Case: Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright

1:26-cv-00928 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 17, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

The Environmental Defense Fund filed this lawsuit on March 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Energy, its Secretary Christopher Wright, the National Archives and Records Administration, and Acting Archivist James Byron. The complaint alleged that multiple DOE political appointees, including Seth Cohen, Travis Fisher, and Joshua Loucks, extensively used personal email accounts to conduct government business related to a "Climate Working Group" that was convened to challenge climate science and support EPA's repeal of its 2009 Endangerment Finding regarding greenhouse gases, in violation of the Federal Records Act⁻. EDF brought four counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and mandamus theory, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to compel defendants to preserve and recover the unlawfully removed records, refer the matter to the Attorney General, and comply with their duties under the Federal Records Act⁻.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/18/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72502935/parties/environmental-defense-fund-v-wright/

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenberg, Lynn (District of Columbia)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (District of Columbia)

Murphy, Erin Caitlin (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Petit, Derrick A. (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenberg, Lynn (District of Columbia)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (District of Columbia)

Murphy, Erin Caitlin (District of Columbia)

Robinson, John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Petit, Derrick A. (District of Columbia)

Simon, Jeremy S. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-00928	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Environmental Defense Fund v. Christopher Wright	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72502935/environmental-defense-fund-v-wright/

Last updated Nov. 11, 2026, 3:53 a.m.

