Case: Withrow v. United States of America

1:25-cv-04073 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Nov. 20, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] On November 20, 2025, Plaintiff, a transgender woman who honorably served her country for thirteen years between 2010 and 2023 in the Illinois National Guard, filed a class action suit against many parties within the Trump administration. During her service, Plaintiff was allowed to use the restroom consistent with her gender identity. Since retiring in 2023, Plaintiff has worked as a civilian federal government employee, still using the r…

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

On November 20, 2025, Plaintiff, a transgender woman who honorably served her country for thirteen years between 2010 and 2023 in the Illinois National Guard, filed a class action suit against many parties within the Trump administration. During her service, Plaintiff was allowed to use the restroom consistent with her gender identity. Since retiring in 2023, Plaintiff has worked as a civilian federal government employee, still using the restroom consistent with her gender identity, until President Trump's Executive Order 14168 (“Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”). On January 29, 2025, without notice, comment, or deliberation, and ignoring the requirements of Title VII and the EEOC’s decision in Lusardi, OPM issued a memorandum (the “OPM Memorandum”) directing agencies to ensure that restrooms are “designated by biological sex.” Plaintiff claims the disparate treatment of transgender and intersex employees constitutes discrimination in terms and conditions of employment on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (Title VII). 

Summary Authors

Zoe Hayes (11/23/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71939878/parties/withrow-v-united-states-of-america/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Gleklen, Jonathan Ian (District of Columbia)

Michelman, Scott (District of Columbia)

Perloff, Michael Krevans (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04073

Class Action Complaint of Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Withrow v. United States of America et al.

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Complaint
4

1:25-cv-04073

Plaintiff's Motion for Class Certification

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
5

1:25-cv-04073

Notice of Appearance

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71939878/withrow-v-united-states-of-america/

Last updated Dec. 14, 2025, 12:59 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against TRAVIS ADKINS, EDDY ARRIOLA, PAUL S. ATKINS, SCOTT BESSENT, FRANK J. BISIGNANO, BEN BLACK, PAM BONDI, RODNEY BOYD, SHANA M. BROUSSARD, CRAIG T. BROWN, DOUG BURGUM, BRENDON CARR, LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER, ERHARD R. CHORLE, DOUGLAS A. COLLINS, ANNA DAVIS, JANET DHILLON, SEAN DUFFY(in his official capacity as Secretary of the Department of Transportation), SEAN DUFFY(in his official capacity as Acting Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration), PETER A. FELDMAN, ANDREW FERGUSON, ANDREW FOIS, TULSI GABBARD, ANDREA GACKI, ROCHELLE GARZA, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, MICHAEL F. GERBER, JONATHAN V. GOULD, JAMIESON GREER, TIMOTHY GRIBBEN, JEFFERY HALL, THOMAS R. HARDY, ROGER HARRIS, KYLE S. HAUPTMAN, PETE HEGSETH, HEATHER M. HILL, TRAVIS HILL, JENNIFER HOMENDY, MARY LU JORDAN, JOHN JOVANOVIC, AMY A. KARPEL, ROBERT KENNEDY, HENRY J. KERNER, COLLEEN DUFFY KIKO, SCOTT KUPOR, KARI LAKE, PATRICIA L. LEE, KELLY LOEFFLER, ANDREA R. LUCAS, HOWARD LUTNICK, MICHAEL MCDONALD, LINDA E. MCMAHON, KRISTIE MCNALLY, DON MOUL, KRISTI NOEM, OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, JEROME H. POWELL, DAVID PROUTY, JOHN RATCLIFFE, MICHAEL RIGAS, BROOKE L. ROLLINS, MARCO RUBIO(in his official capacity as Secretary of the Department of State), MARCO RUBIO(in his official capacity as Acting Archivist of the United States of the National Archives and Records Administration), MARY G. RYAN, WILLIAM SCHARF, LOREN J. SCIURBA, PAUL SHEA, MICHAEL D. SMITH, JONATHAN L. SNARE, LOUISE SOLA, PATRICIA A. SOLIMENE, DAVID STEINER, BRIAN W. STONE, LOREN E. SWEATT, ROBERT G. TAUB, SCOTT TURNER, ERIC UELAND, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RAHUL VARMA, RUSSELL VOUGHT(in his official capacity as Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development), RUSSELL VOUGHT(in his official capacity as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Board), CHRIS WRIGHT, DAVID A. WRIGHT, LEE ZELDIN ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12091874) filed by LEANNE WITHROW. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons

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Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Clearinghouse
4

