Case: American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 v. United States Department of Defense

1:26-cv-02653 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: July 2, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On April 9, 2026, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum instructing Department of Defense (“DOD”) agencies to terminate all collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”) to which the DOD was a party within 24 hours, with limited exceptions. The Secretary issued this memorandum pursuant to Executive Order 14251 (signed on March 27, 2025), which excluded certain agencies and agency subdivisions from coverage under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (“FSLMRS”). On July 2, 20…

On April 9, 2026, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum instructing Department of Defense (“DOD”) agencies to terminate all collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”) to which the DOD was a party within 24 hours, with limited exceptions. The Secretary issued this memorandum pursuant to Executive Order 14251 (signed on March 27, 2025), which excluded certain agencies and agency subdivisions from coverage under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (“FSLMRS”). On July 2, 2026, various councils of the American Federation of Government Employees ("AFGE"), the National Federation of Federal Employees ("NFFE"), and two local NFFE offices sued the DOD and the Secretary of Defense in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The complaint challenged the memorandum and its implementation, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief. The plaintiffs were represented by private counsel. The case was assigned to District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher.

The plaintiffs’ first amended complaint, filed on July 20, 2026, alleged that the memorandum and the DOD's subsequent actions implementing it — including its termination of CBAs — violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in two ways. The plaintiffs first argued that the Department had reversed a longstanding practice of honoring the CBAs without a reasonable explanation and without considering reliance interests or less disruptive alternatives. The plaintiffs also argued that the DOD acted beyond its statutory authority by implementing the directive. They pointed to language in Executive Order 14251 stating that local employing offices of agency police officers, security guards, and firefighters would continue to receive labor protections under the federal statute, and argued that the DOD did not have the authority to terminate CBAs with respect to these employees.

On July 20, 2026, the plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction. On August 24, 2026, the Secretary of Defense issued another memorandum that “rescinded and replaced” the April memorandum and directed DOD agencies to re-terminate their CBAs. According to the plaintiffs’ second amended complaint (filed on September 30, 2026), this memorandum aimed to provide “retroactive[]” justification for the original mass CBA terminations, and constituted retaliation against the plaintiffs for filing this lawsuit.

On September 1, 2026, the plaintiffs requested to withdraw their preliminary injunction motion and file a renewed motion in light of the defendants’ additional memorandum. The court approved this request that same day. The plaintiffs filed a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction on September 14, 2026.

On September 30, 2026, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, which added APA claims and a First Amendment Retaliation claim related to the August 2026 memorandum directing re-termination of the CBAs.

As of October 2026, the case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Emma Farrell (10/19/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73576166/parties/american-federation-of-government-employees-local-1410-v-united-states/


Judge(s)

Gallagher, Stephanie A. (Maryland)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Baltzer, James (Maryland)

Kelleher, Lauren J (Maryland)

Kronland, Scott A. (Maryland)

Attorney for Defendant

Atkinson, Theodore William (Maryland)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-02653

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 et al. v. United States Department of Defense et al.

July 2, 2026

July 2, 2026

Complaint
10

1:26-cv-02653

First Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 et al. v. United States Department of Defense et al.

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

Complaint
32

1:26-cv-02653

Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Sept. 30, 2026

Sept. 30, 2026

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73576166/american-federation-of-government-employees-local-1410-v-united-states/

Last updated Oct. 25, 2026, 3:19 a.m.

Docket for: American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 v. United States Department of Defense
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 July 2, 2026

COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against Pete Hegseth, United States Department of Defense ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12865016.), filed by AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 1504, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 987, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Council 171, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Council 240, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Local 2065, NFFE Local 476, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Council 169. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Kelly O. Hayes, # 3 Summons Pamela J. Bondi, # 4 Summons Pete Hegseth, # 5 Summons U.S. Department of Defense)(Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons Kelly O. Hayes

View on PACER

3 Summons Pamela J. Bondi

View on PACER

4 Summons Pete Hegseth

View on PACER

5 Summons U.S. Department of Defense

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 July 6, 2026

Summons Issued 60 days as to Pete Hegseth, United States Department of Defense, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (ols, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/06/2026)

RECAP
July 6, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

July 6, 2026

Case Reassigned to Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher. Judge Theodore D. Chuang no longer assigned to the case. (kns, Deputy Clerk)

3 July 7, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Scott A. Kronland (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12869807.) by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

RECAP
4 July 7, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for James Baltzer (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12869915.) by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

RECAP
5 July 7, 2026

Local Rule 103.3 Disclosure Statement by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 identifying Party with Financial Interest National Federation of Federal Employees, Party with Financial Interest American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 for American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410.(Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

RECAP
6 July 7, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Scott A. Kronland. Directing attorney Scott A. Kronland to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 7/7/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

RECAP
7 July 7, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of James Baltzer. Directing attorney James Baltzer to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 7/7/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/07/2026)

RECAP
8 July 16, 2026

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Jonathan Rosenthal (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12893757.) by AFGE Council 1504, AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/16/2026)

RECAP
9 July 17, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Jonathan Rosenthal. Directing attorney Jonathan Rosenthal to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 7/17/2026. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/17/2026)

RECAP
10 July 20, 2026

AMENDED COMPLAINT against Pete Hegseth, United States Department of Defense, filed by AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Council 170, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 987, AFGE Local 2065, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 169, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Council 235, NFFE Local 476, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Local 1504. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment First Amended Complaint with Strikes and Bold)(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 07/20/2026)

