Case: United States v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families

0:26-cv-03120 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: June 26, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This is a case challenging a state agency’s noncompliance with a federal agency’s records request. On June 26, 2026, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in the Third Division. The government sued the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (MDCYF) – a state agency responsible for the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – and its Commissioner in her official capacity, asserting violations o…

This is a case challenging a state agency’s noncompliance with a federal agency’s records request.

On June 26, 2026, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in the Third Division. The government sued the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (MDCYF) – a state agency responsible for the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – and its Commissioner in her official capacity, asserting violations of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sought SNAP eligibility and benefit transaction records from each SNAP state agency pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14243. The Order aimed to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. However, MDCYF allegedly refused to comply with the records request and therefore hindered the USDA’s statutory oversight duties. The government sought declaratory and injunctive relief ordering MDCYF to comply with the USDA’s records request. The case was assigned to District Judge Katherine M. Menendez.

On July 17, 2026, the government filed a motion for a preliminary injunction ordering the defendants to comply with the USDA’s records request. The government argued that it was likely to succeed on the merits, that the defendants’ ongoing noncompliance irreparably harmed it, and that the balance of equities and public interest favored injunctive relief.

On July 23, 2026, the court suspended the deadlines for the defendants to respond to the pending motion for a preliminary injunction and complaint. It also ordered the parties to create a briefing schedule.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (8/19/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73543189/parties/united-states-v-minnesota-department-of-children-youth-and-families/

Judge(s)

Menendez, Katherine M (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cooper, Cadesby Brawner (Minnesota)

Kim, Kyu Yun (Minnesota)

Petrokas, Daniel Joseph (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Richie, Joseph Robert (Minnesota)

Judge(s)

Menendez, Katherine M (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cooper, Cadesby Brawner (Minnesota)

Kim, Kyu Yun (Minnesota)

Petrokas, Daniel Joseph (Minnesota)

Trundle, Colin W. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Richie, Joseph Robert (Minnesota)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 0:26-cv-03120	Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunction United States of America v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families	June 26, 2026	June 26, 2026 Complaint
19 0:26-cv-03120	Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction United States of America v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families	July 17, 2026	July 17, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief
20 0:26-cv-03120	Memorandum Of Law In Support Of Plaintiff’s Motion For Preliminary Injunction United States of America v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families	July 17, 2026	July 17, 2026 Pleading / Motion / Brief
23 0:26-cv-03120	Order United States of America v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families	July 23, 2026	July 23, 2026 Order/Opinion

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73543189/united-states-v-minnesota-department-of-children-youth-and-families/

Last updated Sept. 6, 2026, 3:09 a.m.