Docket for: ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND v. WRIGHT

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 17, 2026	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12303587) filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9, # 10 Exhibit 10, # 11 Summons to Christopher Wright, # 12 Summons to DOE, # 13 Summons to James Byron, # 14 Summons to NARA, # 15 Summons to USAO, # 16 Summons to Attorney General, # 17 Civil Cover Sheet)(Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 03/17/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 2 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 8 View on PACER 9 Exhibit 9 View on PACER 10 Exhibit 10 View on PACER 11 Summons to Christopher Wright View on PACER 12 Summons to DOE View on PACER 13 Summons to James Byron View on PACER 14 Summons to NARA View on PACER 15 Summons to USAO View on PACER 16 Summons to Attorney General View on PACER 17 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by John Robinson on behalf of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND (Robinson, John) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
3	March 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND (Robinson, John) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
4	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Lynn Eisenberg on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Eisenberg, Lynn) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
5	March 18, 2026	SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 03/18/2026)	RECAP
	March 18, 2026	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	March 18, 2026	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmw)
6	March 26, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/18/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/17/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proof of service)(Robinson, John) (Entered: 03/26/2026) 1 Exhibit Proof of service View on PACER	RECAP
7	March 27, 2026	STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 03/27/2026. (lccjn3) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
8	March 30, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. JAMES BYRON served on 3/26/2026; NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION served on 3/26/2026; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY served on 3/26/2026; CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT served on 3/26/2026, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 03/27/2026. (Robinson, John) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
9	April 14, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Erin Caitlin Murphy on behalf of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND (Murphy, Erin) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
10	May 6, 2026	Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,, by NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Petit, Derrick) (Entered: 05/06/2026)	RECAP
	May 8, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. The 10 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File an Answer is GRANTED. The Government shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint on or before June 8, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 05/08/2026. (lccjn3)
	May 8, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines
11	June 2, 2026	MOTION to Stay Action for 60-Days by JAMES BYRON, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Petit, Derrick) (Entered: 06/02/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
12	June 4, 2026	RESPONSE re 11 MOTION to Stay Action for 60-Days filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - February 9 Letter to NARA, # 2 Exhibit B - February 9 Letter to DOE, # 3 Exhibit C - June 4 Letter to NARA)(Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 06/04/2026) 1 Exhibit A - February 9 Letter to NARA View on RECAP 2 Exhibit B - February 9 Letter to DOE View on RECAP 3 Exhibit C - June 4 Letter to NARA View on RECAP	RECAP
	June 4, 2026	Order on Motion to Stay AND Set/Reset Deadlines
	June 4, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. Defendants' 11 Motion to Stay Action is DENIED. However, the Court will extend the deadline by which the Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint to July 10, 2026. Defendants shall also file a status report updating the Court on the status of NARA's review on or before July 1, 2026. In that report, and after conferring with Plaintiff, Defendants should note whether they believe a further deadline extension or staying the action is warranted. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 06/04/2026. (lccjn3)
13	July 1, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Jeremy S. Simon on behalf of All Defendants (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/01/2026)	RECAP
14	July 1, 2026	STATUS REPORT (National Archives and Records Administration Status Report) by JAMES BYRON, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/01/2026)	RECAP
15	July 2, 2026	RESPONSE re 14 Status Report filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Robinson, John) (Entered: 07/02/2026)	RECAP
	July 8, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 14 15 Status Report and Response, the deadline by which Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint is extended until July 31, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 07/08/2026. (lccjn3)
	July 8, 2026	~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines
16	July 30, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by JAMES BYRON, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 07/30/2026) 1 Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
	Aug. 1, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. The 16 Consent Motion for an Extension of Time is GRANTED. Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiff's Complaint on or before August 14, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 08/01/2026. (lccjn3)
	Aug. 1, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines
17	Aug. 6, 2026	AMENDED COMPLAINT against NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT, EDWARD C. FORST filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Redline)(Robinson, John) (Entered: 08/06/2026) 1 Exhibit Redline View on RECAP	RECAP
18	Aug. 14, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond to Amended Complaint by EDWARD C. FORST, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 08/14/2026) 1 Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
	Aug. 24, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. The 18 Motion for Extension of Time is GRANTED. Defendant shall file its response to the Amended Complaint on or before September 17, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 08/24/2026. (lccjn3)
	Aug. 24, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines
19	Sept. 17, 2026	MOTION to Dismiss and Supporting Memorandum by EDWARD C. FORST, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Todd Burns, # 2 Declaration of Michelle Bradley, # 3 Proposed Order)(Simon, Jeremy) (Entered: 09/17/2026) 1 Declaration of Todd Burns View on RECAP 2 Declaration of Michelle Bradley View on RECAP 3 Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
20	Oct. 1, 2026	Memorandum in opposition to re 19 MOTION to Dismiss and Supporting Memorandum filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eisenberg, Lynn) (Entered: 10/01/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
21	Oct. 1, 2026	MOTION for Leave to File Amended And/Or Supplemental Complaint Nunc Pro Tunc by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Eisenberg, Lynn) (Entered: 10/01/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
22	Oct. 2, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Combined Reply and Opposition by JAMES BYRON, EDWARD C. FORST, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Petit, Derrick) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
	Oct. 5, 2026	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of Defendants' 22 Motion for Extension of Time, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendants shall file a combined reply in support of their motion to dismiss and opposition to Plaintiff's motion to amend and/or supplement their complaint on or before October 22, 2026. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 10/05/2026. (lccjn3)
	Oct. 5, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Deadlines
23	Oct. 22, 2026	REPLY to opposition to motion re [19] Motion to Dismiss, filed by EDWARD C. FORST, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Petit, Derrick)	RECAP
24	Oct. 22, 2026	Memorandum in opposition to re [21] MOTION for Leave to File Amended And/Or Supplemental Complaint Nunc Pro Tunc filed by EDWARD C. FORST, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT. (Attachments: (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Petit, Derrick) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
25	Oct. 29, 2026	REPLY to opposition to motion re [21] Motion for Leave to File Amended And/Or Supplemental Complaint Nunc Pro Tunc filed by ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. (Robinson, John)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 17, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

EDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization dedicated to finding practical solutions to environmental problems based on law, policy, science, and economics.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Archivist of the U.S.

National Archives and Records Administration

Secretary of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

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-00928

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

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47913/ (last updated 3/18/2026).