Case: Chicago v. Noem

1:25-cv-12765 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Oct. 20, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

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

On October 20, 2025, plaintiffs City of Chicago, City of Boston, City and County of Denver, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, and Ramsey County filed this Complaint to enjoin Defendants from imposing unlawful conditions in Department of Homeland Security grants that keep their Cities safe. The Executive Branch has determined to use this critical federal funding as a cudgel, threatening to hamstring local governments’ emergency-management functions unless they acquiesce to unrelated Executive domestic policy goals. Plaintiffs brought this suit to challenge the imposition of the Challenged DHS Conditions on their DHS- and FEMA-administered grants.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (10/20/2025)

Madena Mustafa (10/27/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71698211/parties/chicago-v-noem/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Anderson, Kristyn Marie (Illinois)

Anderson, Teresa Kay (Illinois)

Bernhardt, Doris F. (Illinois)

Cousins, Bradley Duane (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Chicago, AUSA - (Illinois)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-12765

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

Complaint
40

1:25-cv-12765

Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction

City of Boston et al. v. Noem et al.

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71698211/chicago-v-noem/

Last updated Oct. 28, 2025, 8:23 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by City of New Haven, Denver, Cty of, City of New York, Ramsey County, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of Chicago, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, City of Saint Paul; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-24218225. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A 2025 DHS Terms and Conditions)(Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

1 Exhibit Exhibit A 2025 DHS Terms and Conditions

View on PACER

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

Clearinghouse
10

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) KRISTI NOEM, in her official capacity as Secretary of Homeland Security by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
11

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, KRISTI NOEM, U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(gmc, ) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
12

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County by Toby Merrill; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24222996. (Merrill, Toby) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
13

DESIGNATION of Patrick Walter Johnson as U.S. Attorney for Defendants Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kristi Noem, David Richardson (Johnson, Patrick) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
14

AMENDED motion to appear pro hac vice, 12, correcting address. (Merrill, Toby) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
2

CIVIL Cover Sheet (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
3

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Chelsey Blaire Metcalf (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
4

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Stephen J Kane (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
5

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Rebecca Alfert Hirsch (Hirsch, Rebecca) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
6

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Denver, Cty of by Matthew Joseph Mulbarger; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24220043. (Mulbarger, Matthew) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
7

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) DAVID RICHARDSON, in his official capacity as Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
8

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) Department of Homeland Security by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
9

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) Federal Emergency Management Agency by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 10/20/2025)

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER

case assigned

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER

clerk's notice

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Manish S. Shah. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (cvk, )

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (cvk, )

Oct. 20, 2025

Oct. 20, 2025

PACER
15

ORDER AMENDED GENERAL ORDER 25-0024: GENERAL ORDER HOLDING IN ABEYANCE: CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY: This matter is before the Court due to the lapse of congressional appropriations funding the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office. Absent an appropriation, the United States represents that certain Department of Justice attorneys and employees of the federal government are prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances, including "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property." 31 U.S.C. § 1342. Therefore, the lapse in appropriations requires a reduction in the workforce of the United States Attorney's Office and other federal agencies, particularly with respect to prosecution and defense of civil cases. The Court, in response, and with the intent to avoid any default or prejudice to the United States or other civil litigants occasioned by the lapse in funding, sua sponte enters this General Order. As a result of the cited workforce reductions, it is hereby ORDERED, effective October 1, 2025, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United States of America, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former employees), and/or any other party represented by the Department of Justice or the United States Attorney's Office is immediately suspended, postponed, and held in abeyance continuing until funding for federal government operations is fully restored. The Court may renew or modify this General Order depending on developments in the stay period. The Court intends "civil litigation" to include all pending non-criminal cases in which the United States, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former employees) is in any way a named party and any non-criminal cases in which the United States Attorney's Office or the Department of Justice is counsel of record. This includes, without limitation, all pending Social Security cases and all cases seeking monetary or equitable relief in which the United States is involved as a civil litigant. The General Order does not affect habeas corpus cases pending or filed under Chapter 153 of Title 28. This General Order suspends and continues, during the stay, any and all events and deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or agreement), including but not limited to any scheduled proceedings, hearings, and/or discovery and pleading dates. No party will be required to take any steps in civil litigation affected until expiration of the stay. The Court warns litigants that this General Order does not purport to affect rights to, or deadlines concerning, appeal from any decision of this Court, which will continue to operate and issue orders in the normal course. Any litigant affected by this General Order may seek relief from the order by motion. The Court may, in any particular case, vary the effect or operation of this General Order by a separate order. The Court shall distribute this General Order: (a) by electronic service to all registered CM/ECF users; (b) by first-class mail to unregistered civil litigants, including pro se litigants, and to attorneys pending pro hac vice admission; and (c) by posting the General Order on the Court's public website. This General Order does not operate as a stay of any injunction or restraining order entered by any judge of this court. The Court shall clarify the status of case schedules upon expiration of the stay and dependent on the timing of the funding resolution. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 10/2/2025. Mailed notice.(nh, ) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
16

