Case: Betanzo v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

2:26-cv-12063 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: June 22, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 22, 2026, Elin Warn Bitanzo (a drinking water engineer, founder of Safe Water Engineering LLC, and member of the EPA's National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC)) filed suit in the Eastern District of Michigan against the EPA and its Administrator. The EPA had suspended and later removed her from the council after she signed the "EPA Declaration of Dissent" as a private citizen. She alleged that the EPA retaliated against her protected speech and enforced an unlawful "zero tolerance" policy toward dissent, asserting violations of the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). She sought declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief — including reinstatement to NDWAC, back pay, damages, and attorneys' fees — and asked the court to enjoin enforcement of the EPA's "zero tolerance" policy. The case was assigned to District Judge Shalina D. Kumar and, as of July 2026, remains pending at the complaint stage.

Summary Authors

Benjamin Glicksman (7/22/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73512020/parties/betanzo-v-united-states-environmental-protection-agency/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Steinberg, Michael J. (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Steinberg, Michael J. (Michigan)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 2:26-cv-12063	Complaint	June 22, 2026	June 22, 2026 Complaint

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73512020/betanzo-v-united-states-environmental-protection-agency/

Last updated Aug. 30, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

Docket for: Betanzo v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 22, 2026	COMPLAINT filed by Michael J Steinberg against All Defendants. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-10777986 - Fee: $ 405. County of 1st Plaintiff: USA - County Where Action Arose: USA - County of 1st Defendant: USA. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit D, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit E, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit F, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit G, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit H, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit I, # 11 Exhibit Exhibit J, # 12 Exhibit Exhibit K, # 13 Exhibit Exhibit L, # 14 Exhibit Exhibit M) (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 06/22/2026) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit Exhibit A View on PACER 3 Exhibit Exhibit B View on PACER 4 Exhibit Exhibit C View on PACER 5 Exhibit Exhibit D View on PACER 6 Exhibit Exhibit E View on PACER 7 Exhibit Exhibit F View on PACER 8 Exhibit Exhibit G View on PACER 9 Exhibit Exhibit H View on PACER 10 Exhibit Exhibit I View on PACER 11 Exhibit Exhibit J View on PACER 12 Exhibit Exhibit K View on PACER 13 Exhibit Exhibit L View on PACER 14 Exhibit Exhibit M View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	June 24, 2026	SUMMONS Issued for Lee Zeldin (SSch) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
3	June 24, 2026	SUMMONS Issued for United States Environmental Protection Agency (SSch) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
4	June 24, 2026	SUMMONS Issued for the United States Attorney and the Office of the Attorney General. (SSch) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
	June 24, 2026	A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (SSch)
5	July 15, 2026	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Todd Blanche, U.S. Justice Department served on 06/30/2026. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
6	Aug. 4, 2026	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. U.S. Attorney on behalf of Elin Warn Betanzo served on 7/29/2026, answer due 9/28/2026. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 08/04/2026)	RECAP

show / hide docket entries

Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 22, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Drinking water engineer and member of the EPA's National Drinking Water Advisory Council

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Michigan 2:26-cv-12063

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.:

Retaliation

Discrimination Area:

Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)

Content/viewpoint discrimination

Discipline

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Betanzo v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48307/ (last updated 7/22/2026).