Case: AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION v. TRUMP

1:26-cv-01169 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 6, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] The American Historical Association and American Oversight filed a lawsuit on April 6, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, various White House officials, the Department of Justice, and the National Archives and Records Administration. The plaintiffs challenged an Office of Legal Counsel opinion issued on April 1, 2026, that declared the Presidenti…

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

The American Historical Association and American Oversight filed a lawsuit on April 6, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, various White House officials, the Department of Justice, and the National Archives and Records Administration. The plaintiffs challenged an Office of Legal Counsel opinion issued on April 1, 2026, that declared the Presidential Records Act (PRA) unconstitutional despite the Supreme Court's previous ruling in Nixon v. Administrator of General Services upholding a materially identical law. According to the complaint, the OLC concluded that the Supreme Court "got it wrong" and advised that the President need not comply with the PRA, which would allow the President to destroy or personally retain official records rather than preserving them for the American people. The plaintiffs brought seven counts alleging violations of separation of powers principles, ultra vires actions, and Administrative Procedure Act violations, seeking declarations that the PRA is constitutional, injunctions requiring compliance with the Act, and other relief.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (4/19/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154145/parties/american-historical-association-v-trump/

Judge(s)

Howell, Beryl Alaine (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenberg, Lynn D. (District of Columbia)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (District of Columbia)

Robinson, John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Powers, James R. (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Howell, Beryl Alaine (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenberg, Lynn D. (District of Columbia)

Jacobson, Daniel F. (District of Columbia)

Robinson, John (District of Columbia)

Stark, Loree (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Powers, James R. (District of Columbia)

