Case: DSCC v. Trump

1:26-cv-01114 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 1, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and other Democratic organizations, along with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries, filed suit on April 1, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald J. Trump and various federal agencies. The plaintiffs challenged President Trump's Executive Order "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity i…

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and other Democratic organizations, along with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries, filed suit on April 1, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald J. Trump and various federal agencies. The plaintiffs challenged President Trump's Executive Order "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," which was issued on March 31, 2026, after Congress refused to pass the SAVE America Act. According to the complaint, the Executive Order sought to dramatically restrict Americans' ability to vote by mail by directing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to create "State Citizenship Lists" and requiring voters to enroll with USPS to receive mail ballots. The plaintiffs brought four counts alleging that the President exceeded his constitutional authority, violated separation of powers, and unlawfully directed USPS to exceed its statutory limitations. They sought urgent injunctive and declaratory relief to invalidate the Executive Order and prevent its enforcement.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ben Hefter (4/3/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73131864/parties/dscc-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Kollar-Kotelly, Colleen (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bishop, Tyler (District of Columbia)

Elias, Marc Erik (District of Columbia)

Ford, Christina (District of Columbia)

Madduri, Lalitha (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-01114

Complaint

DSCC et al. v. Trump et al.

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73131864/dscc-v-trump/

Last updated April 8, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12335628) filed by DCCC, DSCC, HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, CHARLES E. SCHUMER. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Executive Order, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons Donald J. Trump, # 4 Summons Executive Office of the President, # 5 Summons U.S. Department of Justice, # 6 Summons U.S. Postal Service, # 7 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security, # 8 Summons U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, # 9 Summons Social Security Administration, # 10 Summons U.S. Department of Commerce, # 11 Summons Pamela Bondi, # 12 Summons David Steiner, # 13 Summons Markwayne Mullin, # 14 Summons Joseph B. Edlow, # 15 Summons Frank J. Bisignano, # 16 Summons Howard Lutnick)(Elias, Marc) (Attachment 2 replaced on 4/2/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 04/01/2026)

1 Exhibit A - Executive Order

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2 Civil Cover Sheet

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3 Summons Donald J. Trump

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4 Summons Executive Office of the President

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5 Summons U.S. Department of Justice

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6 Summons U.S. Postal Service

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7 Summons U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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8 Summons U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

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9 Summons Social Security Administration

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10 Summons U.S. Department of Commerce

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11 Summons Pamela Bondi

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12 Summons David Steiner

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13 Summons Markwayne Mullin

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14 Summons Joseph B. Edlow

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15 Summons Frank J. Bisignano

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16 Summons Howard Lutnick

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April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by All Plaintiffs. Case related to Case No. 1:25-cv-946-CKK. (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

RECAP
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Marc Erik Elias on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Lalitha Madduri on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Madduri, Lalitha) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Jacob D. Shelly on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Shelly, Jacob) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Christina Ford on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Ford, Christina) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

7

NOTICE of Appearance by Tyler Bishop on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Bishop, Tyler) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

8

SUMMONS (14) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

1 Notice and Consent

View on RECAP

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

9

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by DCCC, DSCC, HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, CHARLES E. SCHUMER.(Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

RECAP
10

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

11

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

12

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DCCC (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

13

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DSCC (Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

14

SEALED MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE DOCUMENT UNDER SEAL filed by DCCC, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DSCC, HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, CHARLES E. SCHUMER (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Sealed Notice)(Elias, Marc) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

15

ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 04/02/2026. (lcckk1) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

RECAP
19

SEALED DOCUMENT - Notice filed by DCCC, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DSCC, HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, CHARLES E. SCHUMER. re 1 Complaint,,,. (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(zjm) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (zmtm)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Missing summonses- U.S. Attorney. When naming a U.S. government agent or agency as a defendant, you must supply a summons for each defendant & two additional summonses for the U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to Issue. (zmtm)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

18

ORDER directing the parties in Case Nos. 26-1114 and 26-1132 to MEET AND CONFER to discuss whether the two cases should be consolidated, setting deadlines, and addressing other preliminary matters. See Order for further details. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 04/06/2026. (lcckk1) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

RECAP
20

DECLARATION of Kevin R. Kowalewski in Support of Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice by DCCC, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, DSCC, HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, CHARLES E. SCHUMER re 17 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Kevin Kowalewski, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12340799. Fee Status: Fee Paid.. (Kowalewski, Kevin) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

RECAP
21

NOTICE of Appearance by Kevin Ronald Kowalewski on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Kowalewski, Kevin) (Entered: 04/06/2026)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

MINUTE ORDER granting 17 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice with respect to Attorney Kevin Kowalewski, in order for him to appear as co-counsel for Plaintiffs, CONTINGENT on said attorney filing a declaration certifying familiarity with this Court's Local Rules by no later than April 21, 2026. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 4/6/2026. (lcckk3)

April 6, 2026

April 6, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 1, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs include the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Democratic National Committee, Democratic Governors Association, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

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.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Federalism (including 10th Amendment)

Separation of Powers

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01114

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Stay of government action

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Commandeering

Voting:

Election administration

Voting: General & Misc.

Recommended Citation