Case: Environmental Defense Fund v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1:25-cv-00617 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: March 3, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On March 3, 2025, the Environmental Defense Fund filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Executive Order 14154 titled "Unleashing American Energy" (January 20, 2025), President Donald Trump directed the EPA to reevaluate the 2009 "Endangerment Finding"--EPA's determination that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threatened the health and welfare of current and future generations, and that emissions from motor vehicles contribute to greenhouse gas pollution. The Plaintiff submitted a FOIA request on January 29, 2025, seeking all correspondence and records of all members of the EPA transition team and political appointees relating to the Endangerment Finding. The EPA informed the Plaintiff that document production would not be forthcoming until well after the statutory deadline under FOIA; this lawsuit was EDF's response.
The Plaintiff was represented by in-house counsel and Kaplan Kirsch LLP. The case sought declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as attorney fees, and was assigned to District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. On April 3, the government filed its answer to the complaint. As of August 29, status reports to the court on the state of the plaintiffs' FOIA requests are ongoing.
As of November 27, this case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Alaa Mustafa (3/17/2025)
Jeremiah Price (8/1/2025)
Allison Opheim (11/15/2025)
Related Cases
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69698894/parties/environmental-defense-fund-v-united-states-environmental-protection-agency/
Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)
Caravello, Samantha R. (District of Columbia)
Hunt, Nathaniel Hemmerick (District of Columbia)
Murphy, Erin Caitlin (District of Columbia)
Bartholomew, Tabitha (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69698894/environmental-defense-fund-v-united-states-environmental-protection-agency/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 4:10 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 1.0 & 2.0 FOIA cases
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 3, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Environmental non-profit
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Environmental Protection Agency
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-00617
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of Environmental Defense Fund v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/46191/ (last updated 11/15/2025).