Shi, Winston (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01169	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief American Historical Association v. Trump	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73154145/american-historical-association-v-trump/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against PAMELA BONDI, COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC ADVISERS, ROBERT B DOWNING, PHILIP C. DROEGE, EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE, JOSHUA FISHER, ED FORST, AMY GLEASON, HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL, CATHERINE KELLER, STEPHEN MILLER, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, DEVIN NUNES, OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, JACOB RESES, THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE, DONALD TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES DOGE SERVICE, JAMES DAVID VANCE, SUSAN WILES, Pierre Yared ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12344563) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons to Donald Trump, # 3 Summons to James David Vance, # 4 Summons to The White House Office, # 5 Summons to Susan Wiles, # 6 Summons to Philip C. Droege, # 7 Summons to National Security Council, # 8 Summons to Catherine Keller, # 9 Summons to Homeland Security Council, # 10 Summons to Stephen Miller, # 11 Summons to Council on Economic Advisers, # 12 Summons to Pierre Yared, # 13 Summons to Executive Residence, # 14 Summons to Robert B. Downing, # 15 Summons to President's Intelligence Advisory Board, # 16 Summons to Devin Nunes, # 17 Summons to Office of Administration, # 18 Summons to Joshua Fisher, # 19 Summons to Office of the Vice President, # 20 Summons to Jacob Reses, # 21 Summons to United States DOGE Service, # 22 Summons to Pamela Bondi, # 23 Summons to NARA, # 24 Summons to Ed Forst, # 25 Summons to Amy Gleason, # 26 Summons to Department of Justice, # 27 Summons to U.S. Attorney's Office, # 28 Summons to Attorney General)(Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/06/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons to Donald Trump View on PACER 3 Summons to James David Vance View on PACER 4 Summons to The White House Office View on PACER 5 Summons to Susan Wiles View on PACER 6 Summons to Philip C. Droege View on PACER 7 Summons to National Security Council View on PACER 8 Summons to Catherine Keller View on PACER 9 Summons to Homeland Security Council View on PACER 10 Summons to Stephen Miller View on PACER 11 Summons to Council on Economic Advisers View on PACER 12 Summons to Pierre Yared View on PACER 13 Summons to Executive Residence View on PACER 14 Summons to Robert B. Downing View on PACER 15 Summons to President's Intelligence Advisory Board View on PACER 16 Summons to Devin Nunes View on PACER 17 Summons to Office of Administration View on PACER 18 Summons to Joshua Fisher View on PACER 19 Summons to Office of the Vice President View on PACER 20 Summons to Jacob Reses View on PACER 21 Summons to United States DOGE Service View on PACER 22 Summons to Pamela Bondi View on PACER 23 Summons to NARA View on PACER 24 Summons to Ed Forst View on PACER 25 Summons to Amy Gleason View on PACER 26 Summons to Department of Justice View on PACER 27 Summons to U.S. Attorney's Office View on PACER 28 Summons to Attorney General View on PACER	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
3	CIVIL COVER SHEET (corrected) by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION re 1 Complaint,,,,,,, filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. Related document: 1 Complaint,,,,,,, filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.(Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
4	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Case related to Case No. 25-cv-409. (Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026 RECAP
5	NOTICE of Appearance by Lynn D. Eisenberg on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Eisenberg, Lynn) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
6	SUMMONS (27) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 04/07/2026) 1 Notice and Consent View on PACER	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026 RECAP
7	NOTICE of Appearance by John Robinson on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Robinson, John) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Loree Stark on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Stark, Loree) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (znmw)	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
9	STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 8, 2026. (lcbah2) (Entered: 04/08/2026)	April 8, 2026	April 8, 2026 RECAP
10	MOTION to Reassign Case Objection to Plaintiffs' Notice of Related Case by PAMELA BONDI, COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC ADVISERS, ROBERT B. DOWNING, PHILIP C. DROEGE, EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE, JOSHUA FISHER, ED FORST, AMY GLEASON, HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL, CATHERINE KELLER, STEPHEN MILLER, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, DEVIN NUNES, OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT'S INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY BOARD, JACOB RESES, DONALD TRUMP, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES DOGE SERVICE, JAMES DAVID VANCE, WHITE HOUSE OFFICE, SUSAN WILES, PIERRE YARED. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Powers, James) (Entered: 04/10/2026) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026 RECAP
11	NOTICE of Appearance by Winston Shi on behalf of All Defendants (Shi, Winston) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
12	NOTICE of Appearance by John Bailey on behalf of All Defendants (Bailey, John) (Entered: 04/13/2026)	April 13, 2026	April 13, 2026
13	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, MOTION to Stay under 5 USC 705 by AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration of Daniel F. Jacobson, # 3 Declaration Ex. A (email chain with counsel), # 4 Declaration Ex. B Gov't Br. in Nixon, # 5 Declaration Ex. C (Axios article), # 6 Declaration Ex. D (OLC testimony), # 7 Declaration of Sarah Weicksel, # 8 Declaration of Elizabeth Marx, # 9 Declaration of Matthew Connelly, # 10 Declaration of Timothy J. Naftali, # 11 Declaration of Kathryn Cramer Brownell, # 12 Declaration of Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, # 13 Text of Proposed Order)(Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/14/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Declaration of Daniel F. Jacobson View on PACER 3 Declaration Ex. A (email chain with counsel) View on PACER 4 Declaration Ex. B Gov't Br. in Nixon View on PACER 5 Declaration Ex. C (Axios article) View on PACER 6 Declaration Ex. D (OLC testimony) View on PACER 7 Declaration of Sarah Weicksel View on PACER 8 Declaration of Elizabeth Marx View on PACER 9 Declaration of Matthew Connelly View on PACER 10 Declaration of Timothy J. Naftali View on PACER 11 Declaration of Kathryn Cramer Brownell View on PACER 12 Declaration of Natalia Mehlman Petrzela View on PACER 13 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
14	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 4/8/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/7/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proof of service)(Robinson, John) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
	.Order	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER (paperless), upon consideration of plaintiffs' 13 Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay ("Pls.' Mot."), DIRECTING parties to confer and file, by April 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM, a proposed schedule for briefing plaintiffs' Motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 14, 2026. (lcbah2)	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER (paperless), upon consideration of defendants' 10 Objection to Plaintiffs' Notice of Related Case, filed at 5:00 PM on April 10, 2026, DIRECTING plaintiffs to file any response by April 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 14, 2026. (lcbah2)	April 14, 2026	April 14, 2026
15	RESPONSE re 10 MOTION to Reassign Case Objection to Plaintiffs' Notice of Related Case filed by AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026 RECAP
16	PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE Joint Status Report by AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Jacobson, Daniel) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026 RECAP
17	MEMORANDUM AND ORDER SUSTAINING defendants' 10 Objection to Plaintiffs' Notice of Related Case. See Order for further details. This case is hereby TRANSFERRED to the Calendar and Case Management Committee for random assignment. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 15, 2026. (lcbah2) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026 RECAP
	Set/Reset Deadlines	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026
	Set/Reset Deadlines: Parties Proposed Briefing Schedule due no later than 2:00PM on 4/15/2026 Plaintiff Response due no later than 2:00PM on 4/15/2026 (mac)	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026
	Case randomly reassigned to Judge John D. Bates pursuant to the 17 Order dated 4/15/2026. Judge Beryl A. Howell is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr)	April 15, 2026	April 15, 2026
	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings	April 16, 2026	April 16, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 16 the parties' joint status report and proposed briefing schedules, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that defendants shall file their response to 13 plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction by not later than April 21, 2026, and plaintiffs shall file their reply by not later than April 28, 2026. It is further ORDERED that a hearing on plaintiffs' motion is set for May 5, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 30A (in person) before Judge John D. Bates. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 4/16/2026. (lcjdb1)	April 16, 2026	April 16, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 6, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01169

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION v. TRUMP, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48079/ (last updated 4/19/2026).