Case: Marrazzo v. Kennedy

8:25-cv-04144 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Jeanne M. Marrazzo, the predecessor of Dr. Anthony Fauci, served as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) at the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) from August 2023 until her involuntary removal on March 31, 2025, and subsequent termination on September 26, 2025. Her termination was the basis for this lawsuit. On December 16, 2025, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAD) at the National …

Jeanne M. Marrazzo, the predecessor of Dr. Anthony Fauci, served as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) at the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) from August 2023 until her involuntary removal on March 31, 2025, and subsequent termination on September 26, 2025. Her termination was the basis for this lawsuit.

On December 16, 2025, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAD) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, and the National Institutes of Health. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and assigned to judge Julie Rebecca Rubin.

Dr. Marrazzo claims she was removed from her position and ultimately terminated after repeatedly objecting to actions she viewed as dangerous to public health, including the abrupt cancellation of $8.9 billion in research grants based on political preferences rather than scientific merit, promoting anti-vaccine positions contrary to scientific evidence, and the censoring of research on infectious diseases, vaccines, and health equity.

After voicing concerns internally, she was placed on administrative leave in March 2025 and proposed for reassignment to Indian Health Service. When she filed whistleblower complaints with the Office of Special Counsel in September 2025 and spoke publicly to major media outlets about the Administration's actions, Secretary Kennedy terminated her employment three weeks later.

In her complaint, Dr. Marrazzo alleged that her termination violated the Whistleblower Protection Act, Civil Service Reform Act, and her First and Fifth Amendment rights. She argued that traditional administrative remedies are unavailable because the Trump Administration has compromised the independence of oversight agencies. She sought reinstatement and damages.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Madena Mustafa (2/1/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72048676/parties/marrazzo-v-kennedy/


Judge(s)

Gallagher, Stephanie A. (Maryland)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Katz, Debra S (Maryland)

Lowell, Abbe David (Maryland)

Robb, Marilyn Gabriela (Maryland)

Standley, Schuyler Joyes (Maryland)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

8:25-cv-04144

Complaint

Marrazzo v. Kennedy Jr. et al.

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72048676/marrazzo-v-kennedy/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2026, 3:43 a.m.

Docket for: Marrazzo v. Kennedy
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Dec. 16, 2025

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12420981.), filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Civil Cover Sheet)(Katz, Debra) (Additional attachment(s) added on 12/17/2025: # 10 Flattened Summons) (bw5s). (Entered: 12/16/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Exhibit C

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9 Civil Cover Sheet

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10 Flattened Summons

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Clearinghouse
2 Dec. 16, 2025

MOTION to waive 102.2(a) requirement. by Jeanne M. Marrazzo (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion to Waive 102.2(a) Requirement)(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

RECAP
3 Dec. 16, 2025

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Marilyn Gabriela Robb (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12421199.) by Jeanne M. Marrazzo(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

RECAP
4 Dec. 17, 2025

QC NOTICE: 1 Complaint, filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo was filed incorrectly. **Not all pdf documents (summons) were flattened prior to filing. All pdfs uploaded to CM/ECF MUST BE FLATTENED for all future filings. Failure to comply may result in rejected filings and delays in case processing. **This filing has been corrected by court staff and no further corrective action is required. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

RECAP
5 Dec. 17, 2025

QC NOTICE: 2 MOTION to waive 102.2(a) requirement filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo was filed incompletely. **Pursuant to Local Rule 105.1, a proposed order should accompany any motion. Please file the proposed order under the "Notices" category, select the "Notice (Other)" event, and link filing to 2 . (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

RECAP
6 Dec. 17, 2025

QC NOTICE: 1 Complaint, filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo was filed incorrectly. **The following attachments are missing - Summons for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. To correct this problem, file Summons for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General using the event Notice (Other) and link Summons for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General to 1 . (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

RECAP
7 Dec. 17, 2025

Summons Issued 60 days as to Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health(bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

RECAP
8 Dec. 17, 2025

NOTICE by Jeanne M. Marrazzo re 2 MOTION to waive 102.2(a) requirement. [Proposed] Order. (Katz, Debra) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

RECAP
Dec. 17, 2025

Case Reassigned to Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher. Judge Julie Rebecca Rubin no longer assigned to the case. (kns, Deputy Clerk)

Dec. 17, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

9 Dec. 18, 2025

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Marilyn Gabriela Robb. Directing attorney Marilyn Gabriela Robb to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/18/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

RECAP
10 Dec. 18, 2025

NOTICE by Jeanne M. Marrazzo re 1 Complaint, Summons for U.S. Attorney General. (Katz, Debra) (Additional attachment(s) added on 12/19/2025: # 1 Flattened Summons) (bw5s). (Entered: 12/18/2025)

1 Flattened Summons

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RECAP
11 Dec. 18, 2025

NOTICE by Jeanne M. Marrazzo re 1 Complaint, Summons for U.S. Attorney. (Katz, Debra) (Additional attachment(s) added on 12/19/2025: # 1 Flattened Summons) (bw5s). (Entered: 12/18/2025)

RECAP
12 Dec. 19, 2025

QC NOTICE: 11 Notice (Other) filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo, 10 Notice (Other) filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo was filed incorrectly. **Not all pdf documents were flattened prior to filing. All pdfs uploaded to CM/ECF MUST BE FLATTENED for all future filings. Failure to comply may result in rejected filings and delays in case processing. **This filing has been corrected by court staff and no further corrective action is required. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

RECAP
13 Dec. 19, 2025

Summons Issued 60 days as to U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Summons)(bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

