Case: American Oversight v. U.S. Department of Energy

1:25-cv-02981 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 3, 2025

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] On September 3, 2025, American Oversight, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization promoting government transparency, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its Secretary. The complaint challenged an August 14, 2025, DOE notice requiring requesters with pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests—submitted before October 1, 2024—to affirmatively email the agenc…

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

On September 3, 2025, American Oversight, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization promoting government transparency, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its Secretary. The complaint challenged an August 14, 2025, DOE notice requiring requesters with pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests—submitted before October 1, 2024—to affirmatively email the agency within 30 days or face administrative closure. American Oversight alleged the notice lacked statutory authority under FOIA, violated procedural requirements, and was issued without notice-and-comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The organization sought declaratory and injunctive relief, arguing the policy would harm requesters and impede its mission by diverting resources. The lawsuit asserted three APA claims, including that the notice was arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71258979/parties/american-oversight-v-us-department-of-energy/

Judge(s)

Jackson, Amy Berman (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jensen, Jessica (District of Columbia)

Stark, Loree (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

DuBovis, Dana (District of Columbia)

Holt, Samuel (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Jackson, Amy Berman (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jensen, Jessica (District of Columbia)

Stark, Loree (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

DuBovis, Dana (District of Columbia)

Holt, Samuel (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:25-cv-02981	Complaint	Sept. 3, 2025	Sept. 3, 2025 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71258979/american-oversight-v-us-department-of-energy/

Last updated Sept. 28, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

Docket for: AMERICAN OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 3, 2025	COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11929029) filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USAO, # 3 Summons Attorney General, # 4 Summons U.S. Department of Energy, # 5 Summons Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy)(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 09/03/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP 2 Summons USAO View on RECAP 3 Summons Attorney General View on RECAP 4 Summons U.S. Department of Energy View on RECAP 5 Summons Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	Sept. 3, 2025	SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to CHRIS WRIGHT, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmbs) (Entered: 09/03/2025)	RECAP
3	Sept. 3, 2025	REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE Department of Energy filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Related document: 1 Complaint, filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT.(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 09/03/2025)	RECAP
4	Sept. 3, 2025	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Stark, Loree) (Main Document 4 replaced on 9/4/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 09/03/2025)	RECAP
	Sept. 3, 2025	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	Sept. 3, 2025	Notice of Error- New Case
	Sept. 3, 2025	Case Assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. (zmbs)
	Sept. 3, 2025	NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,. The following error(s) need correction: Missing summonses for U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. Please locate the summons applicable to your case at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and file using the event Request for Summons to issue. (zmbs)
5	Sept. 4, 2025	SUMMONS (1) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. (znmw) (Entered: 09/04/2025)	RECAP
6	Dec. 19, 2025	NOTICE of Appearance by Samuel Holt on behalf of All Defendants (Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 12/19/2025)	RECAP
7	Dec. 19, 2025	ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Administrative Record Certification, # 2 Administrative Record Index, # 3 Administrative Record)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 12/19/2025)	RECAP
8	Dec. 19, 2025	MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, MOTION for Summary Judgment by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit 1, # 4 Exhibit 2)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 12/19/2025) 1 Memorandum in Support View on PACER 2 Declaration View on PACER 3 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 2 View on PACER	RECAP
9	Dec. 22, 2025	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 8 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction MOTION for Summary Judgment by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 12/22/2025)	RECAP
	Dec. 22, 2025	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
	Dec. 22, 2025	MINUTE ORDER granting 9 plaintiff's motion for extension of time to file response. Plaintiff must respond to defendants' motion to dismiss, or in the alternative, summary judgment by January 16, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/22/2025. (lcabj1)
10	Jan. 9, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Jessica Jensen on behalf of AMERICAN OVERSIGHT (Jensen, Jessica) (Entered: 01/09/2026)	RECAP
11	Jan. 16, 2026	Memorandum in opposition to re 8 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Loree Stark, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 01/16/2026) 1 Declaration of Loree Stark View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
12	Jan. 16, 2026	Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration of Loree Stark, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 01/16/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on PACER 2 Declaration of Loree Stark View on PACER 3 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
13	Jan. 23, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 01/23/2026)	RECAP
	Jan. 26, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines
	Jan. 26, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 13 defendants' consent motion for extension to file response and reply. Defendants must file their combined opposition and reply by February 17, 2026. Plaintiff must file its reply by March 10, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 1/26/2026. (lcabj1)
	Jan. 26, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
14	Feb. 10, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 02/10/2026)	RECAP
	Feb. 11, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply AND Set/Reset Deadlines
	Feb. 11, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 14 defendants' consent motion for extension to file response and reply. Defendants must file their combined opposition and reply by February 20, 2026. Plaintiff must file its reply by March 13, 2026. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 2/11/2026. (lcabj1)
	Feb. 11, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
15	Feb. 20, 2026	Memorandum in opposition to re 12 Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Todd R. Burns, # 2 Exhibit 3, # 3 Exhibit 4, # 4 Exhibit 5, # 5 Exhibit 6, # 6 Exhibit 7, # 7 Exhibit 8)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 02/20/2026) 1 Declaration of Todd R. Burns View on PACER 2 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 8 View on PACER	RECAP
16	Feb. 20, 2026	REPLY to opposition to motion re 8 Motion to Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction, Motion for Summary Judgment filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Todd R. Burns, # 2 Exhibit 3, # 3 Exhibit 4, # 4 Exhibit 5, # 5 Exhibit 6, # 6 Exhibit 7, # 7 Exhibit 8)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 02/20/2026) 1 Declaration of Todd R. Burns View on PACER 2 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 8 View on PACER	RECAP
17	March 13, 2026	REPLY to opposition to motion re 12 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Loree Stark)(Stark, Loree) (Entered: 03/13/2026) 1 Declaration of Loree Stark View on PACER	RECAP
18	March 26, 2026	NOTICE by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 03/26/2026) 1 Declaration View on PACER	RECAP
19	June 16, 2026	NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to AMERICAN OVERSIGHT. Attorney Jessica Jensen terminated. (Jensen, Jessica) (Entered: 06/16/2026)	RECAP
20	June 26, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Dana DuBovis on behalf of All Defendants (DuBovis, Dana) (Entered: 06/26/2026)	RECAP
21	June 26, 2026	NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT. Attorney Samuel Holt terminated. (Holt, Samuel) (Entered: 06/26/2026)	RECAP
22	Aug. 5, 2026	MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/5/2026. (lcabj1)	RECAP
23	Aug. 5, 2026	ORDER granting 12 plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and denying 8 defendants' combined motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and motion for summary judgment. See Memorandum Opinion 22 and Order for details. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 8/5/2026. (lcabj1) (Entered: 08/05/2026)	RECAP