Case: Mauldin v. Blanche

(This summary is temporary while we research the case further). On May 26, 2026, two Supervisory IT Program Managers in the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division Office of Administration, filed suit against the Acting U.S. Attorney General in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asserting claims under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. One plaintiff, a disabled veteran, alleged that the agency refused to issue a final decision on his telework accommodation requests, demoted him from GS-14 to GS-13, removed his supervisory duties, and ultimately forced him onto Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave beginning December 1, 2025. The second plaintiff, who sustained permanent spinal injuries in a 2017 automobile accident, alleged that the agency denied his requests to continue his existing telework schedule, required him to report in person without providing necessary specialized equipment, lowered his performance ratings, and indicated it would pursue his involuntary reassignment or removal. Both plaintiffs alleged that their third-line supervisor mocked their disabilities, accessed their personal medical records without authorization, and restructured agency policy in May 2025 to consolidate decision-making authority over accommodation requests in herself while eliminating mandatory deadlines for final decisions. The plaintiffs sought compensatory damages, injunctive relief including the granting of telework accommodations for both plaintiffs, attorneys' fees, and a jury trial on all counts.