Case: Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum

1:25-cv-04285 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Dec. 10, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case was brought to challenge the federal government's decision to put a picture of President Trump on the Annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Annual Pass) in violation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA).

On December 10, 2025, the Center for Biological Diversity brought this suit for declaratory and injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (the Secretaries) and their respective agencies. Plaintiffs alleged that the inclusion of President Trump's portrait on the Annual Pass violated FLREA and the Administrative Procedure Act, which mandates that the Secretaries hold an annual photography contest to select the image on the Annual Pass. The statute further mandates that the winning picture be taken on public lands and be noncontroversial. This case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols. 

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/72014447/parties/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/


Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Greenwald, Amy Rae (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Jr, Peter Martin (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04285

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72014447/center-for-biological-diversity-v-burgum/

Last updated March 9, 2026, 3:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants (No fee paid) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Attorney General, # 3 Summons Douglas Burgum, # 4 Summons Dept of Interior, # 5 Summons National Park Service, # 6 Summons Brooke Rollins, # 7 Summons US Attorney DC, # 8 Summons Dept of Agriculture)(rj) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

2 Summons Attorney General

View on RECAP

3 Summons Douglas Burgum

View on PACER

4 Summons Dept of Interior

View on PACER

5 Summons National Park Service

View on PACER

6 Summons Brooke Rollins

View on PACER

7 Summons US Attorney DC

View on PACER

8 Summons Dept of Agriculture

View on PACER

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Atwood Greenwald, Amy) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

3

SUMMONS (7) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Payment of Fee - Complaint/Petition

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Notice of Error- New Case

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Civil Case filing fee not paid. Please remit payment using the event Payment of Fee-Complaint/Petition. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Payment of Fee- Complaint/Petition

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Payment for 1 Complaint,. ($405; Receipt number ADCDC-12125991). (Atwood Greenwald, Amy)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

4

STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 12/22/2025. (lccjn2) (Entered: 12/22/2025)

Dec. 22, 2025

Dec. 22, 2025

RECAP
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Peter Martin Torstensen, Jr on behalf of All Defendants (Torstensen, Peter) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

6

Notice of Appearance

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

7

Extension of Time to File Answer

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Feb. 6, 2026

Feb. 6, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 10, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff is the Center for Biological Diversity

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

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.

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04285

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Government services