MOTION to Certify Class by LEANNE WITHROW. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Ex 1 - Gleklen Declaration, # 2 Exhibit Ex A to Gleklen Declaration, # 3 Exhibit Ex B to Gleklen Declaration, # 4 Exhibit Ex C to Gleklen Declaration, # 5 Exhibit Ex D to Gleklen Declaration, # 6 Exhibit Ex E to Gleklen Declaration, # 7 Exhibit Ex F to Gleklen Declaration, # 8 Exhibit Ex G to Gleklen Declaration, # 9 Exhibit Ex H to Gleklen Declaration, # 10 Exhibit Ex I to Gleklen Declaration, # 11 Exhibit Ex J to Gleklen Declaration, # 12 Exhibit Ex K to Gleklen Declaration, # 13 Exhibit Ex L to Gleklen Declaration, # 14 Exhibit Ex M to Gleklen Declaration, # 15 Exhibit Ex N to Gleklen Declaration, # 16 Exhibit Ex O to Gleklen Declaration, # 17 Declaration Ex 2 - Withrow Declaration, # 18 Declaration Ex 3 - Kniznik Declaration, # 19 Declaration Ex 4 - Second Gleklen Declaration, # 20 Declaration Ex 5 - Golden Declaration, # 21 Declaration Ex 6 - Perloff Declaration, # 22 Declaration Ex 7 - Garcia Declaration, # 23 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

1 Declaration Ex 1 - Gleklen Declaration

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2 Exhibit Ex A to Gleklen Declaration

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3 Exhibit Ex B to Gleklen Declaration

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4 Exhibit Ex C to Gleklen Declaration

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5 Exhibit Ex D to Gleklen Declaration

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6 Exhibit Ex E to Gleklen Declaration

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7 Exhibit Ex F to Gleklen Declaration

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8 Exhibit Ex G to Gleklen Declaration

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9 Exhibit Ex H to Gleklen Declaration

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10 Exhibit Ex I to Gleklen Declaration

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11 Exhibit Ex J to Gleklen Declaration

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12 Exhibit Ex K to Gleklen Declaration

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13 Exhibit Ex L to Gleklen Declaration

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14 Exhibit Ex M to Gleklen Declaration

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15 Exhibit Ex N to Gleklen Declaration

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16 Exhibit Ex O to Gleklen Declaration

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17 Declaration Ex 2 - Withrow Declaration

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18 Declaration Ex 3 - Kniznik Declaration

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19 Declaration Ex 4 - Second Gleklen Declaration

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20 Declaration Ex 5 - Golden Declaration

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21 Declaration Ex 6 - Perloff Declaration

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22 Declaration Ex 7 - Garcia Declaration

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23 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order

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Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Clearinghouse
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Scott Michelman on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Michelman, Scott) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Krevans Perloff on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Perloff, Michael) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

3

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by LEANNE WITHROW(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Perloff, Michael) (Entered: 11/20/2025)

Nov. 20, 2025

Nov. 20, 2025

8

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT OF CASE TO U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE. All parties must consent to or decline the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge no later than twenty-one (21) days following the date on which the last defendant to respond to the Complaint files an Answer or motion under Rule 12. The consent or declination form is attached. (zhcn) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

9

NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlyn Golden on behalf of LEANNE WITHROW (Golden, Kaitlyn) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

10

NOTICE of Appearance by Madeline Gitomer on behalf of LEANNE WITHROW (Gitomer, Madeline) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

11

NOTICE of Appearance by Paul R.Q. Wolfson on behalf of LEANNE WITHROW (Wolfson, Paul) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

Notice of Error- New Case

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint. The following error(s) need correction: Invalid signature. Please file the signed Complaint using the event Errata. All filings must have an original signature or /s/ Attorney Name to represent an electronic signature of the filer. The filing attorney must sign the complaint. Jonathan Gleklen is the filing attorney. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zhcn)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

6

ERRATA by LEANNE WITHROW re 1 Complaint,,,,,,,,. (Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

7

ERRATA Corrected Motion by LEANNE WITHROW re 4 Motion to Certify Class,,,,. (Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/21/2025)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

Case Assigned to Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui. (zhcn)

Nov. 21, 2025

Nov. 21, 2025

12

SUMMONS (85) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 11/24/2025)

Nov. 24, 2025

Nov. 24, 2025

13

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by LEANNE WITHROW re 7 Errata Motion to Certify Class. (Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

14

NOTICE of Appearance by Shana Knizhnik on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Knizhnik, Shana) (Entered: 12/02/2025)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

15

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/25/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/24/2026. (Gleklen, Jonathan) (Entered: 12/05/2025)

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 20, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A transgender woman, former service member and current federal government employee.

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

ACLU National (all projects)

Democracy Forward

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Office of Personnel Management, Federal

General Services Administration, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04073

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Attorneys fees

Damages

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Transgender