Case: Dallas County, Texas v. Kennedy

1:25-cv-04242 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case was filed in response to the Trump Administration unilaterally cancelling billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated federal grants for COVID-related programs.  On December 5, 2025, plaintiff Dallas County, Texas filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.. Plaintiffs sought a declaratory judgment that Kennedy's termination of “COVID-related” CDC grant programs en masse, wh…

This case was filed in response to the Trump Administration unilaterally cancelling billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated federal grants for COVID-related programs. 

On December 5, 2025, plaintiff Dallas County, Texas filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.. Plaintiffs sought a declaratory judgment that Kennedy's termination of “COVID-related” CDC grant programs en masse, which included about $4 million in funding to plaintiff, was unlawful, as well as injunctive relief to restore the funding. These grants funded infectious disease prevention programs including disease care intake and investigation. Plaintiffs alleged that Kennedy did not cancel their grants for cause, thus violating the Spending Clause of the Constitution, separation of powers, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Christopher Reid Cooper.

On December 8, 2025, plaintiff filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent defendants from implementing their planned mass termination of COVID-related grants. On January 16, 2026, defendants filed their response brief as well as a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that plaintiffs lacked standing to bring suit and that the District Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear the case. Plaintiffs filed their reply and response briefs both on February 6, 2026. 

On February 20, 2026, defendants filed a motion to stay the case until the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion in Climate United Fund v. Citibank, D.C. Cir. No. 25- 5122. The court ordered plaintiffs to file their response to defendant's motion to stay by March 6, 2026. 

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Nick Martire (3/6/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72001363/parties/dallas-county-texas-v-kennedy/


Judge(s)

Cooper, Christopher Reid (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

LeGrand, Rebecca S. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)

Krizel, Zachary J. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04242

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Dallas County, Texas v. Kennedy Jr.

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Complaint
5-1

1:25-cv-04242

Plaintiff Dallas County's Memorandum in Support of its Motion for a Preliminary Injunction

Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
13

1:25-cv-04242

Plaintiff Dallas County, Texas's Reply in Support of its Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and Response to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss

Feb. 6, 2026

Feb. 6, 2026

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72001363/dallas-county-texas-v-kennedy/

Last updated April 13, 2026, 3:24 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12118434) filed by DALLAS COUNTY TEXAS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons)(LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 12/05/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons

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3 Summons

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4 Summons

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5 Summons

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6 Summons

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7 Summons

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Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by DALLAS COUNTY TEXAS. Case related to Case No. 1:25-cv-01275-CRC. (LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 12/05/2025)

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

RECAP
3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Todd K. Sellars, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12118576. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by DALLAS COUNTY TEXAS. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 12/05/2025)

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

4

SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zhcn) (Entered: 12/08/2025)

Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

5

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit 1 (Huang Declaration), # 4 Exhibit A to Declaration, # 5 Exhibit B to Declaration, # 6 Exhibit C to Declaration, # 7 Exhibit D to Declaration, # 8 Exhibit E to Declaration, # 9 Exhibit F to Declaration, # 10 Exhibit G to Declaration, # 11 Exhibit H to Declaration, # 12 Exhibit I to Declaration)(LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 12/08/2025)

1 Memorandum in Support

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2 Text of Proposed Order

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3 Exhibit 1 (Huang Declaration)

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4 Exhibit A to Declaration

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5 Exhibit B to Declaration

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6 Exhibit C to Declaration

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7 Exhibit D to Declaration

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8 Exhibit E to Declaration

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9 Exhibit F to Declaration

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10 Exhibit G to Declaration

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11 Exhibit H to Declaration

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12 Exhibit I to Declaration

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Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (zhcn)

Dec. 8, 2025

Dec. 8, 2025

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Zachary J. Krizel on behalf of All Defendants (Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

MINUTE ORDER. Pursuant to LCvR 65.1(d), Plaintiff's 5 Motion for Preliminary Injunction requests a hearing within 21 days of its filing. Yet Plaintiff has not indicated that notice of the Motion was given to Defendants, nor has Plaintiff filed proof of service of the summons and complaint. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(1), the Court "may issue a preliminary injunction only on notice to the adverse party." And LCvR 65.1(c) contemplates that an application for a preliminary injunction be served on an opposing party before that party is obligated to respond. The Court therefore declines to schedule a hearing on the Motion (or, alternatively, to determine that a hearing outside the 21-day window will not prejudice the parties, see LCvR 65.1(d)) until service is accomplished and an opposition is filed. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/16/2025. (lccrc3)

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

.Order

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

7

Consent MOTION for Briefing Schedule by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

Order on Motion for Briefing Schedule AND Set/Reset Deadlines

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting 7 Motion for Entry of Combined Briefing Schedule. Defendants' combined motion to dismiss and motion in opposition to preliminary junction shall be due by January 16, 2026. Plaintiff's combined response to Defendants' motion to dismiss and reply in support of preliminary injunction shall be due by February 6, 2026. Defendants' further reply in support of its motion to dismiss shall be due February 20, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/18/2025. (lccrc3)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

8

NOTICE of Appearance by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

9

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION served on 12/22/2025; ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR served on 12/18/2025; JIM O'NEILL served on 12/22/2025; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES served on 12/18/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Summons HHS Executed Summons, # 2 Summons Acting Director O'Neil Executed Summons, # 3 Summons CDC Executed Summons, # 4 Summons AG Executed Summons, # 5 Summons USAO Executed Summons)(LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 01/09/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

10

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 12/23/2025. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 2/21/2026.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 12/23/2025. (See Docket Entry 9 to view document) (zjm) (Entered: 01/15/2026)

Jan. 9, 2026

Jan. 9, 2026

Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General AND Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney

Jan. 15, 2026

Jan. 15, 2026

11

MOTION to Dismiss by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

RECAP
12

Memorandum in opposition to re 5 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 01/16/2026)

Jan. 16, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026

13

RESPONSE re 11 MOTION to Dismiss and Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS. (LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 02/06/2026)

Feb. 6, 2026

Feb. 6, 2026

Clearinghouse
14

REPLY to opposition to motion re 5 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed by DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS. (See Docket Entry 13 to view document) (zjm) (Entered: 02/09/2026)

Feb. 6, 2026

Feb. 6, 2026

Reply to opposition to motion

Feb. 9, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026

15

MOTION to Stay by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

RECAP
16

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. The plaintiff is directed to respond to the government's 15 Motion to Stay by no later than March 6, 2026. The government's deadline to file its reply in support of its 11 Motion to Dismiss is suspended until the Court has resolved the 15 stay motion. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 2/23/2026. (lccrc3)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

17

RESPONSE re 15 MOTION to Stay filed by DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS. (LeGrand, Rebecca) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026

18

REPLY to opposition to motion re 15 Motion to Stay filed by CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR, JIM O'NEILL, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (Krizel, Zachary) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff is Dallas County, Texas.

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04242

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Stay of proceedings

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)

Recommended Citation