Case: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research v. National Science Foundation

1:26-cv-01061 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: March 16, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit research consortium managing the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), filed suit against multiple federal agencies on March 16, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. UCAR alleged that the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, and Office of Management and Budget launched a coordinated retaliatory campaign against Colorado because the state refused federal demands regarding its mail-in voting system and its prosecution of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters for election-related crimes⁻⁻. The complaint asserted that when Colorado would not release Peters or change its election laws despite escalating federal pressure, the agencies responded with punitive actions including dismantling NCAR, transferring the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center away from UCAR's management, terminating a multi-million-dollar NOAA cooperative agreement, and imposing excessive reporting requirements and gag orders. UCAR brought five claims under the Administrative Procedure Act seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to set aside these allegedly unlawful agency actions⁻.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/17/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72496922/parties/university-corporation-for-atmospheric-research-v-national-science/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Alden, Bram M. (Colorado)

Purpura, Michael M. (Colorado)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Alden, Bram M. (Colorado)

Purpura, Michael M. (Colorado)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01061	Complaint	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72496922/university-corporation-for-atmospheric-research-v-national-science/

Last updated March 22, 2026, 3:06 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against Neil Jacobs, Howard Lutnick, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Brian Stone, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, UNITED STATES OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, Russell Vought (Filing fee $ 405,Receipt Number ACODC-10882565)Attorney Michael M. Purpura added to party University Corporation for Atmospheric Research(pty:pla), filed by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Dear Colleague Letter, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Cooperative Agreement, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Letter, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Email, # 6 Exhibit 6 - Letter, # 7 Exhibit 7 - Award Termination Letter, # 8 Exhibit 8 - Appeal Letter, # 9 Exhibit 9 - Appeal Response Email, # 10 Exhibit 10 - Email, # 11 Exhibit 11 - Letter, # 12 Exhibit 12 - FATC Modifications, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons, # 15 Summons, # 16 Summons, # 17 Summons, # 18 Summons, # 19 Summons, # 20 Summons, # 21 Summons, # 22 Summons, # 23 Civil Cover Sheet)(Purpura, Michael) (Entered: 03/16/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 - Dear Colleague Letter View on RECAP 2 Exhibit 2 - Cooperative Agreement View on RECAP 3 Exhibit 3 - Letter View on RECAP 4 Exhibit 4 - Letter View on RECAP 5 Exhibit 5 - Email View on RECAP 6 Exhibit 6 - Letter View on RECAP 7 Exhibit 7 - Award Termination Letter View on RECAP 8 Exhibit 8 - Appeal Letter View on RECAP 9 Exhibit 9 - Appeal Response Email View on RECAP 10 Exhibit 10 - Email View on RECAP 11 Exhibit 11 - Letter View on RECAP 12 Exhibit 12 - FATC Modifications View on RECAP 13 Summons View on PACER 14 Summons View on PACER 15 Summons View on PACER 16 Summons View on PACER 17 Summons View on PACER 18 Summons View on PACER 19 Summons View on PACER 20 Summons View on PACER 21 Summons View on PACER 22 Summons View on PACER 23 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	NOTICE of Entry of Appearance by Bram M. Alden on behalf of University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchAttorney Bram M. Alden added to party University Corporation for Atmospheric Research(pty:pla) (Alden, Bram) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
3	Case assigned to Judge Robert E. Blackburn. Text Only Entry. (dhern, ) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
4	SUMMONS issued by Clerk. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Magistrate Judge Consent Form) (dhern, ) (Entered: 03/16/2026) 1 Summons View on PACER 2 Summons 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 Magistrate Judge Consent Form View on PACER	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
5	ADVISORY NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH COURT RULES/PROCEDURES: re: 1 Complaint,,,, filed by attorney Michael M. Purpura. Attorney has used an incorrect signature format in violation of D.C.COLO.LCivR 5.1(a) and 4.3(a) of the Electronic Case Filing Procedures (Civil cases). DO NOT REFILE THE DOCUMENT. In the future, the filer must affix an electronic s/signature and s/followed by a typed, not an inked, signature to all future documents. (Text Only Entry) (dhern, ) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
8	ADVISORY NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH COURT RULES/PROCEDURES: re: 2 Notice of Entry of Appearance filed by attorney Bram M. Alden. DO NOT REFILE THE DOCUMENT. Action to take - counsel must submit a change of contact request through PACER pursuant to D.C.COLO.LAttyR 5(c) and 3.5 of the Electronic Case Filing Procedures (Civil cases). (Text Only Entry) (ggill, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
6	ORDER DIRECTING REASSIGNMENT. IT IS ORDERED that the clerk shall assign this case to a judge for resolution on the merits under the random assignment procedure of D.C.COLO.LCiv.R 40.1. (Case randomly reassigned to Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung for all further proceedings. All future pleadings shall be designated to 26-cv-01061-CYC). By Judge Robert E. Blackburn on 3/17/2026. (ggill, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026 RECAP
7	Magistrate Judge consent form issued pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1, direct assignment of civil actions to full time magistrate judges. (ggill, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026
	Minute Order	March 20, 2026	March 20, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Colorado

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Voting/Election Law

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 16, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff is a nonprofit research consortium of American colleges and universities that was founded 66 years ago to advance atmospheric and weather science in service of the U.S. and in partnership with the federal government.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

National Science Foundation

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Office of Management and Budget

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Other Dockets:

District of Colorado 1:26-cv-01061

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Funding

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research v. National Science Foundation, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47909/ (last updated 3/17/2026).