. Friedman. (tj)	May 29, 2026	May 29, 2026
22	Memorandum in opposition to re 13 Emergency MOTION to Intervene Modify Stay & for TRO/PI MOTION to Modify MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by SEAN DUFFY, DONALD J. TRUMP. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Rubilotta, # 2 Declaration Willis, # 3 Exhibit A, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Levy, Brian) (Entered: 06/01/2026) 1 Declaration Rubilotta View on PACER 2 Declaration Willis View on PACER 3 Exhibit A View on PACER 4 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	June 1, 2026	June 1, 2026 RECAP
23	REPLY to opposition to motion re 13 Motion to Intervene,, Motion to Modify,, Motion for TRO,, Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed by GODDARD ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION (GESTA). (Weil, Zachary) (Entered: 06/08/2026)	June 8, 2026	June 8, 2026
	Motion Hearing	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Paul L. Friedman: Motion Hearing held on 6/10/2026 re 13 Emergency MOTION to Intervene Modify Stay & for TRO/PI MOTION to Modify MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order; MOTION for Preliminary Injunction. Motion Taken Under Advisement. Further Order to be issued by the Court. Court Reporter: Chandra Kean. (zcam)	June 10, 2026	June 10, 2026
	.Order	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: The parties are hereby directed to meet and confer and file a Joint Status Report on or before June 18, 2026 indicating whether defendants are willing to extend their agreement to pause any further dispositions to the U.S. General Services Administration through July 31, 2026, in anticipation of the D.C. Circuit's impending decision(s) in National Treasury Employees Union v. Trump, No. 25-5157 (D.C. Cir.), American Foreign Service Ass'n v. Trump, No. 25-5184 (D.C. Cir.), and Federal Education Ass'n v. Trump, No. 25-5303 (D.C. Cir.). Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on 06/11/2026. (lczl)	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Status Report due by 6/18/2026 (tj)	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026
24	Status Report	June 12, 2026	June 12, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Labor Rights

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Speech and Religious Freedom

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 8, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) is a labor organization whose members include thousands of workers employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Donald J Trump

Sean Duffy

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Equal Protection

Freedom of speech/association

Separation of Powers

Takings

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03615

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)

Pay / Benefits

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, AFL-CIO v. Trump, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47041/ (last updated 11/13/2025).