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

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case). On June 26, 2026, the United States filed this lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and DCYF Commissioner in her official capacity in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The United States sought to compel production of five years of SNAP eligibility, household, and EBT transaction records that USDA requested. The requests stemmed from Executive Order 14243 (Mar. 20, 2025), whi…

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case).

On June 26, 2026, the United States filed this lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and DCYF Commissioner in her official capacity in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The United States sought to compel production of five years of SNAP eligibility, household, and EBT transaction records that USDA requested. The requests stemmed from Executive Order 14243 (Mar. 20, 2025), which directed agencies to eliminate information silos and consolidate federally funded program data.

USDA alleged that preliminary analysis of records from compliant states indicated as much as $3 billion in annual waste, fraud, and abuse. Minnesota was among twenty-two non-compliant state agencies whose states had sued USDA in the Northern District of California (California v. USDA, No. 3:25-cv-06310-MMC), where the court preliminarily enjoined USDA's first two records requests. The complaint alleged that USDA's Third Records Request, made on May 15, 2026, conformed to that court's guidance. The United States sought a declaratory judgment of noncompliance and an injunction ordering production. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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)

Petrokas, Daniel Joseph (Minnesota)

Trundle, Colin W. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Richie, Joseph Robert (Minnesota)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
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

Docket

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

Last updated July 29, 2026, 3:35 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

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

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2 Exhibit(s) Exhibit A, Corley Declaration

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3 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 1

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4 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 2

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5 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 3

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6 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 4

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7 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 5

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8 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 6

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9 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 7

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10 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 8

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11 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 9

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12 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 10

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13 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 11

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14 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 12

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15 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 13

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16 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 14

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17 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 15

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18 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 16

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19 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 17

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20 Exhibit(s) Exhibit 18

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21 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet and Attachment

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June 26, 2026

June 26, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

(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)

June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

3

Summons Issued as to Tikki Brown, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. (ACH) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

4

(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)

June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

5

Amended DECLARATION of Shiela Corley re 1 Complaint,,, by United States of America . (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

6

EXHIBIT LIST (AMENDED) re 1 Complaint,,, filed by United States of America. (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 06/29/2026)

June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

7

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)

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2026

RECAP
8

AFFIDAVIT of Service by United States of America As to Defendant Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

July 7, 2026

July 7, 2026

9

AFFIDAVIT of Service by United States of America as to Defendant Tikki Brown (Trundle, Colin) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

July 7, 2026

July 7, 2026

10

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)

July 7, 2026

July 7, 2026

11

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)

July 8, 2026

July 8, 2026

12

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Joseph Petrokas on behalf of United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

July 14, 2026

July 14, 2026

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)

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

14

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)

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

15

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)

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

RECAP
16

(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)

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

Order/Notice to Attorney

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

17

REPORT on Meet-And-Confer And Plaintiff's Proposed Schedule by United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

July 16, 2026

July 16, 2026

18

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)

July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026

19

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America. (Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026

Clearinghouse
20

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)

July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026

Clearinghouse
21

MEET and CONFER STATEMENT re 19 Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America.(Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026

22

PROPOSED ORDER TO JUDGE re 19 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by United States of America.(Petrokas, Daniel) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

July 17, 2026

July 17, 2026

23

ORDER. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Katherine M. Menendez on 7/23/2026.(CRD) (Entered: 07/23/2026)

July 23, 2026

July 23, 2026

Clearinghouse

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