Case: State of California v. United States Department of Education

4:26-cv-05549 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: June 9, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This is a case challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) abrupt discontinuation of State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) that support children with disabilities. On June 9, 2026, the States of California, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in the San Francisco Division. The states sued DOE and its Secretary Linda McMahon, in her official capacity, for violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (AP…

This is a case challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) abrupt discontinuation of State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) that support children with disabilities.

On June 9, 2026, the States of California, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in the San Francisco Division. The states sued DOE and its Secretary Linda McMahon, in her official capacity, for violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), Spending Clause, and the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). The states alleged that DOE unlawfully terminated State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). They further alleged that DOE relied on unpublished priorities that had not been subject to the notice-and-comment procedures required by GEPA while targeting grant applications containing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language, despite the Department previously requiring such language. The states sought declaratory relief, a vacatur of DOE’s Non-Continuation Decisions, injunctive relief ordering DOE to make new continuation award decisions consistent with the requested declaratory relief and vacatur, along with attorney’s fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (7/18/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73460233/parties/state-of-california-v-united-states-department-of-education/

Judge(s)

Gilliam, Haywood Stirling (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Basbaum, Jesse P. (California)

Bibb, Aaron J. (California)

Duffy, Kyla (California)

Herrera, Elia (California)

Judge(s)

Gilliam, Haywood Stirling (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Basbaum, Jesse P. (California)

Bibb, Aaron J. (California)

Duffy, Kyla (California)

Herrera, Elia (California)

Morris, Emilia P. (California)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 4:26-cv-05549	Complaint	June 9, 2026	June 9, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73460233/state-of-california-v-united-states-department-of-education/

Last updated Nov. 4, 2026, 3:31 a.m.

