Case: Havens v. Department of Education

1:26-cv-00816 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 9, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

Four individual student loan borrowers filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on March 9, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs alleged that the Department was unlawfully refusing to implement the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) student loan repayment plan despite the removal of all legal barriers to its implementation. According to the complaint, the SAVE plan had been previously enjoined by courts in Missouri v. Biden, but on February 27, 2026, the District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri dismissed that case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The plaintiffs contended that despite this dismissal removing all legal obstacles, the Department continued to deny borrowers access to SAVE benefits, including loan discharge and reduced payments, even though the Department possessed valid regulations and Congress had ratified the underlying statutory authority through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Plaintiffs brought three claims under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA): unlawful withholding of agency action, arbitrary and capricious agency action, and agency action exceeding statutory authority. The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief confirming that the Department was unlawfully withholding SAVE benefits, orders requiring immediate loan cancellation for eligible borrowers and resumption of SAVE implementation, injunctive relief preventing collection from eligible borrowers, attorneys' fees, and other appropriate relief.

This case was assigned to District Judge Loren L. AliKhan.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Maddy Ligon (4/13/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72379585/parties/havens-v-us-department-of-education/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Reyes, Angel E. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Reyes, Angel E. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-00816	Complaint Havens v. U.S. Department of Education	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72379585/havens-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated July 22, 2026, 3:28 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against All Plaintiffs ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12286333) filed by Heather Havens, William Boykin, Anna Grunseth, Elizabeth Robeson. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(Reyes, Angel) (Entered: 03/09/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- William Austin Hinkle, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12286456. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by William Boykin, Anna Grunseth, Heather Havens, Elizabeth Robeson. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Exhibit)(Reyes, Angel) (Entered: 03/09/2026)	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
3	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Paul D. Mayer, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12286577. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by William Boykin, Anna Grunseth, Heather Havens, Elizabeth Robeson. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Exhibit)(Reyes, Angel) (Entered: 03/09/2026)	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
4	SEALED MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE DOCUMENT UNDER SEAL filed by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Reyes, Angel) (Entered: 03/09/2026)	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
	Notice of Error- New Case	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Noncompliance with LCvR 5.1(c). Please file a Notice of Errata stating the error and attach the corrected initiating pleading to include the name & full residence address of each party and file using the event Errata. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)	March 9, 2026	March 9, 2026
5	SUMMONS (4)Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 03/10/2026) 1 Notice and Consent View on PACER	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Loren L. AliKhan. (zmtm)	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026
6	SEALED DOCUMENT (EXHIBIT) filed by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON. (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(mg) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Motions for Admission Pro Hac Vice 2 3, it is hereby ORDERED that the motions are GRANTED and WILLIAM AUSTIN HINKLE and PAUL D. MAYER are granted leave to appear pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to Local Civ. R. 83.6(a). Click for Instructions. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 4/3/2026. (lclla2)	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026
	.Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026
	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Sealed Motion for Leave to File 4, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED, and ECF No. 4 -1 is filed under seal. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 4/3/2026. (lclla2)	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026
7	NOTICE of Appearance by Winston Shi on behalf of All Defendants (Shi, Winston) (Entered: 04/21/2026)	April 21, 2026	April 21, 2026
8	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 04/21/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	April 21, 2026	April 21, 2026 RECAP