RECAP
14 Jan. 7, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Schuyler Standley (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12453317.) by Jeanne M. Marrazzo(Lowell, Abbe) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

RECAP
15 Jan. 7, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 14 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Schuyler Standley. Directing attorney Schuyler Standley to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 1/7/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/07/2026)

RECAP
16 Feb. 13, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. Department of Health and Human Services served on 1/12/2026, answer due 3/13/2026.(LaGarde, Matthew) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

RECAP
17 Feb. 13, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. United States Attorney General served on 1/12/2026, answer due 3/13/2026.(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

RECAP
18 Feb. 13, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. Kelly O'Hayes served on 1/12/2026, answer due 3/13/2026.(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

RECAP
19 Feb. 13, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. served on 1/12/2026, answer due 3/13/2026.(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

RECAP
20 Feb. 18, 2026

-FILED IN ERROR- Correspondence re: Request for Clerks Office to Reissue Summons (Attachments: # 1 Summons Amended Summons to Jayanta Bhattacharya, # 2 Summons Amended Summons to National Institutes of Health, # 3 Summons Amended Summons to Matthew Memoli)(Katz, Debra) Modified on 2/18/2026 (ols). (Entered: 02/18/2026)

RECAP
21 Feb. 18, 2026

QC NOTICE: 20 Miscellaneous Correspondence, was filed incorrectly. **As directed in the QC Notices at ECF Nos. 4 and 12, all documents must be flattened prior to filing. The provided summons have not been flattened. Please flatten all documents and resubmit this filing. It has been noted as FILED IN ERROR, and the document link has been disabled. (ols, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

RECAP
22 Feb. 18, 2026

Correspondence re: Request for Clerks Office to Reissue Summons (Attachments: # 1 Summons Amended Summons to Jayanta Battacharya, # 2 Summons Amended Summons to National Institutes of Health, # 3 Summons Amended Summons to Matthew Memoli)(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 02/18/2026)

RECAP
23 Feb. 19, 2026

Summons Re-issued 60 days as to Jayanta Bhattacharya, Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health. (dass, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/19/2026)

RECAP
24 March 6, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Pamela J Stone on behalf of Jeanne M. Marrazzo (Stone, Pamela) (Entered: 03/06/2026)

RECAP
25 March 10, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Bonnie L. Henry (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12601923.) by Jeanne M. Marrazzo(Stone, Pamela) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

RECAP
26 March 10, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 25 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Bonnie L. Henry. Directing attorney Bonnie L. Henry to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 3/10/2026. (sj4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

RECAP
27 March 13, 2026

ORDER granting 2 MOTION to waive 102.2(a) requirement. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 3/13/2026. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

RECAP
28 March 13, 2026

MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to the Complaint by Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health, Kelly O'Hayes, United States Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thomas, Beatrice) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

RECAP
29 March 13, 2026

Summons Returned Unexecuted by Jeanne M. Marrazzo as to Jayanta Bhattacharya, Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

RECAP
30 March 17, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. Matthew Memoli served on 3/2/2026, answer due 5/1/2026.(Katz, Debra) Modified on 3/18/2026 (bw5s). (Entered: 03/17/2026)

RECAP
31 March 17, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. Jayanta Bhattacharya served on 3/2/2026, answer due 5/1/2026.(Katz, Debra) Modified on 3/18/2026 (bw5s). (Entered: 03/17/2026)

RECAP
32 March 17, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. National Institutes of Health served on 3/2/2026, answer due 5/1/2026.(Katz, Debra) Modified on 3/18/2026 (bw5s). (Entered: 03/17/2026)

RECAP
33 March 30, 2026

ORDER granting 28 MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to the Complaint. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 3/30/2026. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/30/2026)

RECAP
34 April 20, 2026

MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Thomas, Beatrice) (Entered: 04/20/2026)

1 Memorandum in Support

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2 Exhibit 1

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3 Text of Proposed Order

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RECAP
35 April 23, 2026

MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 34 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Jeanne M. Marrazzo (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 04/23/2026)

RECAP
36 April 24, 2026

ORDER granting 35 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 4/24/2026. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/24/2026)

RECAP
37 May 26, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Caleb Hayes-Deats (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12773872.) by Jeanne M. Marrazzo(Lowell, Abbe) (Entered: 05/26/2026)

RECAP
38 May 26, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 37 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Caleb Hayes-Deats. Directing attorney Caleb Hayes-Deats to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 5/26/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/26/2026)

RECAP
39 May 26, 2026

RESPONSE in Opposition re 34 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Jeanne M. Marrazzo. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Katz, Debra) (Entered: 05/26/2026)

1 Text of Proposed Order

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RECAP
40 June 9, 2026

Consent MOTION for Extension of Time by Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Thomas, Beatrice) (Entered: 06/09/2026)

RECAP
41 June 10, 2026

ORDER granting 40 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 6/10/2026. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
42 June 12, 2026

REPLY to Response to Motion re 34 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Memoli, National Institutes of Health.(Thomas, Beatrice) Modified on 6/15/2026 (bw5s). (Entered: 06/12/2026)

RECAP
43 June 15, 2026

QC NOTICE: 42 Response in Support of Motion, filed by National Institutes of Health, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Department of Health and Human Services, Matthew Memoli, Jayanta Bhattacharya was filed incorrectly. **Incorrect event used. In the future, please file using the event under Responses and Replies > Reply to Response to Motion. Your document has been accepted and corrected by court staff. No corrective action is required in regard to this filing. (bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/15/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Dr. Jeanne M. Marrazzo

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Jayanta Bhattacharya

Matthew Memoli

National Institutes of Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 8:25-cv-04144

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Content of Injunction:

Position Restored

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service

Recommended Citation