Docket for: State of California v. United States Department of Education

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 9, 2026	COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-22079719.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by State of California. (Basbaum, Jesse) (Filed on 6/9/2026) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	Clearinghouse
2	June 9, 2026	Proposed Summons. (Basbaum, Jesse) (Filed on 6/9/2026) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	RECAP
3	June 9, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance filed by Elia Herrera on behalf of State of California (Herrera, Elia) (Filed on 6/9/2026) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	RECAP
4	June 9, 2026	Case assigned to Judge Haywood S Gilliam, Jr. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. (as, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/9/2026) (Entered: 06/09/2026)	RECAP
	June 9, 2026	Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney
	June 9, 2026	~Util - Case Assigned by Intake
5	June 11, 2026	Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 9/1/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 9/8/2026 at 02:00 PM in Oakland, via Videoconference Only. (slh, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/11/2026) (Entered: 06/11/2026)	RECAP
6	June 11, 2026	Summons Issued as to Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education. (slh, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/11/2026) (Entered: 06/11/2026)	RECAP
7	June 12, 2026	Refiled as Docket No. 15 .MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22092907.) filed by State of Wisconsin. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate/Proof of Service Certificate of Good Standing)(Bibb, Aaron) (Filed on 6/12/2026) Modified on 6/17/2026 (ndr, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
8	June 12, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance filed by Emilia P. E. Morris on behalf of State of California (Morris, Emilia) (Filed on 6/12/2026) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
	June 12, 2026	Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney
9	June 16, 2026	REFILED AS DOCKET NO. 11 . MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice Kyla Duffy for the State of Rhode Island ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22104754.) filed by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification of Good Standing)(Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 6/16/2026) Modified on 6/16/2026 (ndr, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 06/16/2026)	RECAP
10	June 16, 2026	CLERK'S NOTICE RE DOCKET NOS. 7 and 9 . Information on the application must match the information on the docket. Your local co-counsel's name and address as listed on the application doesn't match the docket. Either update the docket or e-file a revised application (with attachments) with the correct information reflected on it. If you update the docket, please send the CRD an e-mail to alert her. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/16/2026) (Entered: 06/16/2026)	RECAP
11	June 16, 2026	Re-filed as Docket No. 12 . MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice Kyla Duffy for the State of Rhode Island ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number 8399514.) Filing fee previously paid on 06/16/2026 filed by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification of Good Standing)(Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 6/16/2026) Modified on 6/17/2026 (ndr, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 06/16/2026)	RECAP
12	June 16, 2026	MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice Kyla Duffy for the State of Rhode Island ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22104754.) Filing fee previously paid on 06/16/2026 filed by State of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification of Good Standing)(Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 6/16/2026) (Entered: 06/16/2026)	RECAP
	June 16, 2026	Clerk's Notice
	June 16, 2026	Terminate Motions
	June 16, 2026	* 9 MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice Kyla Duffy for the State of Rhode Island TERMINATED, REFILED AS DOCKET NO. 11 .* (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/16/2026)
13	June 17, 2026	ORDER by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. GRANTING 12 Motion for Pro Hac Vice for Kyla Duffy.Docket No. 11 TERMINATED, Re-filed as Docket No. 12 . (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/17/2026)	RECAP
14	June 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance filed by Kyla Duffy on behalf of State of Rhode Island (Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 6/17/2026) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
15	June 17, 2026	MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number 5770445.) Filing fee previously paid on 6/12/26 filed by State of Wisconsin. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate/Proof of Service Certificate of Good Standing)(Bibb, Aaron) (Filed on 6/17/2026) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
	June 17, 2026	Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney
	June 17, 2026	Terminate Motions
	June 17, 2026	* 7 MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice TERMINATED, Refiled as Docket No. 15 .* (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/17/2026)
16	June 18, 2026	ORDER by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.: Granting 15 Motion for Pro Hac Vice for Aaron J. Bibb. (ls, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/18/2026)	RECAP
17	June 25, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by State of California (Basbaum, Jesse) (Filed on 6/25/2026) (Entered: 06/25/2026)	RECAP
	July 14, 2026	Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney
19	Aug. 14, 2026	STIPULATION to extend time to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint filed by Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education. (DuBovis, Dana) (Filed on 8/14/2026) (Entered: 08/14/2026)	RECAP
20	Aug. 18, 2026	ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 8/18/2026) (Entered: 08/18/2026)	RECAP
21	Aug. 18, 2026	ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Duffy, Kyla) (Filed on 8/18/2026) (Entered: 08/18/2026)	RECAP
22	Aug. 18, 2026	ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Bibb, Aaron) (Filed on 8/18/2026) (Entered: 08/18/2026)	RECAP
23	Aug. 18, 2026	ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (Basbaum, Jesse) (Filed on 8/18/2026) (Entered: 08/18/2026)	RECAP
24	Aug. 26, 2026	ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options (DuBovis, Dana) (Filed on 8/26/2026) (Entered: 08/26/2026)	RECAP
25	Sept. 1, 2026	JOINT CASE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT filed by State of California. (Basbaum, Jesse) (Filed on 9/1/2026) (Entered: 09/01/2026)	RECAP
26	Sept. 8, 2026	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.: Initial Case Management Conference held via on 9/8/2026. Total Time in Court: 11 minutes. Not Reported or Recorded. Plaintiff Attorney: Jesse Basbaum and Aaron Bibb. Defendant Attorney: Dana DuBovis. The Court orders that the administrative record be produced. Parties are directed to meet and confer and e-file by Friday (September 11, 2026) either a stipulation and proposed order setting the case schedule that the Plaintiffs proposed through a hearing on the motions to dismiss and for summary judgment (including, if required, Defendants cause to extend their production deadline), or a filing indicating that no agreement was reached and the parties proposed schedules. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Date Filed: 9/8/2026) (Entered: 09/10/2026)	RECAP
	Sept. 10, 2026	Case Management Conference - Initial AND ~Util - Set Deadlines
27	Sept. 11, 2026	STIPULATION WITH PROPOSED ORDER for proposed briefing schedule and production of the administrative record filed by Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education. (DuBovis, Dana) (Filed on 9/11/2026) (Entered: 09/11/2026)	RECAP
28	Sept. 14, 2026	ORDER GRANTING 27 STIPULATION for briefing schedule and production of the administrative record. Signed by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. on 9/14/2026. Motions due by 11/2/2026.Responses/Cross Motions due by 11/30/2026. Replies / Responses due by 12/21/2026. Replies due by 1/11/2027.(ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/14/2026) (Entered: 09/14/2026)	RECAP
29	Oct. 5, 2026	NOTICE by Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education of filing of administrative record (Attachments: # 1 Administrative record certification, # 2 Administrative record index)(DuBovis, Dana) (Filed on 10/5/2026) (Entered: 10/05/2026)	RECAP
30	Oct. 23, 2026	NOTICE by Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education of filing of the administrative record (Attachments: # 1 Administrative Record Part 1, # 2 Administrative Record Part 2, # 3 Index, # 4 Certification)(DuBovis, Dana) (Filed on 10/23/2026) (Entered: 10/23/2026)	RECAP
31	Oct. 26, 2026	NOTICE of Substitution of Counsel: Attorney Romil Devang Amin substituted for Dana DuBovis on behalf of Linda McMahon, United States Department of Education (Amin, Romil) (Filed on 10/26/2026) (Entered: 10/26/2026)	RECAP
32	Oct. 26, 2026	STIPULATION WITH PROPOSED ORDER TO EXCEED PAGE LIMITATIONS filed by State of California. (Herrera, Elia) (Filed on 10/26/2026) (Entered: 10/26/2026)	RECAP
33	Oct. 26, 2026	ORDER by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. GRANTING 32 Stipulation TO EXCEED PAGE LIMITATIONS. (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/26/2026) (Entered: 10/26/2026)	RECAP
	Oct. 26, 2026	Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney
34	Nov. 2, 2026	Partial Summary Judgment 1 Proposed Order View on PACER 2 Declaration of Jesse Basbaum View on PACER 3 Declaration of Rachel Heenan View on PACER 4 Declaration of Barbara Van Haren View on PACER 5 Declaration of Lisa Foehr View on PACER	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Disability Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Grant/Contract rescissions, Defunding or Other Threats against Private Entities

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 9, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The States of California, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Spending/Appropriations Clauses

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 4:26-cv-05549

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.:

Education

Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)

Disability and Disability Rights:

Disability, unspecified

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of State of California v. United States Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48214/ (last updated 7/18/2026).