Case: Council for Opportunity in Education v. U.S. Department of Education

1:25-cv-03491 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

On September 30, 2025, Plaintiffs filed this case in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Education to challenge the Trump administration's denial of federal education grants for disabled students, low-income students, and those from a first-generation background. Filing under the HEA, Title VI, applicable Department regulations, and the 2024 NIA, Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief compelling the Department to reconsider and subsequently award new grants to the Affected Programs according to each Application’s peer reviewed score.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71495173/parties/council-for-opportunity-in-education-v-us-department-of-education/


Judge(s)

Chutkan, Tanya Sue (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Rust, Jayna Marie (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Graham-Oliver, Heather D. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-03491

Complaint for Declaratory, Injunctive, and Mandamus Relief

Council for Opportunity in Education v. U.S. Department of Education et al.

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71495173/council-for-opportunity-in-education-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated Oct. 19, 2025, 11:53 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11992360) filed by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Department of Education, # 3 Summons Linda McMahon (Secretary of Education), # 4 Summons Pamela Bondi (Attorney General), # 5 Summons Jeanine Pirro (Interim U.S. Attorney))(Rust, Jayna) (Attachment 1 replaced on 9/30/2025) (znmw). Modified defendants on 9/30/2025 (znmw). (Attachment 1 replaced on 9/30/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 09/30/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons U.S. Department of Education

View on PACER

3 Summons Linda McMahon (Secretary of Education)

View on PACER

4 Summons Pamela Bondi (Attorney General)

View on PACER

5 Summons Jeanine Pirro (Interim U.S. Attorney)

View on PACER

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Jones, # 2 Exhibit 2-A - Postel, # 3 Exhibit 2-B, # 4 Exhibit 2-C, # 5 Exhibit 2-D, # 6 Exhibit 2-E+, # 7 Exhibit 3 - Guadarrama (STEM), # 8 Exhibit 3-1 - Guadarrama (classic), # 9 Exhibit 4 - Greer, # 10 Text of Proposed Order)(Rust, Jayna) Modified event on 9/30/2025 (znmw). (Entered: 09/30/2025)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
3

SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to LINDA MCMAHON, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 09/30/2025)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (znmw)

Sept. 30, 2025

Sept. 30, 2025

PACER
4

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION (Rust, Jayna) (Entered: 10/01/2025)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

PACER
5

ENTERED IN ERROR.....LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION (Rust, Jayna) Modified on 10/1/2025 (zjm). (Entered: 10/01/2025)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

PACER

Notice of Error

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

PACER

NOTICE OF ERROR regarding 5 LCvR 26.1 Certificate of Disclosure - Corporate Affiliations/Financial Interests. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect court case number. Please refile in correct case. (zjm)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

PACER
6

NOTICE of Appearance by Heather D. Graham-Oliver on behalf of LINDA MCMAHON, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (Graham-Oliver, Heather) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

Oct. 2, 2025

Oct. 2, 2025

PACER

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: In light of Plaintiff's 2 Preliminary Injunction Motion, the parties shall confer and file a Joint Status Report by Monday, October 6, 2025, detailing their preferred date and time for a hearing, a briefing schedule, and whether Case No. 25-cv-3514 should be consolidated with this case as the lead case. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/3/2025. (lcdh)

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

PACER
7

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Brandt P. Hill, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12004398. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Supplement List for Question #4, # 3 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Rust, Jayna) (Attachment 1 replaced on 10/8/2025) (zjm). (Entered: 10/05/2025)

Oct. 5, 2025

Oct. 5, 2025

PACER
8

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Lorrie L. Hargrove, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12004399. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Rust, Jayna) (Attachment 1 replaced on 10/8/2025) (zjm). (Entered: 10/05/2025)

Oct. 5, 2025

Oct. 5, 2025

PACER
9

Joint STATUS REPORT by LINDA MCMAHON, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Graham-Oliver, Heather) (Entered: 10/06/2025)

Oct. 6, 2025

Oct. 6, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Plaintiff's 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice is GRANTED. Brandt P. Hill is hereby admitted pro hac vice to represent Plaintiff in this matter. 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 Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/8/2025. (lcsm)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Plaintiff's 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice is GRANTED. Lorrie L. Hargrove is hereby admitted pro hac vice to represent Plaintiff in this matter. 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 Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/8/2025. (lcsm)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER

Scheduling Order

Oct. 10, 2025

Oct. 10, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, the court sets the following deadlines: Defendants' Response to Plaintiff's 2 Motion for a Preliminary Injunction is due by 10/31/2025. Plaintiff's Reply, if any, is due no later than 14 days after Defendants file their Response. The court will not order consolidation of 25-cv-3514 and 25-cv-3491 at this time, but it will consider doing so if Defendants file a formal request on the docket. The court will nonetheless permit Defendants to submit a consolidated Response. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 10/10/2025. (lcsm)

Oct. 10, 2025

Oct. 10, 2025

PACER
10

Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General

Oct. 14, 2025

Oct. 14, 2025

PACER
11

Notice of Appearance

Oct. 15, 2025

Oct. 15, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion