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 complete

Case Summary

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 vario…

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 Doctrine, 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.

The case was initially assigned to Judge Beth Labson Freeman. On March 17, 2026, however, Judge William H. Orrick assumed jurisdiction over the case after it was related with County of Santa Clara v. Noem (No. 25-cv-8330-WHO).

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)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

5:26-cv-01535

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Feb. 20, 2026

Feb. 20, 2026

Complaint
11

5:26-cv-01535

Related Case Order

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

Order/Opinion

Docket

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

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:11 a.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. 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

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 Nathanael M. Cousins for Discovery. (jnk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/2/2026)

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 to Case No. 25-cv-8330-WHO. Signed by Judge William H. Orrick on 03/17/2026. (jmd, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/17/2026)

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

RECAP
12

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE IT IS ORDERED that this case is directly assigned to Judge William H. Orrick. Judge Beth Labson Freeman no longer assigned to the case. Counsel are instructed that all future filings shall bear the updated judicial initials immediately after the case number. Counsel are reminded to verify the location of the judge on the court website. All hearing and trial dates presently scheduled are vacated. However, existing briefing schedules for motions remain unchanged. Motions must be renoticed for hearing before the judge to whom the case has been reassigned, but the renoticing of the hearing does not affect the prior briefing schedule. Other deadlines such as those for ADR compliance and discovery cutoff also remain unchanged. Notice: The assigned judge participates in the Cameras in the Courtroom Pilot Project. See General Order 65 and cand.uscourts.gov/cameras. Mark B. Busby Clerk, United States District Court (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (jnk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/17/2026)

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

13

CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE ORDER - Case Management Conference set for 5/26/2026 02:00 PM via videoconference. Case Management Statement due by 5/19/2026. Signed by Judge William H. Orrick on 03/17/2026. (jmd, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/17/2026)

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

14

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 [5] Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines,, [2] Proposed Summons, [1] Complaint, [6] Summons Issued as to USA, [4] Case Assigned by Intake,, AMENDED Proof of Service Noting Service by Certified Mail (McGinley-Stempel, Ryan) (Filed on 4/8/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

15

Certificate/Proof of Service

April 15, 2026

April 15, 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

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Coalition of California cities and municipalities

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Non-delegation Doctrine

Separation of Powers

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 5:26-cv-01535

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Emergency shelter

Funding

Government services

Discrimination Area:

Content/viewpoint discrimination

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Funding

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Transgender

Recommended Citation