Filed Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This complaint, filed on October 14, 2025, by Democracy Forward Foundation (DFF) against the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, seeks injunctive relief under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for SSA’s alleged failure to timely respond to multiple FOIA requests and appeals and its improper denial of requested fee waivers. DFF’s requests target internal memoranda, operational meeting videos, communications involving DOGE-affiliated officials and SSA political appointees, and internal studies and data assessing service disruptions, staffing reductions, wait times, missed payments, and system outages following policy changes implemented in early 2025. The complaint alleges that SSA constructively denied these requests by missing statutory deadlines, violated FOIA by failing to make determinations and conduct adequate searches, and unlawfully refused fee waivers despite the strong public interest in transparency regarding disruptions to a program serving over 70 million beneficiaries. DFF seeks court orders compelling production of non-exempt records, granting fee waivers, enjoining further withholding, and awarding attorneys’ fees and costs.
This case has been assigned to Magistrate Judge Chelsea J. Crawford.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Michael Vandergriff (12/1/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71639421/parties/democracy-forward-foundation-v-social-security-administration/
McGrath, Daniel A. (Maryland)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71639421/democracy-forward-foundation-v-social-security-administration/
Last updated Dec. 15, 2025, 12:44 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
NGO suing for access to SSA records potentially obtained by DOGE.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
District of Maryland 1:25-cv-03384
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Benefits (Source):