Case: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO v. United States Department of Health and Human Services

2:26-cv-02282 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: June 30, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] On June 30, 2026, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and SEIU Local 925 filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and two agency officials. The plaintiffs challenged the 2026 Rule, which repealed a 202…

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

On June 30, 2026, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and SEIU Local 925 filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and two agency officials. The plaintiffs challenged the 2026 Rule, which repealed a 2024 regulation that had capped copayments at 7% of family income, required prospective enrollment-based payments to providers, and mandated grants to expand child care supply for underserved groups. They alleged the 2026 Rule violated the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act by permitting unaffordable copayments, destabilizing payment practices, and eliminating supply-building requirements, while also acting arbitrarily by disregarding evidence supporting the 2024 reforms. The complaint sought a declaration that the rule was unlawful, its vacatur, and attorney’s fees.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73558462/parties/american-federation-of-state-county-and-municipal-employees-afl-cio-v/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Clark, Briana M. (Washington)

Derry, Sarah E. (Washington)

Lavitt, Robert H (Washington)

McElvain, Joel L (Washington)

Ouellette, Sean (Washington)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

2:26-cv-02282

Complaint

American Federation of State v. United States Department of Health

June 30, 2026

June 30, 2026

Complaint
31

2:26-cv-02282

Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees v. United States Department of Health and Human Services

Sept. 24, 2026

Sept. 24, 2026

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73558462/american-federation-of-state-county-and-municipal-employees-afl-cio-v/

Last updated Oct. 8, 2026, 2:32 p.m.

Docket for: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 June 30, 2026

COMPLAINT against defendant(s) All Plaintiffs (Receipt # AWAWDC-9794589) Attorney Robert H Lavitt added to party American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO(pty:pla), Attorney Robert H Lavitt added to party Service Employees Int'l Union Local 925(pty:pla), Attorney Robert H Lavitt added to party Service Employees International Union(pty:pla) filed by American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees Int'l Union Local 925, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons)(Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 06/30/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons

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3 Summons

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4 Summons

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5 Summons

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6 Summons

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7 Summons

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Clearinghouse
2 June 30, 2026

CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT indicating no Corporate Parents and/or Affiliates. Filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P 7.1(a)(1). Filed by All Plaintiffs. (Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 06/30/2026)

RECAP
3 July 2, 2026

APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Joel McElvain FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for All Plaintiffs (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9799602 (Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

RECAP
4 July 2, 2026

APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Sean Ouellette FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for All Plaintiffs (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9799611 (Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

RECAP
5 July 2, 2026

APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Robin F. Thurston FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for All Plaintiffs (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9799624 (Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

RECAP
6 July 2, 2026

APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Briana M. Clark FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for All Plaintiffs (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9799632 (Lavitt, Robert) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

RECAP
7 July 2, 2026

ORDER re 3 4 5 6 Applications for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice:The Court ADMITS Attorneys Joel L McElvain, Sean Ouellette, Robin F. Thurston, Briana M. Clark for All Plaintiffs, by Clerk Joshua C. Lewis. No document associated with this docket entry, text only.NOTE TO COUNSEL: Local counsel agrees to sign all filings and to be prepared to handle the matter, including the trial thereof, in the event the applicant is unable to be present on any date scheduled by the court, pursuant to LCR 83.1(d).(PS) (Entered: 07/02/2026)

RECAP
July 2, 2026

Notice to PHV and Local Counsel Unable to Process Application

July 2, 2026

Order on Application for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

July 2, 2026

3 4 5 6, Applications for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice by attorneys Joel McElvain; Sean Ouellette; Robin F. Thurston; Briana M. Clark will not be processed at this time. Each Pro Hac attorney must submit a Pro Hac Vice access request via Manage My Account on PACER, under the Maintenance tab. See page 2 of the Pro Hac Vice Application Guide for detailed instructions. Please contact the Attorney Admissions Clerk at 206-370-8400 or WAWD_Admissions@wawd.uscourts.gov with additional questions. (Ad hoc Attorney Joel McElvain; Sean Ouellette; Robin F. Thurston; Briana M. Clark) (PS)

8 July 4, 2026

Summons(es) Electronically Issued as to defendant(s) Alex J. Adams, Administration for Children and Families, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, United States Department of Health and Human Services (LRS) (Entered: 07/04/2026)

RECAP
July 4, 2026

Add and Terminate Judges

July 4, 2026

Hon. Michelle L. Peterson added. (LRS)

9 July 6, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Sarah E. Derry on behalf of Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Derry, Sarah) (Entered: 07/06/2026)

RECAP
10 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Service of Summons and Complaint on U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
11 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
12 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
13 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to United States Department of Health and Human Services on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
14 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to Todd Blanche, in his official capacity as Acting U.S. Attorney General on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
15 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to Alex J. Adams, in his official capacity as the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
16 July 14, 2026

AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to Administration for Children and Families on 7/6/2026, filed by Plaintiffs American Federation of State, County and Municpal Employees, AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, Service Employees International Union Local 925. (Ouellette, Sean) (Entered: 07/14/2026)

RECAP
17 July 30, 2026

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
18 July 31, 2026

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
19 Aug. 3, 2026

Consent Letter & Form

RECAP
20 Aug. 4, 2026

Order Reassigning Case

RECAP
21 Aug. 4, 2026

Case/IFP Deficiency Letter

RECAP
22 Aug. 4, 2026

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
24 Aug. 5, 2026

TL Joint Status Report Order (Form)

RECAP
Aug. 5, 2026

TL Minute Order re Chambers Procedures

25 Aug. 6, 2026

Stipulated Motion

RECAP
26 Aug. 7, 2026

Order on Stipulated Motion AND ~Util - Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

RECAP
Aug. 7, 2026

Terminate Deadlines/Hearings

27 Aug. 20, 2026

Administrative Record - Non Social Security

RECAP
28 Aug. 20, 2026

Administrative Record - Non Social Security

RECAP
29 Aug. 20, 2026

Administrative Record - Non Social Security

RECAP
30 Aug. 20, 2026

Administrative Record - Non Social Security

RECAP
31 Sept. 24, 2026

Summary Judgment

Clearinghouse

Case Details

State / Territory:

Washington

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 30, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Western District of Washington 2:26-cv-02282

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation