Case: American Oversight v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1:26-cv-01351 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 21, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This Freedom of Information Act case challenges the Trump Administration’s failure to produce records regarding participation of private corporations, such as Palantir, in federal data governance and potential widespread surveillance.  On April 21, 2026, American Oversight, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on government transparency, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against five federal agencies – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

This Freedom of Information Act case challenges the Trump Administration’s failure to produce records regarding participation of private corporations, such as Palantir, in federal data governance and potential widespread surveillance. 

On April 21, 2026, American Oversight, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on government transparency, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against five federal agencies – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Social Security Administration (SSA). Following its March 20, 2025, executive order calling for federal data sharing across agencies, the Trump Administration significantly expanded the government's business relationship with Palantir Technologies, a data analysis firm. Palantir allegedly secured federal contracts exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars with multiple agencies that raised concerns about a potential increase of government surveillance. Represented by its own counsel, American Oversight brought two claims under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) alleging the agencies failed to conduct adequate searches for responsive records and wrongfully withheld non-exempt records. American Oversight sought production of the requested documents, an injunction preventing defendants from continuing the alleged practices, and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Reggie Walton.

Proceedings so far have been limited to setting a briefing schedule. The case is ongoing.

 

Summary Authors

Ian Gibson (6/12/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73218917/parties/oversight-v-prevention/


Judge(s)

Walton, Reggie B. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Haddix, Elizabeth (District of Columbia)

Stark, Loree (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Atras, Robert J. (District of Columbia)

Zieman, Benjamin H. (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-01351

Complaint

April 21, 2026

April 21, 2026

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73218917/oversight-v-prevention/

Last updated Sept. 2, 2026, 3:20 a.m.

Docket for: OVERSIGHT v. PREVENTION
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 April 21, 2026

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12372547) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USAO summons, # 3 Summons AG Summons, # 4 Summons CDC summons, # 5 Summons DHS summons, # 6 Summons ICE summons, # 7 Summons IRS summons, # 8 Summons SSA summons)(Haddix, Elizabeth) (Entered: 04/21/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons USAO summons

View on PACER

3 Summons AG Summons

View on PACER

4 Summons CDC summons

View on PACER

5 Summons DHS summons

View on PACER

6 Summons ICE summons

View on PACER

7 Summons IRS summons

View on PACER

8 Summons SSA summons

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 April 21, 2026

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Haddix, Elizabeth) (Entered: 04/21/2026)

RECAP
3 April 22, 2026

Electronic Summons Issued as to AUSA,USAG

RECAP
April 22, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

4 April 30, 2026

Summons Returned Executed in FOIA case as to U.S. Attorney

RECAP
5 May 22, 2026

Answer to Complaint

RECAP
6 May 22, 2026

Extension of Time to File Answer

RECAP
7 May 22, 2026

Answer to Complaint

RECAP
May 26, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines

8 May 28, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Loree Stark on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Stark, Loree) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

RECAP
9 June 22, 2026

Dismiss

1 Declaration

View on PACER

RECAP
10 June 26, 2026

Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

RECAP
11 June 26, 2026

.Order

RECAP
June 29, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines

12 July 9, 2026

Response to motion

RECAP
13 July 9, 2026

Notice (Other)

RECAP
14 July 9, 2026

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
15 July 16, 2026

Reply to opposition to motion

RECAP
16 Aug. 17, 2026

Notice of Substitution of Counsel

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Privacy

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 21, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to enforce the public’s right to government records.

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

United States

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01351

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Document/Information

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Access to information systems

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