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Chicago, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Denver, Cty of, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County by Erin Monju; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24226061. (Monju, Erin) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
17

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Saint Paul by Kelsey J McElveen; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24227125. (McElveen, Kelsey) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
18

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to David Richardson(gmc, ) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
19

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: The motions for leave to appear pro hac vice 6 12 16 17 are granted. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
20

MOTION by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City And County of Denver, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County for order Entering Agreed Schedule, Relieving the Action from Amended General Order 25-0024, and Granting Leave to File Excess Pages (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
21

NOTICE of Motion by Chelsey Blaire Metcalf for presentment of motion for order, 20 before Honorable Manish S. Shah on 10/28/2025 at 09:45 AM. (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
22

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Chicago, City And County of Denver, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County by Mohan Sharanya; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24231261. (Sharanya, Mohan) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
23

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: Plaintiffs' unopposed motion 20 is granted, and no appearance on 10/28/25 is necessary. By agreement, the deadline for Plaintiffs to accept any grant award or grant funding related to this action is extended to the later of: (a) Monday, November 24, 2025, or (b) the deadline otherwise set by the grant award. This action is exempt from Amended General Order 25-0024. Plaintiffs shall file their motion for preliminary injunction by October 24, 2025. Plaintiffs have leave to file a brief that is 25 pages in length. Defendants shall file their opposition by November 7, 2025. Defendants have leave to file a brief that is 25 pages in length. Plaintiffs may reply by November 14, 2025. Hearing and argument on the motion for preliminary injunction is set for 11/17/25 at 11:00 a.m. in courtroom 1919. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
24

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: The motion for leave to appear pro hac vice 22 is granted. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
25

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of New York by Doris F. Bernhardt; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24232731. (Bernhardt, Doris) (Entered: 10/21/2025)

Oct. 21, 2025

Oct. 21, 2025

PACER
26

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Ramsey County by Bradley Duane Cousins; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24234293. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Bradley Cousins)(Cousins, Bradley) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
27

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Ramsey County by Stacey Lee D'Andrea; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24234331. (D'Andrea, Stacey) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
28

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Ramsey County by Jada Natasha Lewis; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24234355. (Lewis, Jada) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
29

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Minneapolis by Kristyn Marie Anderson; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24234314. (Anderson, Kristyn) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
30

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: The motions for leave to appear pro hac vice 25 26 27 28 are granted. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
31

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Minneapolis by Heather Passe Robertson; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24237806. (Robertson, Heather) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
32

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Minneapolis by Sara Jeanne Lathrop; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24238498. (Lathrop, Sara) (Entered: 10/22/2025)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER
33

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Boston by Samuel Bay Dinning; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24240362. (Dinning, Samuel) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
34

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Manish S. Shah: The motions for leave to appear pro hac vice 29 31 32 33 are granted. Notices Mailed. (psm, ) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
35

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Minneapolis by Munazza Humayun; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24241018. (Humayun, Munazza) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
36

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) DOJ (for all defendants) by Plaintiff City of Chicago (Hirsch, Rebecca) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
37

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) NDIL AUSA (for all defendants) by Plaintiff City of Chicago (Hirsch, Rebecca) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
38

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of City of Boston by Teresa Kay Anderson; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24246358. (Anderson, Teresa) (Entered: 10/23/2025)

Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025

PACER
40

MOTION by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, City And County of Denver, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County for preliminary injunction (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

RECAP
41

MEMORANDUM by City of Chicago, City And County of Denver, City of Boston, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Ramsey County in support of motion for preliminary injunction, 40 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

RECAP
42

DECLARATION of Chelsey Metcalf regarding memorandum in support of motion, 41 with Exhibits (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
43

APPENDIX memorandum in support of motion, 41 Declaration and Exhibit Index (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
44

DECLARATION of Faith Leach regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
45

DECLARATION of Robert W. Ciccolo Jr. regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
46

DECLARATION of Adrian Jordan regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
47

DECLARATION of Bethany Hand regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
48

DECLARATION of Tomas Maulawin regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
49

DECLARATION of Caroline Buhse regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
50

DECLARATION of Rachel Sayre regarding appendix 43 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4)(Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
51

DECLARATION of Lucas Scardigli regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
52

DECLARATION of Vicki Troswick regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
53

DECLARATION of Justin Elicker regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
54

DECLARATION of Paul Ochoa regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
55

DECLARATION of Kristine Ryan regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
56

DECLARATION of Judson Freed regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER
57

DECLARATION of Lindsay Bacher regarding appendix 43 (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 10/24/2025)

Oct. 24, 2025

Oct. 24, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 20, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The City of Chicago, City of Boston, City and County of Denver, City of Minneapolis, City of New Haven, City of New York, City of Saint Paul, Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, and Ramsey County

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (District of Columbia), Federal

Federal Emergency Management Agency (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