Case: Macalester College v. Wright

1:26-cv-02992 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Aug. 26, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenges the termination of Department of Energy grant awards. Macalester College (Macalester) is a private liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota. On August 26, 2026, Macalester sued the Department of Energy (DOE) & its Secretary, as well as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) & its Director in the District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging unlawful termination of its DOE grant awards for battery recycling programs. Macalester alleged that based on pub…

This case challenges the termination of Department of Energy grant awards.

Macalester College (Macalester) is a private liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota. On August 26, 2026, Macalester sued the Department of Energy (DOE) & its Secretary, as well as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) & its Director in the District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging unlawful termination of its DOE grant awards for battery recycling programs. Macalester alleged that based on public record and the record in two related D.D.C. cases, City of Saint Paul, Minnesota v. Wright and Am. Inst. of Chem. Eng’rs v. Wright, Defendants had no rational basis for the decision to terminate Macalester’s grant and terminated the grant solely on the basis that Macalester is located in a Blue state. Represented by Lawyers for Good Government, Macalester claimed that Defendants violated the Fifth Amendment’s Equal Protection Guarantee. It sought declaratory relief and an injunction prohibiting the grant termination and restoring the grant award to Macalester, alongside costs and attorneys’ fees.

This case was originally assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta due to its alleged relation to City of St. Paul v. Wright, but because that case was no longer pending on the merits, this case was randomly reassigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss on September 1, 2026.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Madison Krumins (10/22/2026)

Related Cases

City of Saint Paul, Minnesota v. Wright, District of District of Columbia (2025)

American Institute of Chemical Engineers v. Wright, District of District of Columbia (2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74704675/parties/macalester-college-v-wright/

Judge(s)

Moss, Randolph Daniel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

DiBianco, Gary (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse
1

1:26-cv-02992

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Aug. 26, 2026

Aug. 26, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74704675/macalester-college-v-wright/

Last updated Nov. 4, 2026, 3:08 a.m.

Docket for: MACALESTER COLLEGE v. WRIGHT
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Aug. 26, 2026

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12635221) filed by MACALESTER COLLEGE. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Def. Wright, # 3 Summons Def. DOE, # 4 Summons Def. Vought, # 5 Summons Def. OMB, # 6 Summons USAG, # 7 Summons USAO)(DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 08/26/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons Def. Wright

View on PACER

3 Summons Def. DOE

View on PACER

4 Summons Def. Vought

View on PACER

5 Summons Def. OMB

View on PACER

6 Summons USAG

View on PACER

7 Summons USAO

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 Aug. 26, 2026

NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by MACALESTER COLLEGE. Case related to Case No. 25-CV-3899. (DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 08/26/2026)

RECAP
3 Aug. 26, 2026

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by MACALESTER COLLEGE (DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 08/26/2026)

RECAP
4 Aug. 27, 2026

SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(gsk) (Entered: 08/27/2026)

RECAP
Aug. 27, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Aug. 27, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (gsk)

Aug. 31, 2026

.Order

Aug. 31, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. This matter shall be returned to the Calendar Committee for random assignment. This matter is not "related" to City of St. Paul v. Wright, Case No. 25-cv-3899, as City of St. Paul is not "pending on the merits" before this court. LCvR 40.5(a)(3). Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 8/31/2026. (lcapm2)

5 Sept. 1, 2026

Case randomly reassigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss as deemed unrelated. Judge Amit P. Mehta is no longer assigned to the case. (ztnr) (Entered: 09/01/2026)

RECAP
6 Sept. 2, 2026

STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/02/2026. (lcrdm1) (Entered: 09/02/2026)

RECAP
7 Sept. 3, 2026

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Amy Elizabeth Powell, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12652617. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by MACALESTER COLLEGE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Amy Powell, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 09/03/2026)

RECAP
Sept. 4, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Sept. 4, 2026

MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Plaintiffs' motion for leave to appear pro hac vice, Dkt. 7, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Amy Elizabeth Powell may appear pro hac vice in this case. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a) Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 09/04/2026. (lcrdm1)

8 Sept. 16, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/11/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/10/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Receipt)(DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 09/16/2026)

RECAP
9 Sept. 16, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 09/11/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Return Receipt)(DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 09/16/2026)

RECAP
10 Sept. 16, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. All Defendants (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail: Wright, # 2 Exhibit Certified Mail: DOE, # 3 Exhibit Certified Mail: Vought, # 4 Exhibit Certified Mail: OMB)(DiBianco, Gary) (Entered: 09/16/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 26, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Macalester College, a private liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of Energy

Office of Management and Budget

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-02992

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.:

Funding

School/University Facilities

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Funding

Recommended Citation