Case: Endocrine Society v. Federal Trade Commission

1:26-cv-00512 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Feb. 17, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

On February 17, 2026, The Endocrine Society filed this lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission and its commissioners in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Plaintiff alleged that the FTC launched an unlawful and retaliatory investigation to silence their speech about gender-affirming care, lodging a Civil Investigative Demand ("CID") on January 20, 2026. The complaint argued that the CID targeted the Society’s noncommercial, scientific speech - particularly its 2017 clinical practice guidelines on gender dysphoria - in violation of the First Amendment. Plaintiff alleged that the investigation was part of a broader Administration campaign to suppress what it calls “gender ideology,” including criticism of and pressure to retract the Society’s guidelines. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief to halt the FTC’s investigation and prevent further infringement of the Society’s constitutional rights.

Plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction on February 24, 2026. The following day, the Court adopted a joint stipulation filed by parties as to the briefing and argument schedule, with oral argument on the preliminary injunction scheduled for April 7, 2026.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (2/27/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72288700/parties/endocrine-society-v-federal-trade-commission/

Judge(s)

Boasberg, James Emanuel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ranjan, Dev (District of Columbia)

Revesz, Joshua (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Beck, Ethan D. (District of Columbia)

Potapov, Alex (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Boasberg, James Emanuel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ranjan, Dev (District of Columbia)

Revesz, Joshua (District of Columbia)

Sawyer, Heather Chase (District of Columbia)

Tolentino, Raymond P. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Beck, Ethan D. (District of Columbia)

Potapov, Alex (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-00512	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief The Endocrine Society v. Federal Trade Commission	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026 Complaint
9 1:26-cv-00512	Oral Argument Requested; Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72288700/endocrine-society-v-federal-trade-commission/

Last updated March 12, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against JOHN DOES, FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ANDREW N. FERGUSON, MARK R. MEADOR ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number BDCDC-12249026) filed by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Summons)(Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/17/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 2 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER 6 Summons View on PACER 7 Summons View on PACER 8 Summons View on PACER 9 Summons View on PACER 10 Summons View on PACER	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Heather Sawyer, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12249110. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Heather Sawyer in support of Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing - DC, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
3	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Dev P. Ranjan, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12249117. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Dev P. Ranjan in support of Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing - DC, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
4	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY (Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	Feb. 17, 2026	Feb. 17, 2026
5	SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ANDREW N. FERGUSON, MARK R. MEADOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 02/18/2026)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	Case Assigned to Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. (znmw)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
6	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Revesz on behalf of ENDOCRINE SOCIETY (Revesz, Joshua) (Entered: 02/20/2026)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
7	NOTICE of Appearance by Heather Chase Sawyer on behalf of ENDOCRINE SOCIETY (Sawyer, Heather) (Entered: 02/24/2026)	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Dev Ranjan on behalf of ENDOCRINE SOCIETY (Ranjan, Dev) (Entered: 02/24/2026)	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026
9	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction, # 2 Declaration of Mila N. Becker in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction, # 3 Declaration of Raymond P. Tolentino in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction, # 4 Exhibit 1, # 5 Exhibit 2, # 6 Exhibit 3, # 7 Exhibit 4, # 8 Exhibit 5, # 9 Exhibit 6, # 10 Exhibit 7, # 11 Exhibit 8, # 12 Exhibit 9, # 13 Exhibit 10, # 14 Exhibit 11, # 15 Exhibit 12, # 16 Exhibit 13, # 17 Exhibit 14, # 18 Exhibit 15, # 19 Exhibit 16, # 20 Exhibit 17, # 21 Exhibit 18, # 22 Exhibit 19, # 23 Exhibit 20, # 24 Exhibit 21, # 25 Exhibit 22, # 26 Exhibit 23, # 27 Exhibit 24, # 28 Exhibit 25, # 29 Exhibit 26, # 30 Text of Proposed Order)(Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/24/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction View on RECAP 2 Declaration of Mila N. Becker in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction View on RECAP 3 Declaration of Raymond P. Tolentino in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunct View on RECAP 4 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 9 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 10 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 11 Exhibit 8 View on PACER 12 Exhibit 9 View on PACER 13 Exhibit 10 View on PACER 14 Exhibit 11 View on PACER 15 Exhibit 12 View on PACER 16 Exhibit 13 View on PACER 17 Exhibit 14 View on RECAP 18 Exhibit 15 View on PACER 19 Exhibit 16 View on PACER 20 Exhibit 17 View on PACER 21 Exhibit 18 View on PACER 22 Exhibit 19 View on PACER 23 Exhibit 20 View on PACER 24 Exhibit 21 View on PACER 25 Exhibit 22 View on PACER 26 Exhibit 23 View on RECAP 27 Exhibit 24 View on PACER 28 Exhibit 25 View on PACER 29 Exhibit 26 View on PACER 30 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026 Clearinghouse
	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 2 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Heather Sawyer is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on February 24, 2026. (lcjeb3) (lcml)	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Dev P. Ranjan is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on February 24, 2026. (lcjeb3)	Feb. 24, 2026	Feb. 24, 2026
10	NOTICE of Appearance by Alex Potapov on behalf of All Defendants (Potapov, Alex) (Entered: 02/25/2026)	Feb. 25, 2026	Feb. 25, 2026
11	NOTICE of Appearance by Ethan D. Beck on behalf of All Defendants (Beck, Ethan) (Entered: 02/25/2026)	Feb. 25, 2026	Feb. 25, 2026
12	STIPULATION re 9 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by ENDOCRINE SOCIETY. (Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 02/25/2026)	Feb. 25, 2026	Feb. 25, 2026 RECAP
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings	Feb. 25, 2026	Feb. 25, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the parties' 12 Joint Stipulation is ADOPTED, and oral argument on the Motion shall take place on April 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. In future, agreed-upon deadlines should be proposed by consent motion rather than stipulation. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on February 25, 2026. (lcjeb3)	Feb. 25, 2026	Feb. 25, 2026
13	Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by JOHN DOES, FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, ANDREW N. FERGUSON, MARK R. MEADOR. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Beck, Ethan) (Entered: 02/26/2026)	Feb. 26, 2026	Feb. 26, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that: 1) Defendants' 13 Motion for Extension of Time is GRANTED; and 2) Defendants shall file their Answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint within 30 days after the Court rules on Plaintiff's 9 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on February 27, 2026. (lcjeb3)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
14	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/4/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/3/2026. (Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 03/04/2026)	March 4, 2026	March 4, 2026
15	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/2/2026. (Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 03/04/2026)	March 4, 2026	March 4, 2026
16	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION served on 3/2/2026; ANDREW N. FERGUSON served on 3/2/2026; MARK R. MEADOR served on 3/2/2026 (Tolentino, Raymond) (Entered: 03/04/2026)	March 4, 2026	March 4, 2026
17	Notice of Appearance	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
18	Notice of Appearance	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
19	Leave to File Amicus Brief	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
	Order on Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief	March 11, 2026	March 11, 2026

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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: Feb. 17, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Healthcare research nonprofit

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Andrew N. Ferguson

Federal Trade Commission

John Does 1-3

Mark R. Meador

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00512

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

LGBTQ+:

Transgender

Medical/Mental Health Care:

Gender-affirming care

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Endocrine Society v. Federal Trade Commission, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47837/ (last updated 2/27/2026).