Case: Rodgers v. United States

1:25-cv-03971 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Dec. 11, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This collective action is an attempt by a TSA agent who worked during the 2025 federal government shutdown to collect wages for the uncompensated work that he and similarly situated TSA agents performed.  On December 11, 2025, the Plaintiff - a TSA agent - brought this action against the United States of America in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. The plaintiff's complaint alleged that the federal government viola…

This collective action is an attempt by a TSA agent who worked during the 2025 federal government shutdown to collect wages for the uncompensated work that he and similarly situated TSA agents performed. 

On December 11, 2025, the Plaintiff - a TSA agent - brought this action against the United States of America in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. The plaintiff's complaint alleged that the federal government violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by withholding wages from TSA employees during the Fall 2025 government shutdown. The complaint contends that during the government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chose to pay Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, while refusing to compensate TSA agents. The plaintiff filed this case as a collective action, seeking class certification for a class of “All TSA employees who performed work during the 2025 federal government shutdown and received $0 wages on any regular payday for work performed during the shutdown.” On behalf of himself and the putative class, the plaintiff sought liquidated damages equal to unpaid minimum wages on every $0 payday during the shutdown. 

This case was randomly reassigned to  Judge Philip A. Brimmer on March 10, 2026. Then, on March 11, the case was referred to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter for non-dispositive matters.

On April 6, 2026, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. While the original complaint focused exclusively on the 2025 federal government shutdown, the amended version incorporated claims stemming from the 2026 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. The plaintiffs consequently expanded their proposed class definition to include employees who worked without pay during either or both of these specific shutdown periods. Furthermore, the amended complaint introduced new factual allegations regarding the government's ability to pay its employees. It specifically identified the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted in July 2025, as a source of pre-existing appropriated funds that the administration eventually tapped into to pay TSA officers in late March 2026. The amended filing also referenced presidential memoranda from March and April 2026 that directed the use of these existing funds, using these events to argue that the government’s failure to pay on regular paydays was a discretionary choice rather than a legal constraint. 

In light of the plaintiffs’ amended complaint, on April 7, 2026, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the original complaint as moot. 

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Sofia Yoder (4/13/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72024992/parties/rodgers-v-united-states/


Judge(s)

Brimmer, Philip A. (Colorado)

Neureiter, N. Reid (Colorado)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Guzman, Victoria Elizabeth (Colorado)

Hood, Alexander Neville (Colorado)

Attorney for Defendant

Prochazka, Julia M. (Colorado)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-03971

Class Action Complaint

Rodgers v. United States of America

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Complaint
15

1:25-cv-03971

First Amended Collective Action Complaint

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72024992/rodgers-v-united-states/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:23 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against United States of America (Filing fee $ 405,Receipt Number ACODC-10710133)Attorney Alexander Neville Hood added to party BENJAMIN RODGERS(pty:pla), filed by BENJAMIN RODGERS.(Hood, Alexander) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Case assigned to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. Text Only Entry. (echa, ) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

3

Magistrate Judge consent form issued pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1, direct assignment of civil actions to full time magistrate judges. No summons submitted; no summons issued. Completed summons may be filed for issuance using the event "Summons Request". (echa, ) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

4

ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING/PLANNING CONFERENCE AND SETTING DEADLINE FOR FILING OF CONSENT/NON-CONSENT FORM The above-captioned case has been directly assigned to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1(c) - Direct Assignment to Magistrate Judges.IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff shall promptly serve Defendant. On or before March 24, 2026, the parties shall complete and file the Consent/Non-Consent Form (see ECF No. # 3 ), indicating either unanimous consent of the parties or that consent has been declined. Please note that this date may be earlier than the default deadlines contemplated by D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1(c)(4). A Scheduling/Planning Conference pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.16(b) shall be held on: April 7, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom A-401, Fourth Floor, Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver, Colorado 80294. The Scheduling Conference will be conducted via telephone. Five minutes prior to the start of the hearing, the parties are directed to call the conference line as a participant at (571) 353-2301, Access Code 841686937#. If this date is not convenient for any counsel/pro se party, he/she should confer with opposing counsel/pro se party and file a motion to reschedule the conference to a more convenient date. Absent exceptional circumstances, no request for rescheduling any appearance in this court will be entertained unless a motion is filed no less than FIVE (5) business days in advance of the date of appearance. PLEASE READ ATTACHED ORDER. Entered by Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter on 12/12/2025. (norlin, ) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

