Case: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region v. National Endowment for the Humanities

1:26-cv-00447 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York

Filed Date: March 20, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 20, 2026, the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region (URHP), a nonprofit that researches and preserves Underground Railroad history and its connection to contemporary social justice issues, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The suit named the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and other federal actors as defendants. URHP had applied for and was awarded a $250,000 NEH Challenge Grant in 2023-2024 to construct an Interpretive Center to expand its educational programming about the Underground Railroad movement. The organization alleged it met all funding conditions over fifteen months; however, following President Trump's inauguration in January 2025, the administration issued executive orders requiring federal agencies to eliminate DEI initiatives within sixty days. URHP alleged that NEH subsequently issued a directive in February 2025 to review grants for termination based on DEI criteria, leading to the termination of over 1,400 grants in April 2025, including over 100 grants concerning Black history and culture. On May 14, 2025, NEH withdrew URHP's funding offer, citing the need to align with the President's priorities. URHP brought claims alleging violations of the Fifth Amendment's Equal Protection Guarantee, the First Amendment based on viewpoint discrimination, and the Administrative Procedure Act for agency action that was contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious. The organization sought declaratory relief, setting aside of the funding withdrawal and directive, and attorneys' fees.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72529964/parties/underground-railroad-history-project-of-the-capitol-region-v-national/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Loewenstein, Nina (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Loewenstein, Nina (New York)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-00447	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region v. National Endowment for the Humanities et al.	March 20, 2026	March 20, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72529964/underground-railroad-history-project-of-the-capitol-region-v-national/

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

Docket for: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region v. National Endowment for the Humanities