Docket for: United States v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 26, 2026	COMPLAINT against Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families filed by United States of America. Filer requests summons issued. (Attachments: DOCUMENT FILED IN ERROR-TO BE REFILED # 1 Appendix Exhibit Table of Contents, DOCUMENT FILED IN ERROR-TO BE REFILED # 2 Exhibit A, Corley Declaration, # 3 Exhibit 1, # 4 Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit 3, # 6 Exhibit 4, # 7 Exhibit 5, # 8 Exhibit 6, # 9 Exhibit 7, # 10 Exhibit 8, # 11 Exhibit 9, # 12 Exhibit 10, # 13 Exhibit 11, # 14 Exhibit 12, # 15 Exhibit 13, # 16 Exhibit 14, # 17 Exhibit 15, # 18 Exhibit 16, # 19 Exhibit 17, # 20 Exhibit 18, # 21 Civil Cover Sheet and Attachment) (Cooper, Cadesby) Modified text on 6/29/2026 (MMG). (Entered: 06/26/2026) 1 Appendix Exhibit Table of Contents View on RECAP 2 Exhibit(s) Exhibit A, Corley Declaration View on RECAP 3 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 1 View on RECAP 4 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 2 View on RECAP 5 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 3 View on RECAP 6 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 4 View on RECAP 7 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 5 View on RECAP 8 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 6 View on RECAP 9 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 7 View on RECAP 10 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 8 View on RECAP 11 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 9 View on RECAP 12 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 10 View on RECAP 13 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 11 View on RECAP 14 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 12 View on RECAP 15 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 13 View on RECAP 16 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 14 View on RECAP 17 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 15 View on RECAP 18 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 16 View on RECAP 19 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 17 View on RECAP 20 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 18 View on RECAP 21 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet and Attachment View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	June 29, 2026	(Text-Only) CLERK'S NOTICE OF INITIAL CASE ASSIGNMENT. Case assigned to Judge Michael J. Davis per Civil (3rd, 4th - Master) list, referred to Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. Please use case number 26-cv-3120 MJD/DTS.Notice: All Nongovernmental Corporate Parties must file a Rule 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement. (ACH) (Entered: 06/29/2026)	RECAP
3	June 29, 2026	Summons Issued as to Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (ACH) (Entered: 06/29/2026)	RECAP
4	June 29, 2026	(Text-Only) Notice re: Non-Admitted AttorneyWe have received documents listing Kyu Yun Kim, Daniel J. Petrokas as counsel of record. If he or she wishes to be listed as an attorney of record in this case, he or she must be admitted to the bar of the U.S. District Court of Minnesota in accordance with Local Rule 83.5 (a), (b) and (c) or temporarily admitted pro hac vice in accordance with Local Rule 83.5 (d) or (e).For more admissions information and forms, please see the Attorney Forms Section of the courts website at www.mnd.uscourts.gov/forms/all-forms. (ACH) (Entered: 06/29/2026)	RECAP
5	June 29, 2026	Amended DECLARATION of Shiela Corley re 1 Complaint,,, by United States of America . (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 06/29/2026)	RECAP
6	June 29, 2026	EXHIBIT LIST (AMENDED) re 1 Complaint,,, filed by United States of America. (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 06/29/2026)	RECAP
7	June 30, 2026	ORDER OF RECUSAL. Judge Michael J. Davis recused. Case reassigned to Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan for all further proceedings. NOTE: the new case number is 26-cv-3120 JMB/DTS. Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings. Signed by Judge Michael J. Davis on 6/30/2026.(CLK) (Entered: 06/30/2026)	RECAP
8	July 7, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Service by United States of America As to Defendant Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
9	July 7, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Service by United States of America as to Defendant Tikki Brown (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
10	July 7, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph Robert Richie on behalf of Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
11	July 8, 2026	ORDER OF RECUSAL. Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan recused. Case reassigned to Judge Katherine M. Menendez for all further proceedings. NOTE: the new case number is 26-cv-3120 KMM/DTS. Please use this case number for all subsequent pleadings. Signed by Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan on 7/8/2026. (ACH) (Entered: 07/08/2026)	RECAP
12	July 14, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Joseph Petrokas on behalf of United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/14/2026)	RECAP
13	July 15, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,, filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
14	July 15, 2026	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 13 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,, filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.(Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
15	July 15, 2026	ORDER granting 13 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Tikki Brown answer due 8/31/2026; Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families answer due 8/31/2026. Signed by Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz on 7/15/2026. (SB) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