RECAP
5

SUMMONS REQUEST as to Defendant United States of America by Plaintiff Benjamin Rodgers. (Guzman, Victoria) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

6

SUMMONS issued by Clerk. (ccuen, ) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

7

NOTICE of Entry of Appearance by Julia M. Prochazka on behalf of USAAttorney Julia M. Prochazka added to party USA(pty:dft) (Prochazka, Julia) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Jan. 26, 2026

Jan. 26, 2026

8

CONSENT to Jurisdiction of Magistrate Judge by Defendant USA All parties do not consent.. (Prochazka, Julia) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

9

CASE REASSIGNED Pursuant to 8 Consent to Jurisdiction of Magistrate Judge. All parties do not consent. Case randomly reassigned to Judge Philip A. Brimmer. All future pleadings should be designated as 25-cv-03971-PAB. (Text Only Entry) (jrobe, ) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

10

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter for non-dispositive matters. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) and (b), this case is referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge to (1) convene a scheduling conference under Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b) and enter a scheduling order meeting the requirements of D.C.COLO.LCivR 16.2, (2) conduct such status conferences and issue such orders necessary for compliance with the scheduling order, including amendments or modifications of the scheduling order upon a showing of good cause, (3) hear and determine pretrial matters, including discovery and other non-dispositive motions, and (4) conduct a pretrial conference and enter a pretrial order. Court sponsored alternative dispute resolution is governed by D.C.COLO.LCivR 16.6. On the recommendation or informal request of the magistrate judge or on the request of the parties by motion, this court may direct the parties to engage in an early neutral evaluation, a settlement conference, or another alternative dispute resolution proceeding, by Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 3/11/2026. Text Only Entry (pabsec, ) (Entered: 03/11/2026)

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

Order Referring Case to Magistrate Judge

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

11

MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim by Defendant USA. (Prochazka, Julia) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

12

Unopposed MOTION to Vacate 4 Order,,,,,, Scheduling Conference and Stay Discovery by Defendant USA. (Prochazka, Julia) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

13

MEMORANDUM regarding 12 Unopposed MOTION to Vacate 4 Order, Scheduling Conference and Stay Discovery filed by USA. Motion referred to Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter, by Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 3/16/2026. Text Only Entry (pabsec, ) (Entered: 03/16/2026)

March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

Memorandum

March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

14

MINUTE ORDER It is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's Unopposed Motion to Vacate Scheduling Conference and Stay Discovery Pending Resolution of Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 12 ) is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that this case is STAYED until after Judge Brimmer issues a final ruling on Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 11 ) or until further Order of Court. It is further ORDERED that the Scheduling Conference set for April 7, 2026 at 9:30 a.m., and all associated deadlines, are VACATED. PLEASE READ ATTACHED MINUTE ORDER. By Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter on 03/17/2026.(jrobe, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

15

AMENDED COMPLAINT FIRST AMENDED COLLECTIVE ACTION COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Benjamin Rodgers.(Hood, Alexander) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

Clearinghouse
16

NOTICE re 15 Amended Complaint NOTICE OF FILING OF FIRST AMENDED COLLECTIVE ACTION COMPLAINT by Plaintiff Benjamin Rodgers (Attachments: # 1 Ex. A - Redlined First Amended Complaint)(Hood, Alexander) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

17

RESPONSE to 11 MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim filed by Plaintiff Benjamin Rodgers. (Hood, Alexander) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

18

MINUTE ORDER by Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 04/07/2026. This matter is before the Court on defendant's Motion to Dismiss [Docket No. 11 ]. On April 6, 2026, plaintiff filed an amended complaint, Docket No. 15, pursuant to Fed.R. Civ. P. 15(a). Therefore, it is ORDERED that defendant's Motion to Dismiss [Docket No. 11 ] is DENIED without prejudice as moot.(agryan) (Entered: 04/07/2026)

April 7, 2026

April 7, 2026

RECAP
20

Extension of Time to File Answer or Otherwise Respond

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Memorandum

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Colorado

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 11, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A TSA agent who worked without compensation during the 2025 federal government shutdown.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Federal

The United States of America

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201-219

Other Dockets:

District of Colorado 1:25-cv-03971

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Damages

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Government services

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