Case: CITY OF FRESNO v. NOEM

5:26-cv-01535 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Feb. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]  Eleven municipalities and counties filed suit against federal officials and agencies in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on February 20, 2026, challenging new conditions imposed on federal grant funding following President Trump's inauguration. The plaintiffs alleged that federal defendants required grant recipients to certify they do not operate "DEI" programs, do not promote "gender ideology," cooperate wi…

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] 

Eleven municipalities and counties filed suit against federal officials and agencies in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on February 20, 2026, challenging new conditions imposed on federal grant funding following President Trump's inauguration. The plaintiffs alleged that federal defendants required grant recipients to certify they do not operate "DEI" programs, do not promote "gender ideology," cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and comply with various executive orders as conditions for receiving critical federal funding for disaster preparedness, victim services, law enforcement training, and water conservation programs. The complaint asserted seven claims including violations of separation of powers, the Spending Clause, the Tenth Amendment, Fifth Amendment Due Process, and the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing these conditions were vague, unauthorized by Congress, and unconstitutionally coercive. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to invalidate and prevent enforcement of these conditions, along with attorneys' fees and costs.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/17/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72310176/parties/city-of-fresno-v-noem/


Judge(s)

Freeman, Beth Labson (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dodge, Amber Rae (California)

Freitas, Jacob David (California)

Holtzman, Jonathan V. (California)

Janz, Andrew (California)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

5:26-cv-01535

Complaint

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72310176/city-of-fresno-v-noem/

Last updated March 17, 2026, 9:26 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against All Defendants. Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, CITY OF STOCKTON, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, CITY OF BEAVERTON. (McGinley-Stempel, Ryan) (Filed on 2/20/2026) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. (McGinley-Stempel, Ryan) (Filed on 2/20/2026) (Entered: 02/20/2026)

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

3

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Jonathan V. Holtzman on behalf of CITY OF BEAVERTON, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, CITY OF STOCKTON, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (Holtzman, Jonathan) (Filed on 2/23/2026) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

4

Case assigned to Judge Beth Labson Freeman. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/23/2026) (Entered: 02/23/2026)

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

Feb. 23, 2026

Feb. 23, 2026

5

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Notice: The assigned judge participates in the Cameras in the Courtroom Pilot Project. See General Order 65 and cand.uscourts.gov/cameras. Case Management Statement due by 5/21/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 5/28/2026 11:00 AM in San Jose, - Videoconference Only. (kxo, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/24/2026) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

6

Summons Issued as to PAMELA BONDI, DOUG BURGUM, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, KAREN EVANS, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, KRISTI NOEM, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (kxo, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/24/2026) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

7

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Jacob David Freitas on behalf of CITY OF BEAVERTON, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, CITY OF STOCKTON, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (Freitas, Jacob) (Filed on 2/24/2026) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

8

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by CITY OF BEAVERTON, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, CITY OF STOCKTON, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA re 1 Complaint, 5 Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines,, 2 Proposed Summons, 6 Summons Issued as to USA, 4 Case Assigned by Intake,, (Freitas, Jacob) (Filed on 2/24/2026) (Entered: 02/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

Electronic Filing Error

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

Electronic filing error. NOTICE TO COUNSEL: Amber Holderness. The docket shows a different address from what is appearing on the document Re: 1 Complaint, filed by COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF SANTA CRUz et al. Please update your personal profile on ECF. (kxo, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/24/2026)

Feb. 24, 2026

Feb. 24, 2026

9

NOTICE of Filing in no. 25-cv-8330-WHO of Amin Motnion to Consider whether cases should be related by CITY OF BEAVERTON, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, CITY OF STOCKTON, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(McGinley-Stempel, Ryan) (Filed on 3/2/2026) Modified on 3/3/2026 (anj, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 03/02/2026)

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

RECAP

Case Referred to Magistrate Judge for Discovery

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

CASE REFERRED to Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins for Discovery. (jnk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/2/2026)

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Maribel Lopez on behalf of CITY OF BEAVERTON, CITY OF CORVALLIS, CITY OF FRESNO, CITY OF HILLSBORO, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, CITY OF STOCKTON, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (Lopez, Maribel) (Filed on 3/4/2026) (Entered: 03/04/2026)

March 4, 2026

March 4, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

March 4, 2026

March 4, 2026

11

Order Relating Case

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

RECAP
13

Case Management Scheduling Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 5:26-cv-01535

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation