Case: Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. United States

1:26-cv-00422 | U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Filed Date: March 17, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a New York public benefit corporation responsible for North America's largest public transportation network, filed suit against the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) on March 17, 2026, in the United States Court of Federal Claims. The MTA alleged that DOT breached a Full Funding Grant Agreement by suspending $58.6 million in reimbursement payments for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway Project on September 30, 2025. While DOT claimed the suspension was for a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program compliance review, the MTA contended it was actually political retaliation against New York Democrats during federal shutdown negotiations. The MTA asserted that it had complied with all contractual requirements and that DOT failed to follow proper breach procedures requiring 90 days' notice and opportunity to cure. The complaint included four breach of contract counts and sought money damages of $58,643,339.10 for unpaid reimbursements, plus additional damages, consequential damages, and pre- and post-judgment interest.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/18/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72503935/parties/metropolitan-transportation-authority-v-united-states/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Crema, Maximilian (- International -)

Kaplan, Roberta A. (- International -)

Trice, Dennis Brandon (- International -)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Crema, Maximilian (- International -)

Kaplan, Roberta A. (- International -)

Trice, Dennis Brandon (- International -)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-00422	Complaint Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. United States of America	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026 Complaint

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72503935/metropolitan-transportation-authority-v-united-states/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:11 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 17, 2026	COMPLAINT against USA (118) (Filing fee $405, Receipt number AUSFCC-11155131) (Copy Served Electronically on Department of Justice), filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. Answer due by 5/18/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 4, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 5, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 6, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 7, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit 8, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit 9, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit 10, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit 11, # 11 Exhibit Exhibit 12, # 12 Exhibit Exhibit 13, # 13 Exhibit Exhibit 14, # 14 Exhibit Exhibit 15, # 15 Exhibit Exhibit 16, # 16 Exhibit Exhibit 17, # 17 Exhibit Exhibit 18, # 18 Exhibit Exhibit 19, # 19 Exhibit Exhibit 20, # 20 Exhibit Exhibit 21, # 21 Exhibit Exhibit 22, # 22 Exhibit Exhibit 23, # 23 Exhibit Exhibit 24, # 24 Exhibit Exhibit 25, # 25 Exhibit Exhibit 26, # 26 Exhibit Exhibit 27, # 27 Exhibit Exhibit 28, # 28 Exhibit Exhibit 29, # 29 Exhibit Exhibit 30, # 30 Exhibit Exhibit 31, # 31 Exhibit Exhibit 32, # 32 Exhibit Exhibit 33, # 33 Exhibit Exhibit 34, # 34 Exhibit Exhibit 35, # 35 Exhibit Exhibit 36, # 36 Exhibit Exhibit 37, # 37 Exhibit Exhibit 38, # 38 Exhibit Exhibit 39, # 39 Exhibit Exhibit 40, # 40 Exhibit Exhibit 41, # 41 Exhibit Exhibit 42, # 42 Exhibit Exhibit 43, # 43 Civil Cover Sheet)(tb) (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/17/2026: # 44 Exhibit (Exhibit 1-SEALED), # 45 Exhibit (Exhibit 2-SEALED), # 46 Exhibit (Exhibit 3-SEALED), # 47 Exhibit (Exhibit 6-SEALED)) (tb). Modified on 3/17/2026 to add sealed exhibits (tb). (Entered: 03/17/2026) 3 Exhibit Exhibit 4 View on PACER 4 Exhibit Exhibit 5 View on PACER 6 Exhibit Exhibit 7 View on PACER 7 Exhibit Exhibit 8 View on PACER 8 Exhibit Exhibit 9 View on PACER 9 Exhibit Exhibit 10 View on PACER 10 Exhibit Exhibit 11 View on PACER 11 Exhibit Exhibit 12 View on PACER 12 Exhibit Exhibit 13 View on PACER 13 Exhibit Exhibit 14 View on PACER 14 Exhibit Exhibit 15 View on PACER 15 Exhibit Exhibit 16 View on PACER 16 Exhibit Exhibit 17 View on PACER 17 Exhibit Exhibit 18 View on PACER 18 Exhibit Exhibit 19 View on PACER 19 Exhibit Exhibit 20 View on PACER 20 Exhibit Exhibit 21 View on PACER 21 Exhibit Exhibit 22 View on PACER 22 Exhibit Exhibit 23 View on PACER 23 Exhibit Exhibit 24 View on PACER 24 Exhibit Exhibit 25 View on PACER 25 Exhibit Exhibit 26 View on PACER 26 Exhibit Exhibit 27 View on PACER 27 Exhibit Exhibit 28 View on PACER 28 Exhibit Exhibit 29 View on PACER 29 Exhibit Exhibit 30 View on PACER 30 Exhibit Exhibit 31 View on PACER 31 Exhibit Exhibit 32 View on PACER 32 Exhibit Exhibit 33 View on PACER 33 Exhibit Exhibit 34 View on PACER 34 Exhibit Exhibit 35 View on PACER 35 Exhibit Exhibit 36 View on PACER 36 Exhibit Exhibit 37 View on PACER 37 Exhibit Exhibit 38 View on PACER 38 Exhibit Exhibit 39 View on PACER 39 Exhibit Exhibit 40 View on RECAP 40 Exhibit Exhibit 41 View on PACER 41 Exhibit Exhibit 42 View on PACER 42 Exhibit Exhibit 43 View on PACER 43 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	March 17, 2026	MOTION to Seal Document 1 Sealed Exhibits (1,2,3,and 6) to the Complaint,,,,,,, filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. Service: 3/17/26. Response due by 3/31/2026.(tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
3	March 17, 2026	MOTION For Expedited Briefing, filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. Service: 3/17/26. Response due by 3/31/2026.(tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
4	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Indirectly Related Case(s) [26-176], filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. Service: 3/17/26.(tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
5	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Designation of Electronic Case. (tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
6	March 17, 2026	Notice of Random Assignment Pursuant to Rule 40.1(a) to Judge Philip S. Hadji. (tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
7	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Manner of Service. (tb) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
8	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Dennis Brandon Trice for METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY . (Trice, Dennis) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
9	March 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Maximilian Crema for METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY . (Crema, Maximilian) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	RECAP
10	March 18, 2026	SCHEDULING ORDER: Government's Response to 3 Plaintiff's Motion for Expedited Briefing due by 3/20/2026. Plaintiff's Reply due by 3/25/2026. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (jb) Service on parties made. (Entered: 03/18/2026)	RECAP
11	March 20, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Geoffrey M. Long for USA . (Long, Geoffrey) (Entered: 03/20/2026)	RECAP
12	March 20, 2026	RESPONSE to 3 MOTION to Expedite, filed by USA.Reply due by 3/27/2026. (Long, Geoffrey) (Entered: 03/20/2026)	RECAP
13	March 20, 2026	MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment (Counts I - III), filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.Response due by 4/17/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Jaibala Patel, dated March 20, 2026, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Reimbursement Request Table, # 3 Exhibit 2 - February 25, 2026 Letter from the MTA to DOT, # 4 Declaration of D. Brandon Trice, dated March 20, 2026)(Kaplan, Roberta) (Entered: 03/20/2026)	RECAP
14	March 24, 2026	ORDER granting in part and denying in part 3 Motion to Expedite. Government's Response due by 4/7/2026. Plaintiff's Reply due by 4/13/2026 11:00 AM. Oral Argument set for 4/16/2026 1:30 PM before Judge Philip S. Hadji. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (jb) Service on parties made. Modified on 3/24/2026 correct Oral Argument time (tb). (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
	March 24, 2026	Order on Motion to Seal Document
	March 24, 2026	ORDER granting 2 Motion to Seal Document. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (jb) Service on parties made.
15	March 25, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua A. Mandlebaum for USA . (Mandlebaum, Joshua) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	RECAP
	March 25, 2026	Set Scheduled Proceeding Hearing Deadline
	March 25, 2026	Scheduled Proceeding Hearing Set: REPORTER PRESENT. Oral Argument set for 4/16/2026 01:30 PM in Courtroom 5 before Judge Philip S. Hadji. (tb)