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 20, 2026	COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against Department of Government Efficiency, Amy Gleason, Michael McDonald, National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Management and Budget, and Russell Vought (Filing fee $405 receipt number ANYNDC-7519967) filed by Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet)(tll) (Entered: 03/23/2026) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER 2 Exhibit B View on PACER 3 Exhibit C View on PACER 4 Exhibit D View on PACER 5 Exhibit E View on PACER 6 Exhibit F View on PACER 7 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Clearinghouse
3	March 20, 2026	FRCP 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region. (tll) (Entered: 03/23/2026)	RECAP
2	March 23, 2026	Summons Issued as to Department of Government Efficiency, Amy Gleason, Michael McDonald, National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, US Attorney General and US Attorney's Office. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Issued for McDonald, # 2 Summons Issued for DOGE, # 3 Summons Issued for Gleason, # 4 Summons Issued for OMB, # 5 Summons Issued for Vought, # 6 Summons Issued for USAG, # 7 Summons Issued for USAO)(tll) (Entered: 03/23/2026) 1 Summons Issued for McDonald View on PACER 2 Summons Issued for DOGE View on PACER 3 Summons Issued for Gleason View on PACER 4 Summons Issued for OMB View on PACER 5 Summons Issued for Vought View on PACER 6 Summons Issued for USAG View on PACER 7 Summons Issued for USAO View on PACER	RECAP
4	March 23, 2026	G.O. 25 FILING ORDER ISSUED: Initial Conference set for 6/22/2026 at 10:00 AM in Albany before Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista. Civil Case Management Plan must be filed and Mandatory Disclosures are to be exchanged by the parties on or before 6/15/2026. (Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2, mandatory disclosures are to be exchanged among the parties but are NOT to be filed with the Court.) (tll) (Entered: 03/23/2026)	RECAP
5	March 23, 2026	NOTICE OF ADMISSION REQUIREMENT as to Party Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region; Attorneys Gary DiBianco, Esq. and Michael Siris, Esq. Email addresses are gdibianco@lawyersforgoodgovernment.org and msiris@lawyersforgoodgovernment.org. Phone numbers are (404) 913-5529 and (516) 228-9350. Copies have been emailed with the GO25. Admissions due by 4/6/2026. (Attachments: # 1 NOAR - Siris)(tll) (Entered: 03/23/2026)	RECAP
6	March 23, 2026	MOTION for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice of Michael Siris, Esq. No fee paid. Link was sent to attorney via email requesting payment. [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY] Motions referred to Judge Paul J. Evangelista. (tll) Fee paid $100. Receipt no. 280P007B. Modified on 3/24/2026 (tll). (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
	March 23, 2026	TEXT NOTICE OF FILING DEFICIENCY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the following Filing Deficiency: Attorney address and email address contained in the document does not match the NYND attorney admission records. Counsel is directed to update their information in PACER within 3 days from this notice. Attorney Nina Loewenstein Copy of NEF emailed to attorney. Notice of Filing Deficiency Deadline 3/26/2026 (tll)
7	March 26, 2026	MOTION for Limited Admission of Gary DiBianco, Esq. Pro Hac Vice $100.00 Filing fee paid. Receipt No.: 280S1CJU. [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY] [Link sent to attorney for payment via email on 3/26/2026.] [Filed via MFT on 3/26/2026.] Motions referred to Judge Paul J. Evangelista. (hmr) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
8	March 27, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 6 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice of Michael Siris, Esq. Counsel is hereby advised that as of January 16, 2018, the NYND has converted to NextGen. Due to this conversion, you must now register for Pro Hac Vice access through your PACER account. This is the only notice you will receive concerning this requirement. You will not have access to electronically file in this case until your Pro Hac Vice request has been processed through the PACER system. Step-by-step instructions on how to complete this process are available at http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions. Counsel is reminded that, once the above is accomplished, a NOTICE OF APPEARANCE MUST BE FILED IN THIS ACTION or you will not receive electronic notifications in the case. Authorized by Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista on 3/27/2026. (tab) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
9	March 27, 2026	Supplemental Admission documents re: 7 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice, [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY]. [Filed via MFT on 3/27/2026.] (hmr) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
	March 27, 2026	Order on Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice
	March 27, 2026	Notice of Attorney Admission Filing Deficiency re: 7 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice of Gary DiBianco. Pursuant to LR 83.1(d), the applicant MUST provide the following required documents: a fully completed Petition for Admission to Practice form. The corrected documents should be transmitted to the Court via MFT found on the Court's website https://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/submitting-files-court-mft and labeled 'Supplemental Admission documents'. Once all requirements under LR 83.1(d) have been met, the motion will be forwarded to the assigned Magistrate Judge for consideration. Notice of Compliance Deadline 4/10/2026 (tad)
10	March 31, 2026	Supplemental Admission documents re: 7 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice filed via MFT [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY]. (tll) (Entered: 04/01/2026)	RECAP
11	April 2, 2026	Supplemental Admission documents re: 7 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice filed via MFT [THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED AND VIEWABLE BY COURT USERS ONLY]. (tll) (Entered: 04/02/2026)	RECAP
12	April 3, 2026	NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Mike Siris on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Siris, Mike) (Entered: 04/03/2026)	RECAP
13	April 7, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 7 Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice for Gary DiBianco, Esq. Counsel is hereby advised that as of January 16, 2018, the NYND has converted to NextGen. Due to this conversion, you must now register for Pro Hac Vice access through your PACER account. This is the only notice you will receive concerning this requirement. You will not have access to electronically file in this case until your Pro Hac Vice request has been processed through the PACER system. Step-by-step instructions on how to complete this process are available at http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admissions. Counsel is reminded that, once the above is accomplished, a NOTICE OF APPEARANCE MUST BE FILED IN THIS ACTION or you will not receive electronic notifications in the case . Authorized by Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista on 4/7/2026. (tab) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	RECAP
	April 7, 2026	Order on Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice
14	April 15, 2026	NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Gary DiBianco on behalf of All Plaintiffs (DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
15	April 28, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Declaration of Service Tina Yates served on All defendants, U.S. Attorney General DOJ, U.S. Attorney's Office on Certified mailing April 6, 2026, filed by Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Proof of deliveries)(Loewenstein, Nina) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
16	April 28, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Declaration of Service Tina Yates served on All defendants, U.S. Attorney General DOJ, U.S. Attorney's Office on Certified Mailing April 22, 2026, filed by Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Certified Mail Tracking)(Loewenstein, Nina) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
	April 29, 2026	***Answer due date updated for Department of Government Efficiency, answer due 5/12/2026; Amy Gleason answer due 5/12/2026; Michael McDonald answer due 5/1/2026; National Endowment for the Humanities answer due 5/1/2026; Office of Management and Budget answer due 5/12/2026; Russell Vought answer due 5/12/2026; US Attorney General answer due 5/1/2026; US Attorney's Office answer due 5/1/2026. (tll)
17	June 12, 2026	NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Karen Folster Lesperance on behalf of Department of Government Efficiency, Amy Gleason, Michael McDonald, National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought (Folster Lesperance, Karen) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
18	June 12, 2026	Letter Motion from AUSA Karen Lesperance for Department of Government Efficiency, Amy Gleason, Michael McDonald, National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought requesting an extension of time to respond submitted to Judge Hon. Paul J. Evangelista . (Folster Lesperance, Karen) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
21	June 16, 2026	Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice	RECAP
	June 16, 2026	Order on Letter Request
	June 25, 2026	Order on Motion for Limited Admission Pro Hac Vice
24	July 17, 2026	Letter Request/Motion	RECAP
	July 21, 2026	Order on Letter Request
	Aug. 20, 2026	Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings
28	Sept. 9, 2026	Letter Request/Motion	RECAP
	Sept. 10, 2026	Order on Letter Request

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Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Accessibility (DEIA) and/or Antisemitism

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 20, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff is a nonprofit that researches and preserves the local and national history of the Underground Railroad movement, its international connections, and its legacy to today’s social justice issues, to empower people of all ages to be agents of change in favor of an equitable and just society.

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

Acting Administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency

Department of Government Efficiency

Director of the Office of Management and Budget

National Endowment of Humanities

Office of Management and Budget

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

Northern District of New York 1:26-cv-00447

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Funding

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Underground Railroad History Project of the Capitol Region v. National Endowment for the Humanities, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47955/.