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines	April 22, 2026	April 22, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendants' Motion for Extension of Time 8, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall file a response on or before May 1, 2026, and Defendants shall file any reply on or before May 6, 2026. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 4/22/2026. (lclla2)	April 22, 2026	April 22, 2026
9	NOTICE of Appearance by William Austin Hinkle on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Hinkle, William) (Entered: 04/23/2026)	April 23, 2026	April 23, 2026
10	RESPONSE re 8 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, filed by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 05/01/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	May 1, 2026	May 1, 2026 RECAP
11	REPLY to opposition to motion re 8 Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer filed by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Plaintiffs' Intervention Memo in Missouri)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 05/05/2026) 1 Exhibit Plaintiffs' Intervention Memo in Missouri View on PACER	May 5, 2026	May 5, 2026 RECAP
12	NOTICE of Appearance by Paul Delaney Mayer on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Mayer, Paul) (Entered: 05/08/2026)	May 8, 2026	May 8, 2026
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines AND ~Util - Terminate Motions	May 18, 2026	May 18, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendants' Motion for Extension of Time 8, Plaintiffs' Response 10, and Defendants' Reply 11, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED to the extent that Defendants shall respond to Plaintiffs' complaint 1 on or before June 9, 2026. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(1)(A). Defendants' arguments that this case is moot, ECF No. 8, at 1, and that any forward-looking injunction would require this court to "review decisions of other federal courts," ECF No. 11, at 1 (internal quotation marks omitted), are better suited for a dispositive motion. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 05/18/2026. (lclla2)	May 18, 2026	May 18, 2026
13	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 03/23/2026. (Mayer, Paul) (Entered: 06/05/2026)	June 5, 2026	June 5, 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 3/20/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/19/2026. (Mayer, Paul) Modified dates on 6/8/2026 (znmw). (Entered: 06/05/2026)	June 5, 2026	June 5, 2026
15	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION served on 3/23/2026 (Mayer, Paul) (Entered: 06/05/2026)	June 5, 2026	June 5, 2026
16	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. LINDA MCMAHON served on 3/23/2026 (Mayer, Paul) (Entered: 06/05/2026)	June 5, 2026	June 5, 2026
17	MOTION to Dismiss, MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Declaration (and Exhibit List), # 4 Exhibit A, # 5 Exhibit B, # 6 Exhibit C, # 7 Exhibit D, # 8 Exhibit E, # 9 Exhibit F, # 10 Exhibit G)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 06/09/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP 3 Declaration (and Exhibit List) View on RECAP 4 Exhibit A View on RECAP 5 Exhibit B View on RECAP 6 Exhibit C View on RECAP 7 Exhibit D View on RECAP 8 Exhibit E View on RECAP 9 Exhibit F View on RECAP 10 Exhibit G View on RECAP	June 9, 2026	June 9, 2026 RECAP
18	AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by HEATHER HAVENS, WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, ELIZABETH ROBESON.(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 06/23/2026)	June 23, 2026	June 23, 2026 RECAP
19	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration Declaration of William Austin Hinkle (and Exhibit List), # 3 Declaration Declaration of Heather Havens, # 4 Declaration Declaration of Anna Grunseth, # 5 Declaration Declaration of Elizabeth Robeson, # 6 Declaration Declaration of William Boykin, # 7 Text of Proposed Order Text of Proposed Order)(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 06/23/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Declaration Declaration of William Austin Hinkle (and Exhibit List) View on PACER 3 Declaration Declaration of Heather Havens View on PACER 4 Declaration Declaration of Anna Grunseth View on PACER 5 Declaration Declaration of Elizabeth Robeson View on PACER 6 Declaration Declaration of William Boykin View on PACER 7 Text of Proposed Order Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	June 23, 2026	June 23, 2026 RECAP
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines	June 24, 2026	June 24, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay 19, and in light of the representation that Plaintiffs will be required to enroll in a different repayment plan within ninety days of a forthcoming July 1, 2026 announcement, ECF No. 19 -1, at 11, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall file a response on or before July 1, 2026, and Plaintiffs shall file any reply on or before July 8, 2026. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and contact Courtroom Deputy Clerk Margaret Pham (Margaret_Pham@dcd.uscourts.gov) with three dates and times during the week of July 13, 2026 for a hearing on Plaintiffs' motion in the event the court determines that a hearing is necessary. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 6/24/2026. (lclla2)	June 24, 2026	June 24, 2026
20	Unopposed MOTION to Modify Briefing Schedule on Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Motion to Dismiss by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 06/25/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	June 25, 2026	June 25, 2026 RECAP