Clearinghouse
11 July 20, 2026

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Attachment Index of Declarations and Exhibits, # 4 Declaration of Anna Green, # 5 Declaration of Da'Laine Simpson, # 6 Declaration of Edward Abounader, # 7 Declaration of Dora Renee Brown, # 8 Declaration of Katherine Toth, # 9 Declaration of Kelly Keating, # 10 Declaration of Lisa Foust, # 11 Declaration of Matthew Hines, # 12 Declaration of Mitch Burns, # 13 Declaration of Robert Mooney, # 14 Declaration of Steve Halloway, # 15 Declaration of Tonie Edwards, # 16 Declaration of Tonya Manning, # 17 Declaration of Walter Taylor, # 18 Declaration of Zedrick Brown)(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 07/20/2026)

RECAP
12 July 20, 2026

-FILED IN ERROR- SUMMONS Returned Executed by AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 987, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Local 54, NFFE Local 476, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Local 3283, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 171, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Council 275. United States Department of Defense served on 7/10/2026.(Kelleher, Lauren) Modified on 7/21/2026 (ols). (Entered: 07/20/2026)

RECAP
13 July 21, 2026

QC NOTICE: 12 Summons Returned Executed,, filed by AFGE Council 172, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 1658, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 779, NFFE Local 476, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Local 987, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Council 169, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Council 171, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410 was filed incorrectly. **Incorrect event used. Please refile using Service of Process > Summons Returned Executed as to USA. It has been noted as FILED IN ERROR, and the document link has been disabled. (ols, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/21/2026)

RECAP
14 July 21, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed by AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 169, NFFE Local 476, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1658, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 54, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Local 1858, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 987. (Kelleher, Lauren) (Entered: 07/21/2026)

RECAP
15 July 27, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Theodore William Atkinson on behalf of All Defendants (Atkinson, Theodore) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
16 July 27, 2026

MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 11 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by Pete Hegseth, United States Department of Defense (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Atkinson, Theodore) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
17 July 27, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER that any response in opposition to 16 MOTION for Extension of Time be filed on or before July 29, 2026. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 7/27/2026. (Gallagher, Stephanie) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
18 July 27, 2026

RESPONSE in Opposition re 16 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 11 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178.(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
19 July 27, 2026

QC NOTICE: 18 Response in Opposition to Motion, filed by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 987, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 235, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 1836, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Council 240, NFFE Local 639, AFGE Local 3283, NFFE Local 476, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 2065 was filed incorrectly. **The following attachments or exhibits are missing - Proposed Order. To correct this problem, file Proposed Order using the event Notice (Other) and link Proposed Order to 18 . (ols, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
20 July 27, 2026

NOTICE by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 re 18 Response in Opposition to Motion,, Proposed Order re Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Extension of Time (Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 07/27/2026)

RECAP
21 Aug. 17, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

RECAP
22 Aug. 25, 2026

Motion to Vacate

RECAP
23 Aug. 25, 2026

Order on Motion to Vacate

RECAP
24 Aug. 31, 2026

STATUS REPORT (Joint) by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 08/31/2026)

RECAP
25 Aug. 31, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER re 24 Status Report. This Court has reviewed the status report and will await the anticipated motions before setting a schedule for their briefing. If any party objects to this Court finding the existing motion for preliminary injunction (ECF 11) to be moot, they should advise this Court in writing by close of business on September 1, 2026. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 8/31/2026. (Gallagher, Stephanie) (Entered: 08/31/2026)

RECAP
26 Sept. 1, 2026

NOTICE by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 of Plaintiffs' Request to Withdraw Preliminary Injunction Motion Without Prejudice (Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 09/01/2026)

RECAP
27 Sept. 1, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER approving 26 Request to Withdraw Preliminary Injunction without Prejudice and withdrawing 11 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 9/1/2026. (jmhs, Chambers) (Entered: 09/01/2026)

RECAP
28 Sept. 14, 2026

MOTION for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Attachment Second Amended Complaint (Clean), # 3 Attachment Second Amended Complaint (Redline))(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 09/14/2026)

RECAP
29 Sept. 14, 2026

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178 (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Memorandum of Law in Support of Renewed Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, # 2 Attachment Declaration of Scott Kronland, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 09/14/2026)

RECAP
30 Sept. 29, 2026

Response to Motion

RECAP
31 Sept. 30, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to File

RECAP
32 Sept. 30, 2026

Amended Complaint

1 Redlined Amended Complaint

View on RECAP

Clearinghouse
33 Sept. 30, 2026

Notice (Other)

RECAP
34 Oct. 5, 2026

MOTION re 25 Order, 29 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction Unopposed Request for Briefing Schedule for Plaintiffs Renewed Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and 5 U.S.C. § 705 Stay by AFGE Council 169, AFGE Council 170, AFGE Council 171, AFGE Council 172, AFGE Council 235, AFGE Council 240, AFGE Council 243, AFGE Council 275, AFGE Local 1504, AFGE Local 1592, AFGE Local 1658, AFGE Local 1836, AFGE Local 1858, AFGE Local 2065, AFGE Local 2449, AFGE Local 3283, AFGE Local 54, AFGE Local 779, AFGE Local 916, AFGE Local 987, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1410, NFFE Local 476, NFFE Local 639, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 178(Kronland, Scott) (Entered: 10/05/2026)

Clearinghouse
35 Oct. 6, 2026

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 34 Unopposed Request for Briefing Schedule. Signed by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on 10/6/2026. (jmhs, Chambers) (Entered: 10/06/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Labor Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 2, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Government employee unions and their affiliates

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of Defense

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, 5 U.S.C. §7101

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 1:26-cv-02653

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service

Recommended Citation