Case: National Federation of Federal Employees v. United States Department of Agriculture

3:26-cv-04406 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: May 13, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case further).This lawsuit was filed on May 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), a national labor union representing approximately 110,000 federal workers including more than 19,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, together with seven named individual USDA employees of various non-Christian faiths and beliefs. The defendants are the USD…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case further).This lawsuit was filed on May 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), a national labor union representing approximately 110,000 federal workers including more than 19,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, together with seven named individual USDA employees of various non-Christian faiths and beliefs. The defendants are the USDA and the Secretary of Agriculture. Plaintiffs allege that since her swearing-in on February 13, 2025, the Secretary engaged in an escalating pattern of sending proselytizing Christian messages from her official email account to all approximately 100,000 USDA employees, including an Independence Day email invoking God's favor, a Thanksgiving email attributing gratitude to "a loving God," a Christmas email preaching about "the gift of his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ," and an Easter message heralding the Crucifixion and Resurrection—all while sending no comparable messages acknowledging other religions' holidays. Plaintiffs further allege that when one plaintiff asked to be removed from religious distribution lists, she was warned by a supervisor that escalating her complaint "would create trouble" for her. Additionally, Plaintiffs allege that the Secretary's communications contravene USDA's own November 2025 guidance prohibiting officials from using their authority to pressure subordinates regarding religious beliefs. The complaint asserts three counts—violation of the Establishment Clause, and two violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)—and seeks declaratory relief, an injunction, vacatur of the policy, and attorneys' fees.

 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73334088/parties/national-federation-of-federal-employees-v-united-states-department-of/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:26-cv-04406

Complaint For Declaratory And Injunctive Relief

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73334088/national-federation-of-federal-employees-v-united-states-department-of/

Last updated July 3, 2026, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21978135.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by Anne Poopatanapong, Lanette Dietrich, Ethan Roberts, Adam Diamond, Jennifer Wolfe, Thomas MaGee, National Federation of Federal Employees, Ashley Miller. (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

3

Case assigned to Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler. 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. Consent/Declination due by 5/27/2026. (as, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

4

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice for Amy Tai ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21978934.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Tai, Amy) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

5

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21979263.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Certificate of Good Standing for DC Bar)(Daiute, Elias) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

1 Supplement Certificate of Good Standing for DC Bar

View on PACER

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

6

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21979369.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Good Standing)(Samuels, Jennifer) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

1 Certificate of Good Standing

View on PACER

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

7

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 8/6/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 8/13/2026 11:00 AM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only. (pjf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

8

Summons Issued as to United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (pjf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

9

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 4 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

10

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 5 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

11

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 6 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

12

First MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21982036.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Good Standing Certificate)(Markert, Rebecca) (Filed on 5/13/2026) (Entered: 05/13/2026)

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

13

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21989462.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Good Standing)(Goetz, Sarah) (Filed on 5/15/2026) (Entered: 05/15/2026)

1 Certificate of Good Standing

View on PACER

May 15, 2026

May 15, 2026

14

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 13 Motion for Pro Hac Vice as to Sarah Goetz. (bxl, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/15/2026) (Entered: 05/15/2026)

May 15, 2026

May 15, 2026

15

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 12 Motion for Pro Hac Vice. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/18/2026) (Entered: 05/18/2026)

May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026

16

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21996704.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Goldstein, Elena) (Filed on 5/18/2026) (Entered: 05/18/2026)

1 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing

View on PACER

May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026

17

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 16 Motion for Pro Hac Vice as to Elena Goldstein. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/18/2026) (Entered: 05/18/2026)

May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026

18

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-21999248.) filed by Adam Diamond, Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit (Certificate of Good Standing))(Khan, Ayesha) (Filed on 5/19/2026) (Entered: 05/19/2026)

May 19, 2026

May 19, 2026

19

Order by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granting 18 Motion for Pro Hac Vice as to Ayesha N. Khan. (ejk, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/19/2026) (Entered: 05/19/2026)

May 19, 2026

May 19, 2026

20

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Adam Diamond (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/19/2026) (Entered: 05/19/2026)

May 19, 2026

May 19, 2026

RECAP
21

CONSENT/DECLINATION to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge by Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe.. (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/21/2026) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

22

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Anne Poopatanapong, Lanette Dietrich, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe, Thomas MaGee, National Federation of Federal Employees, Ashley Miller. All Defendants. (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/21/2026) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

23

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Lanette Dietrich, Thomas MaGee, Ashley Miller, National Federation of Federal Employees, Anne Poopatanapong, Ethan Roberts, Jennifer Wolfe re 21 Consent/Declination to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge, 7 Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines, 20 Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, Standing Order for Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler, and Standing Order re Contents of Joint Case Management Statement (Schwartz, Bryan) (Filed on 5/21/2026) (Entered: 05/21/2026)

May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 13, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:26-cv-04406

Recommended Citation