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendants' Unopposed Motion to Modify and Consolidate Briefing Schedule 20, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED and the briefing schedule that the court issued on June 24, 2026 is VACATED. See June 24, 2026 Minute Order. In light of Plaintiffs' amended complaint 18 and Defendants' forthcoming motion to dismiss, see ECF No. 20, at 1-2, it is further ORDERED that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss 17 is DENIED as moot. It is further ORDERED that Defendants shall file any motion to dismiss the amended complaint 18 and a response to Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction 19 on or before July 14, 2026; Plaintiffs shall file a response to the motion to dismiss and any reply in support of the motion for a preliminary injunction on or before July 24, 2026; and Defendants shall file any reply in support of the motion to dismiss on or before August 3, 2026. And it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and contact Courtroom Deputy Clerk Margaret Pham (Margaret_Pham@dcd.uscourts.gov) with three dates and times during the weeks of July 27, 2026 and August 3, 2026 for a hearing on Plaintiffs' motion in the event the court determines that a hearing is necessary. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 6/30/2026. (lclla2)	June 30, 2026	June 30, 2026
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines AND ~Util - Terminate Motions	June 30, 2026	June 30, 2026
21	NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON (Attachments: # 1 Federal Register Notice, 91 Fed. Reg. 42,186 (July 8, 2026), # 2 Revised IDR Plan Request Form (Redline), OMB Control No. 1845-0102, # 3 Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, OMB Control No. 1845-0102)(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 07/09/2026) 1 Federal Register Notice, 91 Fed. Reg. 42,186 (July 8, 2026) View on RECAP 2 Revised IDR Plan Request Form (Redline), OMB Control No. 1845-0102 View on RECAP 3 Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, OMB Control No. 18 View on RECAP	July 9, 2026	July 9, 2026 RECAP
22	DECLARATION by ELIZABETH ROBESON. (Attachments: # 1 Screenshot of StudentAid.gov IDR Plan Request Application (July 8, 2026))(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 07/09/2026) 1 Screenshot of StudentAid.gov IDR Plan Request Application (July 8, 2026) View on RECAP	July 9, 2026	July 9, 2026 RECAP
23	MOTION for Leave to File Supplemental Declarations in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and Stay by WILLIAM BOYKIN, ANNA GRUNSETH, HEATHER HAVENS, ELIZABETH ROBESON. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Smith Declaration, # 2 Declaration Haines Declaration, # 3 Declaration Hayes Declaration, # 4 Declaration Lomheim Declaration, # 5 Declaration Southern Declaration, # 6 Text of Proposed Order)(Hinkle, William) (Entered: 07/10/2026) 1 Declaration Smith Declaration View on RECAP 2 Declaration Haines Declaration View on RECAP 3 Declaration Hayes Declaration View on RECAP 4 Declaration Lomheim Declaration View on RECAP 5 Declaration Southern Declaration View on RECAP 6 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	July 10, 2026	July 10, 2026 RECAP
24	MOTION to Dismiss, MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Declaration Anthony Lowery, # 4 Declaration Winston Shi (& Exhibit List), # 5 Exhibit A, # 6 Exhibit B, # 7 Exhibit C, # 8 Exhibit D, # 9 Exhibit E, # 10 Exhibit F, # 11 Exhibit G, # 12 Exhibit H, # 13 Exhibit I, # 14 Exhibit J, # 15 Exhibit K, # 16 Exhibit L, # 17 Exhibit M, # 18 Exhibit N)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 07/14/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER 3 Declaration Anthony Lowery View on PACER 4 Declaration Winston Shi (& Exhibit List) View on PACER 5 Exhibit A View on PACER 6 Exhibit B View on PACER 7 Exhibit C View on PACER 8 Exhibit D View on PACER 9 Exhibit E View on PACER 10 Exhibit F View on PACER 11 Exhibit G View on PACER 12 Exhibit H View on PACER 13 Exhibit I View on PACER 14 Exhibit J View on PACER 15 Exhibit K View on PACER 16 Exhibit L View on PACER 17 Exhibit M View on PACER 18 Exhibit N View on PACER	July 14, 2026	July 14, 2026 RECAP
25	Memorandum in opposition to re 19 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction (Combined with Motion to Dismiss) filed by LINDA MCMAHON, US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Declaration Anthony Lowery, # 4 Declaration Winston Shi (& Exhibit List), # 5 Exhibit A, # 6 Exhibit B, # 7 Exhibit C, # 8 Exhibit D, # 9 Exhibit E, # 10 Exhibit F, # 11 Exhibit G, # 12 Exhibit H, # 13 Exhibit I, # 14 Exhibit J, # 15 Exhibit K, # 16 Exhibit L, # 17 Exhibit M, # 18 Exhibit N)(Shi, Winston) (Entered: 07/14/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP 3 Declaration Anthony Lowery View on RECAP 4 Declaration Winston Shi (& Exhibit List) View on RECAP 5 Exhibit A View on RECAP 6 Exhibit B View on RECAP 7 Exhibit C View on RECAP 8 Exhibit D View on RECAP 9 Exhibit E View on RECAP 10 Exhibit F View on RECAP 11 Exhibit G View on RECAP 12 Exhibit H View on RECAP 13 Exhibit I View on RECAP 14 Exhibit J View on RECAP 15 Exhibit K View on RECAP 16 Exhibit L View on RECAP 17 Exhibit M View on RECAP 18 Exhibit N View on RECAP	July 14, 2026	July 14, 2026 RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Spending Freezes/Cuts

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 9, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Four individual student loan borrowers.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

LINDA MCMAHON

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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 1:26-cv-00816

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Havens v. Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47877/ (last updated 4/13/2026).