16	April 7, 2026	SEALEDRESPONSE to 13 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment (Counts I - III) and motion for discovery pursuant to rule 56(d), filed by USA.Reply due by 4/21/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix)(Mandlebaum, Joshua) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	RECAP
	April 8, 2026	Clerk's Remark: re: 16 Response to Motion [Dispositive], filed by USA. Certificate of Service is missing see RCFC 5(d)(1)(B). (tb)
	April 8, 2026	Remark (Defective Filing) (Public)
17	April 9, 2026	ORDER. By 4/14/2026, the parties are ordered to meet and confer to discuss filing a public version of Exhibit 1 of 1 Complaint and whether any redactions are necessary to 16 Government's response to Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. The parties shall also file public versions of these documents by that date. The Clerk's Office is directed to unseal Exhibit 3 of the Complaint (ECF 1-46). Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (jb) Service on parties made. (Entered: 04/09/2026)	RECAP
18	April 13, 2026	REPLY to Response to Motion re 13 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment (Counts I - III), filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. (Kaplan, Roberta) (Entered: 04/13/2026)	RECAP
19	April 13, 2026	REDACTED DOCUMENT redacting 16 Response to Motion [Dispositive],, filed by USA. (Attachments: # 1 Appendix)(Mandlebaum, Joshua) (Entered: 04/13/2026)	RECAP
	April 13, 2026	Order
	April 13, 2026	In an email dated April 13, 2026, Plaintiff withdrew its request for oral argument and represented that the Government takes no position on the withdrawal. Government counsel, who was copied on the email, raised no objections. Because the Court finds that oral argument would aid the Court's review of this matter, the parties shall appear on April 16, 2026, as originally scheduled. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (lrf) Service on parties made.
20	April 14, 2026	REDACTED DOCUMENT redacting 1 Complaint,,,,,,, filed by METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. (Kaplan, Roberta) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
21	April 16, 2026	NOTICE, filed by USA regarding Status of Administrative Review and Reimbursement Processing. (Long, Geoffrey) (Entered: 04/16/2026)	RECAP
22	April 16, 2026	STATUS REPORT ORDER. Joint Status Report due by 4/22/2026. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (jb) Service on parties made. (Entered: 04/16/2026)	RECAP
	April 16, 2026	Order
	April 16, 2026	Oral Argument
	April 16, 2026	ORDER: The Court has reviewed the Government's Notice Regarding Status of Administrative Review and Reimbursement Processing [ECF 21]. Because the Court finds that oral argument would promote the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of this matter, the parties shall appear on April 16, 2026, as originally scheduled. Signed by Judge Philip S. Hadji. (lrf) Service on parties made.
	April 16, 2026	Minute Entry - Was the proceeding sealed to the public? No. If Yes, only parties to the case may order a copy of the transcript. Proceeding held in Washington, D.C. 4/16/2026 before Judge Philip S. Hadji: Oral Argument. [Total number of days of proceeding: 1]. Official record of proceeding taken by court reporter. To order a certified transcript or an audio recording of the proceeding, click HERE.(lrf)
23	April 17, 2026	Notice of Filing Certified Transcript	RECAP
24	April 17, 2026	Certified Transcript	RECAP

show / hide docket entries

Case Details

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Grant/Contract rescissions, Defunding or Other Threats against Private Entities

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 17, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

MTA is a public benefit corporation responsible for North America’s largest public transportation network, serving 15.3 million people across 5,000 square miles in NYC, Long Island, southeastern NY, Northeastern NJ, and Southern CT. An MTA subsidiary, MTA Construction & Development, is the lead agency responsible for the planning, design, and construction of the Second Avenue Subway.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Public (for-profit) corporation

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

United States of America

Case Details

Other Dockets:

U.S. Court of Federal Claims 1:26-cv-00422

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Damages

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. United States, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47912/ (last updated 3/18/2026).