16	July 15, 2026	(Text-Only) ORDER/NOTICE TO ATTORNEY. Counsel for Plaintiff has contacted the Court for a hearing date on an anticipated motion for preliminary injunction and indicated that expedited handling is not requested. The parties are hereby instructed to meet and confer to discuss a briefing schedule for any such motion in coordination with briefing on any pre-answer motion or motion for judgment on the pleadings that may be contemplated by the defense. The Court will review any agreed upon proposal (or separate proposals if no agreement can be reached), and either enter a reasonable stipulated order, address the parties' competing proposals, or take other steps as necessary. The Court will determine whether a hearing is necessary after setting a briefing schedule. Ordered by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 7/15/2026.(LC1) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
	July 15, 2026	Order/Notice to Attorney
17	July 16, 2026	REPORT on Meet-And-Confer And Plaintiff's Proposed Schedule by United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/16/2026)	RECAP
18	July 17, 2026	REPORT re 16 Order/Notice to Attorney,,, (on meet and confer - Defs Proposal re Preliminary Injunction and Pre-Answer Briefing Schedules) by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 07/17/2026)	RECAP
19	July 17, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)	Clearinghouse
20	July 17, 2026	MEMORANDUM in Support re 19 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate)(Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)	Clearinghouse
21	July 17, 2026	MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 19 Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America.(Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)	RECAP
22	July 17, 2026	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 19 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America.(Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)	RECAP
23	July 23, 2026	ORDER. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 7/23/2026.(CRD) (Entered: 07/23/2026)	Clearinghouse
24	July 29, 2026	RESPONSE by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families re 23 Order/Notice to Attorney (Parties' Joint Briefing Proposal pursuant to Doc. 23). (Richie, Joseph) (Entered: 07/29/2026)	RECAP
25	July 30, 2026	(Text-Only) BRIEFING ORDER: The Court adopts the parties' Joint Briefing Proposal 24 . Defendants shall file a motion and supporting documents raising the first-filed issue on or before August 3, 2026. Plaintiff's opposition to the motion shall be filed on or before August 10, 2026. Ordered by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 7/30/2026.(LC1) (Entered: 07/30/2026)	RECAP
	July 30, 2026	Briefing Order
26	July 31, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Kyu Yun Kim on behalf of United States of America. (Kim, Kyu Yun) (Entered: 07/31/2026)	RECAP
27	Aug. 5, 2026	(Text-Only) The Court previously adopted the parties Briefing Proposal at 24 . On 8/4/2026, The parties contacted the Court informing them of a mistake in their joint briefing order and asked that the deadlines be corrected to what they initially agreed, August 6 for the Defendants and August 13 for the Plaintiffs. AMENDED BRIEFING ORDER: Defendants shall file a motion and supporting documents raising the first-filed issue on or before August 6, 2026. Plaintiff's opposition to the motion shall be filed on or before August 13, 2026. Ordered by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 8/5/2026. (CRD) (Entered: 08/05/2026)	RECAP
28	Aug. 5, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Scott Carter on behalf of Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Carter, Brian) (Entered: 08/05/2026)	RECAP
	Aug. 5, 2026	Order in Response to Letter/Request/E-mail
29	Aug. 6, 2026	DOCUMENT FILED IN ERROR, WRONG DOCUMENT ATTACHED. MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
30	Aug. 6, 2026	NOTICE OF HEARING ON MOTION 35 MOTION to Stay Proceedings : Date and time to be determined. (Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
31	Aug. 6, 2026	MEMORANDUM in Support re 35 MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate)(Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
32	Aug. 6, 2026	Declaration of Brian S. Carter in Support of 35 MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) A (Doc 146), # 2 Exhibit(s) B (Doc 143), # 3 Exhibit(s) C (Doc 186-2), # 4 Exhibit(s) D (Doc 172), # 5 Exhibit(s) E (Doc 191), # 6 Exhibit(s) F (Doc 170), # 7 Exhibit(s) G (Doc 154))(Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
33	Aug. 6, 2026	MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 35 Motion to Stay filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.(Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
34	Aug. 6, 2026	PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 35 MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.(Carter, Brian) Modified text on 8/7/2026 (JME). (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
35	Aug. 7, 2026	MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (Carter, Brian) (Entered: 08/07/2026)	RECAP
36	Aug. 7, 2026	RESPONSE in Opposition re 35 MOTION to Stay Proceedings filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 LR7.1/LR72.2 Word Count Compliance Certificate, # 2 Exhibit(s) A, # 3 Exhibit(s) B)(Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 08/07/2026)	RECAP
37	Aug. 24, 2026	Letter to District Judge 1 Exhibit(s) 1 View on PACER	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Minnesota

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 26, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is the United States.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (MDCYF)

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Other Dockets:

District of Minnesota 0:26-cv-03120

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Records Disclosure

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of United States v. Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48331/ (last updated 8/19/2026).