Filed Date: March 26, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Three conservation organizations—Montana Wildlife Federation, The Wilderness Society, and Defenders of Wildlife—filed this lawsuit against federal defendants including Secretary of the Interior Douglas Burgum and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on March 26, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The plaintiffs challenged BLM's 2025 Greater Sage-grouse management plans for Montana and Wyoming, alleging these plans weakened protections established in 2015 plans that were designed to prevent the sage-grouse from being listed under the Endangered Species Act. According to the complaint, the 2025 plans eliminated key conservation measures including oil and gas leasing prioritization requirements, Sagebrush Focal Area designations, and mineral withdrawal protections, despite continued population declines of 13% in eastern Wyoming and Montana and 24% in western Wyoming since 2013. The plaintiffs brought four claims under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to set aside the 2025 plans and reinstate the 2015 protections.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ben Hefter (4/1/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73029094/parties/montana-wildlife-federation-v-burgum/
Johnston, John T. (Montana)
Preso, Timothy J. (Montana)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73029094/montana-wildlife-federation-v-burgum/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:09 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 26, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Three conservation organizations
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Bureau of Land Management
Secretary of the Interior Douglas Burgum
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Other Dockets:
District of Montana 4:26-cv-00133
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Environmental Justice and Resources:
Case Summary of Montana Wildlife Federation v. Burgum, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48002/ (last updated 4/1/2026).